Where to stay in Riga
Riga's sights sit within a half hour's walk of each other, so you choose an area on feel more than distance. Stay in the Old Town for a first short visit, in the Art Nouveau Centre for wide streets and calmer nights, and on Čaka and Miera streets for cafes and a local feel. The Old Town's lanes are loud on Friday and Saturday nights, and the one to choose with care.
The short answer
- First trip
- The Old Town, on a side street, or the Art Nouveau quarter for a calmer base ten minutes away.
- Couples
- Old Town for the lanes, or the Art Nouveau quarter for handsome streets and good restaurants.
- Families
- The Centre for the parks and museums, or the Art Nouveau quarter for space.
- Tight budget
- Central Market and Spīķeri or Čaka and Miera, a short walk from the center.
- Food and evenings
- Čaka and Miera for cafes and bars, the Central Market for lunch.
How we judge an area of Riga: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Riga's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Town Hall Square | Freedom Monument | Central Station | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Vecrīga) | A first, short visit | Busy; loud at weekends | 5 min | 10 min | 15 min | On foot; station 10 to 15 minutes | €€€ |
| Art Nouveau quarter | Architecture, calm | Quiet | 20 min | 15 min | 25 min | On foot; trams on Elizabetes | €€€ |
| The Centre, around the Freedom Monument | Parks, museums, transport | Quiet to moderate | 20 min | 10 min | 20 min | Trams; station 10 to 15 minutes | €€€ |
| Čaka and Miera streets | Cafes, local feel | Quiet | 35 min | 25 min | 25 min | Trams; walk to the center 20 to 25 minutes | €€ |
| Central Market and Spīķeri | Trains, market, value | Quiet; plain blocks nearby | 15 min | 15 min | 5 min | Station and bus station on site | €€ |
| Skanste | Modern hotels, quiet | Very quiet | 45 min | 35 min | 45 min | Tram and buses to the center | €€ |
| Pārdaugava: Kalnciems and Āgenskalns | Local feel, wooden houses | Very quiet | 25 min | 35 min | 40 min | Trams across the river | €€ |
Walking times run from the middle of each area: the straight line plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. The center is flat; the Old Town's lanes are cobbled. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the neighborhoods are
The Old Town, for a first short visit
The medieval center, with the sights at the door and the lanes loud on weekend nights.
The Old Town is the walled medieval center, built around Town Hall Square and Dome Square, with the House of the Blackheads, St Peter's Church, the cathedral and most of the guesthouses and the best known restaurants. Everything is on foot. The lanes are cobbled, so wheeled luggage is hard work, and some buildings are old, with narrow stairs.
It is the busiest part of the city. Day-trippers and cruise groups fill the squares from late morning to mid-afternoon, and the bars keep Friday and Saturday nights loud. Choose a room on a side street or facing a courtyard, ask whether it has a lift, and check what sits below it.
Good for
- A first trip of two or three nights
- Walking to every main sight
- Seeing the lanes early or late, away from the day-trippers
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly and the room faces a bar street
- You have heavy luggage and the building has no lift
- You want to feel somewhere local
Staying in Old Town (Vecrīga): nearby sights, food and getting around
The Art Nouveau quarter, for architecture and calmer nights
Wide streets of decorated early 1900s buildings just north of the Old Town, with restaurants and quieter nights.
North of the Old Town, the streets around Alberta, Elizabetes and Strēlnieku are lined with Art Nouveau apartment buildings from the early 1900s. Many hold hotels and small guesthouses, and the area has plenty of restaurants. The Old Town is about ten to fifteen minutes away on foot.
It is calmer at night than the Old Town and the streets are wide and flat, so luggage is easy. Some rooms are in old buildings with steep stairs, so check for a lift. A few streets carry heavy traffic, so ask for a room away from the main roads.
Good for
- Architecture on the doorstep
- Calmer nights than the Old Town
- Restaurants and a short walk to the lanes
Think twice if
- You want to be inside the Old Town
- Your building has no lift and steep stairs
Staying in Art Nouveau quarter: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Centre, for parks, museums and easy transport
The district east of the Old Town, with the Freedom Monument, the park belt and the National Museum of Art.
