Updated in October 2026, this House of the Black Heads guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The House of the Black Heads is a rebuilt 14th-century merchants’ guildhall on Town Hall Square in the Old Town of Riga, Latvia. It is open every day from 10am to 5pm, and an adult ticket costs €10. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the daily opening hours, the current ticket prices and the combined tickets that include a drink.
Quick facts: the House of the Black Heads
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Every day, 10am to 5pm. Additional closures and changes can occur. |
| Ticket prices | Adult €10. Pupils, students and seniors €6. Pre-school children free. |
| Address | Rātslaukums 7, Riga, LV-1050 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Old Town walking zone. Car parking on the embankment is about 5 minutes’ walk away. |
| Typical time needed | About 1 hour |
The House of the Black Heads opening hours
The exhibition is open every day from 10am to 5pm. The hours are the same all year, and there are no seasonal changes to the standard schedule.
The museum sometimes closes for private events, or opens for shorter hours on certain dates. Check the opening hours page before you visit. On dates when parts of the house are closed, a cheaper partly open ticket is sold.
Guided tours can be reserved in advance. The Roll Bar, the portable café of the House, serves hot and cold drinks and snacks before, during and after visits.
The House of the Black Heads ticket prices
An adult ticket to the House of the Black Heads costs €10. Tickets are sold online and at the museum.
- Adult: €10.
- Adult ticket with coffee: €12.
- Adult ticket with sparkling wine or a glass of blackcurrant balsam: €13.
- Pupils, students and seniors: €6.
- Visitors with a Ukraine ID: €4.
- Pre-school children: free.
- Persons with a certified disability of 60% or more (group I and II): free, with proof.
- Family ticket, 1 adult and 2 to 5 children: €18.
- Family ticket, 2 adults and 1 to 5 children: €23.
- Groups of 10 or more: adults €9, pupils, students and seniors €5.
- Partly open ticket (on specific dates): adults €7, pupils, students and seniors €5.
- Audio guide: €4, in 13 languages, with a limited number of devices.
- Guided tour (1 hour, reservation required): €45 in Latvian, €55 in English, or €80 outside exhibition hours.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
The House of the Black Heads is not part of a city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPass.
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How to get to the House of the Black Heads
The House is at Rātslaukums 7, on Town Hall Square in the heart of the Old Town. The Riga Information Center is at the same square.
- On foot from the Old Town: St Peter’s Church is 150 m away, the River Daugava 200 m and Dome Square 350 m, about a 5-minute walk.
- From the Freedom Monument: the walk is about 700 m, around 9 minutes.
- From the bus and train stations: the Riga International Bus Station is 800 m away and the Riga International Railway Station is 900 m, both about a 10-minute walk.
- From the port: the Riga Passenger Port is 1.8 km away.
- From the airport: Riga International Airport is 11 km away.
- By car: drive to the embankment parking area, which is 300 m away.
Parking at the House of the Black Heads
Car parking is available on the embankment, about 300 m from the House. This is about a 5-minute walk across the Old Town edge to Town Hall Square.
The House stands in the pedestrian area of the Old Town, so most visitors arrive on foot. Parking rates vary, so check the signs before you leave your car.
How long to spend at the House of the Black Heads
Plan about 1 hour for a visit. A guided tour takes one hour, and many visitors spend 45 minutes to 1.5 hours with an audio guide.
Allow extra time if you stop at the Roll Bar or step outside to see the facade, the lion sculptures and the statue of St George on the corner.
Accessibility at the House of the Black Heads
The House has wide corridors and no steps between rooms. Ramps link the rooms in the basement. A lift serves all floors, and it has Braille buttons and audio information.
An accessible toilet with a changing table is on the ground floor. Access for wheelchair users is with an assistant. The museum hall has a digital display that wheelchair users can use. The steps between levels are not marked.
Tactile objects and information in Braille are available. The audio guide is available in several languages for an extra fee.
What to see at the House of the Black Heads
The House was built in 1334, first called the New House. It was rebuilt many times, starting in 1522 with the door-side stones. In the 19th century, the lion statues went up over the entrance and the statue of St George appeared at the corner.
The building was destroyed in 1941 and the remains were demolished in 1948. It was rebuilt between 1996 and 1999 from original drawings and photographs, and reopened on 9 December 1999.
The medieval cellars were built with the main building in 1334. They are the only parts that survive in their original form. Merchants stored wine, grain, leather, flax, honey and wax here.
The Celebration Hall, the historical Lübeck Hall and the composers’ gallery are open to view. The royal portraits in carved wooden frames have witnessed concerts by renowned musicians.
The historical cabinets are set up in the style of a 19th-century interior. According to tradition, the brotherhood’s council met here. The silver collection is shown in the cabinets and is one of the largest in the Baltic States.
The Blue Guard Hall recalls the cavalry company founded in 1720 by merchant journeymen, named for its light blue uniforms. The Salon is the smallest hall, restored in 2020 in the style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Brotherhood of Black Heads was a guild of unmarried merchants, shipowners and foreigners. A local tradition says the first decorated Christmas tree stood in the square outside in 1510.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | The exhibition is open 10am to 5pm every day. Check the page for any closure dates. |
| Crowds | Tour groups reach the square by midday. Book a guided tour in advance, because reservation is required. |
| Layout | The cellars are in the basement, and the halls are on the upper floors. A lift serves all floors. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets online or at the museum. The audio guide is an extra €4. |
| On-site logistics | The Roll Bar sells drinks and snacks. The combined tickets include coffee, sparkling wine or blackcurrant balsam. |
Frequently asked questions about the House of the Black Heads
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost to enter the House of the Black Heads? | €10 for adults and €6 for pupils, students and seniors. Pre-school children are free. |
| Is the House of the Black Heads suitable for children? | Yes. Pre-school children are free, and family tickets cost €18 or €23. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the House of the Black Heads? | No for entry. Guided tours need a reservation in advance. |
| Is the House of the Black Heads open on Sundays? | Yes. It is open every day from 10am to 5pm. |
| Is the House of the Black Heads wheelchair accessible? | With an assistant. The House has a lift, ramps in the basement and an accessible toilet. |
Things to do near the House of the Black Heads
- The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia: a museum on Latvian Riflemen Square, about a 2-minute walk north of the House.
- Riga Cathedral: the largest medieval church in the Baltic states, on Dome Square, about a 5-minute walk away.
- The Three Brothers: the oldest group of houses in Riga, on Mazā Pils Street, about a 7-minute walk away.
- The Riga Art Nouveau Center: a restored Art Nouveau apartment museum at Alberta iela 12, about a 15-minute walk away.
- The Latvian National Museum of Art: a museum of Latvian art on Kr. Valdemāra iela, just north of the Old Town, about a 20-minute walk away.
Alternative attractions
- St Peter’s Church: a Gothic church 150 m from the House, in the Old Town.
- Freedom Monument: the monument known as Milda, about 700 m away and around 9 minutes’ walk.
- Riga Castle: a castle built in 1515 that is now the home of the Latvian president, a couple of minutes’ walk from the Three Brothers.
- Riga Central Market: a market in converted Zeppelin hangars, south-east of the Old Town.
- The Cat House: a well-known Old Town building on the standard walking route around the Old Town.
