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Thinking of making a trip to Riga, the beautiful and entertaining capital of Latvia? If so, you’re probably trying to work out where in the city to stay. Riga isn’t a massive city compared to some European capitals, but picking the right part of town always helps with a visit. Looking at a map of the city is bound to raise questions, so here’s some help for working out where to stay in Riga.
Rather than a single area for tourists to stay in, accommodation in Riga is spread across several city neighbourhoods. The best area to stay in Riga for you will depend on several things, from budget and comfort level to how much you like public transport. For this accommodation guide, we’ll look at inner neighbourhoods, since staying further out doesn’t make much sense.
Now, I may not be a local, but I’ve got quite a bit of experience now visiting Riga. Having spent several weeks on and off in the city, I think I have a pretty well-informed perspective now. So, here’s what you need to know about looking for accommodation on your Riga trip.
Best place to stay in Riga at a glance
Short on time and just need to know where to book without the details? Let me give you the highlights from everything below so that you can pick which area suits your visit and see some easy accommodation options.
- For the first-time visitor – the historical centre is ideal for sightseeing and getting a feel for the city.
- For the budget traveller – stay in Riga city centre or one of the cheaper outer areas such as Avoti.
- For somewhere special – you can find some really nice high-end hotels just on the fringe of the Old Town.
- For the nightlife lover – the Old Town is full of bars and pubs to choose from.
- For peace and quiet – see what local life is like across the river in Āgenskalns.
- For something by the sea – leave Riga behind and head to the resorts of Jurmala.
The best areas to stay in Riga
If you’d like to understand each of the main neighborhoods in Riga and how they suit certain travellers, read on. I’ve spent a long time in Riga over several trips and had the opportunity to experience a bunch of the city’s different areas. Because accommodation in Riga isn’t too spread out, you only need to become familiar with a few parts of the city.
Old Town
Chances are, the first place you’ll look to when searching for accommodation is the Old Town of Riga. Since it’s where you’ll be spending most of your time, it naturally makes sense to think that it’s the best place to stay in Riga. Each day, it’s just a step from your front door to the cobblestone streets of the charming historic centre. You’ll also have plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes within walking distance which is always nice.
What’s nice about Riga is that, unlike some cities, there are plenty of options for accommodation right in the city centre. It should come as no surprise though that it typically costs more to stay in this part of the city. After all, if you want the best location to stay in Riga you need to pay for it, right?
There are some ways you can try to score cheaper accommodation here. As with booking accommodation anywhere, booking in advance is often better than leaving it too late. You could also consider visiting during the low season to leverage the special rates some hotels offer.
And yet, despite being one of the more expensive Riga neighbourhoods to stay in, the Old Town has a few hostels as well. What I’ve noticed is that while the dorm rates for hostels in Riga Old Town are great value, private rooms are expensive by comparison. So, if you’re after your own space at an affordable rate, it’s best to look at the neighbourhoods below.
Summary – The heart of the city and the main place for sightseeing in Riga, the accommodation in Old Town is a mix of mid-range to high-end hotels, apartments and even a handful of hostels.
Riga City Centre
Truth be told, I’ve never stayed in Riga Old Town despite my extended length of time in the city. That’s because I prefer budget accommodation and my own space. And for that, my favourite place to stay is the Riga city centre.
It’s not just because Riga’s modern downtown area has the broadest selection of accommodations either. The centre of the city that stretches like a grid northeast of Bastejkalna Park may be light on attractions, but it’s heavy on convenience. You not only have loads of cafes, bars and restaurants to choose from, but they’re places that don’t exclusively rely on tourists. There are also shopping malls and supermarkets if you’re looking to feel a little more at home during your stay.
Then there’s the transport side of things. While you may be removed a bit from Riga’s attractions, it’s not hard to get into the Old Town from the centre. Simply take a walk for 5-10 minutes or use Riga’s public transport and you’re sightseeing before you know it.
Ultimately, I think that the centre is one of the best places to stay in Riga if you want to see what the city is like beyond just its beautiful but tourist-focused Old Town. I’d also say that the downtown area of the city is probably the best place to look for last-minute accommodation in Riga. I’ve personally had good luck on several occasions booking with little notice, even in high season.
Summary – Staying in the city centre puts you firmly within easy reach of everything you could need from your Riga visit. That’s to say nothing of the selection of accommodation you have across every style and price range. Viktorija Hotel is a basic but nice option, while Hotel Multilux is much more old-fashioned but affordable.
Avoti
Out to the east of the city centre and Old Town lies another option in Avoti. This neighbourhood borders the city centre but is a bit quieter and more residential. Although it may look a little rougher around the edges than the city centre at first glance, there’s not too much difference between the two.
In terms of sightseeing, Avoti is just as convenient a place to stay as downtown. It won’t take you any longer to walk to Old Town and it too is connected with city buses. One notable difference is that because it’s more residential, you have fewer food and drink options, but still some.
Due to the nature of the area, most of the accommodation options in Avoti are apartments and budget hotels. That tells you that while it might not be the liveliest part of Riga, it’s still a comfortable spot for travellers.
Summary – Avoti is a residential neighbourhood that is still right near the centre of the city. It’s good for those seeking quiet and convenience, thanks to apartments and budget options. That includes the Knights Court guesthouse which is good value.
Āgenskalns – Across the River
The Daugava River is a big feature for the city of Riga and it’s certainly one that’s hard to miss. You see it in the city’s best panoramas or if you’re coming in from the airport to the city centre. It’s a thick barrier between the two halves of the city, even with all the bridges that cross it.
With all that you might be asking, is it worth staying across the river in Riga? As always, the answer is that it depends. Now, if there’s one place neighbourhood worth staying in, it’s Āgenskalns. It’s the part of Riga directly opposite the Old Town, making it the most convenient for tourists.
You’ll also find that there’s a decent selection of places to stay in Āgenskalns. They run the full range from established 4* hotels to budget options and backpacker guesthouses. Chances are they won’t be as expensive of fully booked either compared to somewhere like Old Town, which helps.
But there are challenges to staying in Āgenskalns as well. First of all, you do feel removed from the city centre. This means you’ll need to take the tram when you want to go sightseeing. And while there are some restaurants and the Olimpia Shopping Centre, options are way more limited than in any of the above neighbourhoods.
Summary – Āgenskalns is a useful alternative if you can’t find accommodation elsewhere in the city. It has the obvious downside of being across the river from the city’s sights, but there’s an interesting mix of options here. I can recommend the Bridge Hotel, a minimalist budget hotel, even if it feels a little like student accommodation.
If you’ve been before, what would be your recommendation for where to stay in Riga? If not, which of these areas in Riga seems to suit you best? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