The Centre is the area east and north of the canal park, around Brīvības iela, the Freedom Monument and the Vērmanes garden. It has the National Museum of Art, theaters, chain hotels and shops, and a fifteen to twenty minute walk to the Old Town.
It is a working part of the city, with traffic and trams on the big streets and quiet blocks behind them. The park belt gives space to walk, and the station is close. There is less to look at than in the Old Town or the Art Nouveau streets.
Good for
- Families wanting parks nearby
- Trams, the station and museums close
- A mid-priced hotel with space
Think twice if
- You want historic streets outside the door
- You want a very quiet room on a main road
Staying in The Centre, around the Freedom Monument: nearby sights, food and getting around
Čaka and Miera streets, for cafes and a local feel
The district beyond the station tracks, with independent cafes and bakeries and a walk of about twenty-five minutes to the Old Town.
Čaka and Miera streets run north-east from the station, past old wooden houses and apartment blocks. They hold independent cafes, bakeries, bars and small galleries, and are known to locals as the quiet center. The Old Town is a walk of twenty-five minutes or a short tram ride.
It feels local and nights are quiet on most streets. There are fewer hotels, so rooms are mostly in guesthouses and apartments. Some blocks near the station are plain, and the area suits cafes more than sightseeing.
Good for
- A local feel, with cafes and bakeries at the door
- Quiet nights at a lower price
- Walking or taking the tram to the center
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the Old Town in ten minutes
- You want a hotel with a front desk and a lift
Staying in Čaka and Miera streets: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Central Market and Spīķeri, for trains, markets and value
The area south of the Old Town, with the Central Market, the station and the Spīķeri warehouse quarter.
The Central Market fills five former Zeppelin hangars beside the railway station and the bus station, with the Spīķeri warehouse quarter just east. The Old Town's edge is a ten minute walk, and Town Hall Square about fifteen.
It is the cheapest part of the center to stay in, and the easiest for trains, airport buses and the Jūrmala line. It is busy by day and quiet at night. Some blocks around the station are plain and run-down, and the area is better for lunch and for convenience than for a scenic walk.
Good for
- Arriving by train or bus
- Lunch at the market and a lower price
- A short walk to the Old Town
Think twice if
- You want historic streets outside the door
- You want a polished area to walk through at night
Staying in Central Market and Spīķeri: nearby sights, food and getting around
Skanste, for modern hotels and quiet
A newer district north of the center with modern hotels and apartments, about thirty minutes' walk from the Old Town.
Skanste is the district north of the center, built up with offices, modern apartments and a few hotels around Skanstes iela. A tram line and buses run to the Old Town in a short ride, and the walk is about thirty minutes.
It is calm at night and mostly new, with less atmosphere. There are shops and cafes, but you will often take the tram for dinner. It suits people who want a modern room at a fair price and don't mind the ride.
Good for
- Modern rooms and quiet nights
- A lower price than the Old Town
- Car parking more easily
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the Old Town
- You want old streets and restaurants at the door
Pārdaugava, for wooden houses and a local feel
The district across the Daugava, with old wooden houses, a Saturday market and a walk of about thirty minutes to the Old Town.
Pārdaugava is the west bank of the Daugava. Kalnciems and Āgenskalns have streets of 19th century wooden houses, courtyards, small cafes and the Kalnciema Quarter market on Saturdays. Trams and buses cross the river to the Old Town in a short ride, and you can walk over the Stone Bridge in about thirty minutes.
It is calm and residential, and feels local. Rooms are mostly apartments and guesthouses, and some wooden buildings creak and have steep stairs. It is the choice for a longer stay or a second visit, not for two nights with a list of sights.
Good for
- A longer stay with a local feel
- Quiet nights and wooden houses
- A lower price for a larger room
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the Old Town
- You are in Riga for two nights
Staying in Pārdaugava: Kalnciems and Āgenskalns: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Riga, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Riga. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room above a bar on the Old Town's lanes on a weekend
Friday and Saturday nights run late on the lanes, and the noise carries up. Ask for a courtyard or a high floor, and read recent reviews for the word noise.
- An Old Town room up several flights with no lift
Many buildings are old, with narrow stairs. Check the lift and the floor before you book, particularly with heavy bags on cobbles.
