Visit Spilve Airport Museum to learn about the development of aviation in Latvia. This is the oldest airport in Riga with a unique architectural heritage from Stalin times — a passenger waiting room. Even though international passenger flights are not being serviced any more at the airport, it is used by smaller aviation entities and aviation enthusiasts.

Interesting facts

Origins of Spilve Airport date back to 1916 when the first war aircraft fleets of the Tsarist Russia began to use Spilve meadows in war against Germany. After World War I, during the independence period of Latvia, Spilve Airport became the most significant airport in the Baltic States and Latvia. In 1930s, there was regular aviation traffic between Spilve Airport and Berlin, Helsinki, Tallinn, Vilnius, former Leningrad, and other towns. It retained its status as the most significant airport in Riga until the end of 1970s, when a new airport was built in Riga. After that Spilve lost its leading position, but aviation enthusiasts continue to use it even today.

Architecture

After World War II, Spilve Airport developed rapidly, and a new waiting room was built for it. The passenger terminal of Spilve Airport has been included in the list of protected architectural monuments of Latvia, as it is a unique architectural heritage from the Soviet dictator Stalin times. From the outside, the building can be characterised as having a functional and rational design, whereas the interior design and its details represent Soviet aesthetics.

Museum is closed from 1 October until 31 March!