Riga is one of those cities in Europe that surprises the most people. Medieval streets, the world’s best art nouveau architecture, fantastic food and surprisingly good nightlife – all at prices that make other European Capitals look like a bad joke.
In this guide I give you the overview of the best areas to stay in, with specific hotel suggestions across different price ranges.
Where should you stay in Riga? Let’s get started with the guide.
Best Areas in Riga
Here’s a quick overview of the best areas to stay in Riga:
- Old Town (Vecrīga) – Cobblestone streets, Gothic churches and historic charm 🏰
- City Centre (Centrs) – Best compromise between price and location 🏛️
- Āgenskalns – Wooden house quarters and local city life on the other side 🏡
1. Old Town (Vecrīga) – Best Area for First-Time Visitors ⭐️
📍 Distance to centre: You ARE in the centre
🚇 Nearest tram: Stops along the edge of the Old Town
✈️ Time to airport: 25 minutes by bus/taxi
💰 Price level: €€€ (3/5)
👮 Safety: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most obvious place to stay if it’s your first trip to Riga. You literally step out of the hotel and find yourself in the middle of narrow cobblestone streets with Gothic church towers, medieval merchant houses and Baroque buildings in every direction.
This is where you’ll find the big highlights: the House of the Blackheads with its wildly detailed facade, the Riga Cathedral with its famous organ, and St. Peter’s Church where you can take the lift up the tower and get a view over the entire city that’s worth every penny.
You can see the best hotels in the Old Town and compare prices – you’ll be surprised at how cheap it is, even for the nice places.
In the evening the Old Town completely changes character. The facades light up, jazz music pours out from the bars, and the scent from the basement restaurants is almost impossible to resist. Set aside time for the Central Market on the edge of the Old Town – five converted Zeppelin hangars with fresh fish, local cheese and Latvian specialities.
The downside is that it’s the most expensive area, and during the daytime it can feel a bit touristy. But it’s still cheap by Western European standards, and you’re paying to be right in the middle of everything. Think Nyhavn in Copenhagen, just with more medieval character, fewer tourists and much cheaper beer.
Considering other weekend cities in the same vein? Also check out my guides to where to stay in Prague, Gdansk or Krakow – the same combination of history and low prices.
Places to Stay in the Old Town
Grand Palace Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Riga’s finest hotel and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, located in the heart of the Old Town just 100 metres from the castle. Only 56 rooms, so it feels intimate and personal. The building dates from 1877, but everything has been updated with modern comfort. Breakfast in the Orangery with its glass roof is an experience in itself. It’s the splurge choice, and in Riga you can actually afford it.
Previous guests particularly highlight: “Room was spacious and comfortable. Staff was super-friendly and breakfast was amazing. One of the best hotels I have ever been.”
Hotel Neiburgs ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stylish design hotel in a beautiful art nouveau building right opposite the Cathedral. Spacious, apartment-style rooms with high ceilings, kitchenette and modern Latvian decor. The restaurant serves fantastic Baltic cuisine with fresh produce from the Central Market and is Michelin-recommended. If you want space, personality and a great restaurant on the ground floor, this is where you should stay.
A recent guest wrote: “Clean room, beautiful view, great breakfast, helpful staff, ideal location. Overall a really lovely hotel.”
Hotel Gutenbergs ⭐⭐⭐
Family-run boutique hotel in two connected buildings from the 17th and 19th centuries, right by the Cathedral. Charming rooms with historical details such as 300-year-old wooden beams, high ceilings and antique furniture. The rooftop terrace with views over the Old Town rooftops is perfect for an evening drink. The location score is 9.8 on Booking.com – it doesn’t get better than this at that price.
Guests particularly love: “Great location, everything is within walking distance. The hotel staff were helpful, and the breakfast was the best compared to other places in Riga.”
2. City Centre (Centrs) – Best Area for Most People 🏛️
📍 Distance to centre: You are in the centre
🚇 Nearest tram/bus: Many lines along Brīvības bulvāris
✈️ Time to airport: 20-25 minutes by bus/taxi
💰 Price level: €€ (2/5)
👮 Safety: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
If I had to recommend one area for most travellers, it would be the City Centre. This is where modern Riga connects the Old Town with the rest of the city, and you get the best combination of location, price and atmosphere.
In the City Centre you’ll find the Freedom Monument, the beautiful Bastejkalns Park with romantic canals, and Riga’s impressive opera house.
The area is packed with restaurants, cocktail bars and cafes, and the atmosphere is a good mix of local everyday life and tourist-friendly energy.
You walk to the Old Town in 5-10 minutes. The train station and bus terminal are right nearby, so you can easily take a day trip to the seaside town of Jūrmala. And hotel prices are generally lower than in the Old Town itself. If you want to see the best hotels in the City Centre, you’ll find plenty of good options at reasonable prices. You don’t lose anything by staying here.
You simply get more for your money.
It’s a bit like staying by the Main Square in Krakow – central, accessible and lively, but without paying the Old Town premium.