- A hotel out by the airport, for a city break
The airport is about 40 minutes from the Old Town by bus, so there is nothing to save by staying out there. Stay in the center and take the bus in.
- A 'central' rate that turns out to be far from the Old Town
Some listings say 'Riga center' for places a half hour's walk away. Check the walking time on a map before you pay.
- A room on the busiest roads near the station
Trams, buses and trains start early. Choose a side street in the Centre or the Art Nouveau quarter.
Which neighborhood suits you
First time in Riga
The Old Town, on a side street, or the Art Nouveau quarter for a calmer base.
Couples
Old Town for the lanes, or the Art Nouveau quarter for handsome streets.
Families with children
The Centre for the park belt and museums, or the Art Nouveau quarter for space.
A tight budget
Food
The Central Market for lunch, Čaka and Miera for cafes.
Peace and quiet
The Art Nouveau quarter, Skanste or Pārdaugava.
Arriving by train or bus
Central Market and Spīķeri, next to the stations.
Before you book a room in Riga
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Riga makes a good stay.
- The tourist taxRiga charges a tourist tax of €1 per person per night in 2026 (0.89 euros plus VAT). The city has agreed with the tourism industry to raise it to €2 per person per night from 1 January 2027, to match Vilnius and Kaunas. Hotels usually add it to the bill, so check whether it is in the price you see.
- From Riga AirportBus 22 runs from the airport to the Old Town in about 40 minutes, with stops at Grēcinieku iela, beside the Old Town, and at the bus station near the central railway station. A ticket costs €1.50 bought in advance, at Narvesen kiosks, ticket machines or in the transport apps, and €1.81 from the driver. The N22 night bus runs after the day service ends. A taxi or ride-hailing app takes 15 to 25 minutes and costs about €10 to €25.
- TrainsThe Central Station is on the edge of the Old Town, next to the Central Market and the bus station. The Jūrmala line leaves from here, and Majori is about 30 minutes away.
- Weekend noiseFriday and Saturday nights are the loudest in the Old Town. If your room faces a street with bars, ask for a courtyard side.
- WinterRiga is dark and cold from November to February, with snow common in January. A room in the Old Town or the Art Nouveau quarter means a short walk to dinner.
- Cobbles, hills and stairsThe Old Town's lanes are cobbled, and many old buildings have narrow stairs and small lifts or none. If stairs are hard for you, check before you book, not on arrival.
Where to stay in Riga: questions people ask
What is the best area to stay in Riga for a first visit?
The Old Town, for a short trip: the squares, the churches and the best known restaurants are at the door. Pick a side street or a courtyard room for quieter nights. The Art Nouveau quarter, ten minutes north, is a calmer alternative.
Is it better to stay in the Old Town or the Art Nouveau quarter?
The Old Town if you want atmosphere and a short walk to the sights. The Art Nouveau quarter if you would rather have wide, flat streets and quieter nights, with the Old Town about ten to fifteen minutes away.
Is Čaka street a good place to stay?
Yes, for cafes, bakeries and a local feel at lower prices than the center. It is a walk of about twenty-five minutes to the Old Town, and has fewer hotels, so rooms are mostly in guesthouses and apartments.
Where should I avoid staying in Riga?
A room above a bar on a weekend in the Old Town, and a flat in a building with no lift up several flights. Be careful with rooms listed as 'central' that are far from the Old Town. Most of the center is well lit and busy, but keep general city care at night.
Is Riga a walkable city?
Yes. The Old Town, the Art Nouveau streets and the station are within a half hour of each other on foot and mostly flat. Skanste, Pārdaugava and Mežaparks are better reached by tram or taxi.
How do I get from Riga Airport to the center?
By bus 22, which takes about 40 minutes to the Old Town and costs €1.50 bought in advance or €1.81 from the driver. A taxi or ride-hailing app takes 15 to 25 minutes and costs about €10 to €25, and the N22 night bus runs after midnight.
Is there a tourist tax in Riga?
Yes. It is €1 per person per night in 2026, and the city has agreed to raise it to €2 from 1 January 2027. Hotels usually add it to the bill, so check the terms.
Should I stay in Riga or in Jūrmala?
Riga for a city break, because the sights, restaurants and transport are here. Jūrmala is a day trip of about 30 minutes by train in summer, or a base if the beach matters more than the city.