Places to Stay in the City Centre
Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Luxury with a capital L. Spa with indoor pool, fitness, several restaurants and a location that gives you everything within walking distance. Rooms are large and elegantly decorated, and the breakfast buffet is some of the best in the city. Try checking what a comparable five-star hotel costs in Paris or London. You’ll have a good laugh at the price in Riga.
Previous guests particularly highlight: “The room was beautiful and spacious, the bed was large and very comfortable with excellent quality bed linen.”
Wellton Centrum Hotel & SPA ⭐⭐⭐⭐
One of the best value-for-money hotels in Riga. Four stars with spa, pool and sauna, located right by the Freedom Monument and the Old Town. Comfortable rooms, good breakfast with plenty of variety, and prices low enough that you can spend the savings on an extra good dinner out in the city. Hard to beat at that price.
A recent guest wrote: “Super stay and good service, booked superior room and was all good staying experience with spa wellness and delicious breakfast.”
Another Wellton hotel, but in a lower price bracket. Centrally located with clean, modern rooms, spa with sauna and hot tub, and a solid breakfast. The prices are almost laughably low for what you get. Perfect if you want to keep the budget down without compromising on location or facilities.
Guests particularly love: “Centrally located modern hotel with comfortable rooms and heated bathroom floors. Staff are very friendly and helpful.”
3. Āgenskalns – Best Area for Budget Travellers 🏡
📍 Distance to centre: 1-2 km (across the bridge)
🚇 Nearest tram: Several lines in the neighbourhood
✈️ Time to airport: 15-20 minutes by car
💰 Price level: € (1/5)
👮 Safety: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Āgenskalns sits on the other side of the Daugava River, and this is where you’ll find the Riga that tourists rarely see. The neighbourhood is famous for its hundreds of preserved wooden houses from the 19th century, and the atmosphere feels more like a cosy village than a capital city.
Local cafes, vintage shops and a bohemian atmosphere that has something of a Berlin-Kreuzberg feel about it.
From Āgenskalns you can walk over the bridge to the Old Town in 15-20 minutes, or hop on the tram. The view across the river towards the Old Town is fantastic, particularly in the evening light. The Āgenskalns Market has been recently renovated and is a hit with local food lovers.
If you want to see the best hotels in the Āgenskalns area, the selection is more limited than in the other neighbourhoods, but prices are significantly lower in return.
This isn’t the most practical place to stay, and there are fewer hotels than in the other areas. But if you’re a budget traveller, have a car, or simply want to experience a more local side of Riga, it’s definitely worth considering. Kipsala island nearby gives you a panoramic view over the Old Town and easy access to the bridge.
Winter has its own charm out here with snow-covered wooden houses and local basement restaurants.
Places to Stay in the Āgenskalns Area
Riga Islande Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Modern hotel on Kipsala island with one of the best views in all of Riga – out over the Daugava River with the Old Town as a backdrop. Restaurant, bar, fitness and even a bowling alley. 205 rooms, most with river views, a generous breakfast buffet and free parking. You’re 10 minutes from the Old Town but feel a world away from the tourists.
Previous guests particularly highlight: “Amazing view over the river to old town. Very comfortable rooms and great breakfast buffet. Free parking was a real bonus.”
Wellton Riverside SPA Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Located by the riverbank with views over the Daugava and easy access to both the Old Town and Āgenskalns via the bridge. Spa with pool, sauna and steam room, comfortable rooms and a solid breakfast. A good mid-range choice if you want to be close to the water and have the best of both sides of the river. Good value for money.
A recent guest wrote: “Great location near the river, good spa facilities, comfortable rooms. Easy walk to old town and central market.”
Good budget choice by Victory Park with free parking, spa and a decent breakfast. The location is a bit more peripheral, but the tram stops right outside the door and takes you to the centre in a few minutes. If you’re arriving by car or simply want the most hotel for the least money, it’s a solid choice with surprisingly good facilities.
Guests particularly love: “Great value for money. Clean rooms, nice spa area and the tram stop right outside takes you to old town in minutes.”
Where Not To Stay in Riga ❗️
Riga is generally a safe city, but a couple of things are worth mentioning. The area directly around the Central Station can feel a bit sketchy late at night. It’s fine during the daytime, but choose a hotel a few streets away.
You’ll have a better experience staying in the City Centre or the Old Town.
The Moscow Quarter (Maskavas Forštate) on the other side of the Central Market has a raw and exciting multiculture, but it’s not the most tourist-friendly area. Most people will feel more comfortable in one of the areas above.
Better to book in the City Centre, which gives you easy access to the market without staying right in the middle of it.
Riga is one of Europe’s most underrated cities. Medieval history, fantastic art nouveau architecture, great food and surprisingly good nightlife, all at prices that are a fraction of what you’d pay in Western Europe.
If you like that kind of destination, Budapest is also an obvious choice with the same combination of history, architecture and cheap, good food.
Have a great trip to Riga!
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
Psst 👀 Have you subscribed to my Youtube channel and my Instagram where I provide more useful travel tips?