Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through one we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. Full disclosure.

Accommodation

Where to Stay in Riga: The Areas, Compared

Riga is compact, so the choice is about atmosphere and trade-offs rather than distance. First visit, short stay: Old Town. Quieter, more local, better for a longer stay: the Quiet Centre. Arriving late by bus or train, or counting every euro: around the Central Market. Every area below is walkable or a short tram ride from the rest — the wrong choice costs you minutes, not hours.

Search all Riga hotels Budget options 5-star hotels

Old Town (Vecrīga)

€€€ · priciest

Best for a first visit

Step out of the door into the medieval streets. Everything a first-time visitor comes for — St Peter's, the Dome Cathedral, the House of the Blackheads and, in December, the Christmas market in Dome Square — is within a few minutes' walk, and this is where the restaurant choice is densest.

Trade-off: It is the busiest and most tourist-priced part of town, with late-night noise on the main bar streets. Ask for a courtyard-facing room.

Walk to every main sight Christmas market on the doorstep Densest restaurant choice Most hotels to choose from

Hotels worth a look

Grand Palace Hotel — Old Town
Neiburgs Hotel — Old Town
Konventa Sēta – Keystone Collection — Old Town
Carillon Aparthotel – Keystone Collection — Old Town
Redstone Apartments & Boutique Suites — Old Town
Wellton Riverside SPA Hotel — Old Town riverside
Naughty Squirrel Backpackers — Old Town, budget hostel

The Old Town edge, along the canal park, trades a little atmosphere for a calmer street: Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga and Eurostars Metropole.

Browse Old Town hotels

Quiet Centre & Art Nouveau district

€€ · mid-range

Best for architecture and calm evenings

The leafy blocks north of the canal, where Riga keeps most of its Art Nouveau. Embassy streets, independent cafés, the National Art Museum and parks, with a more residential feel than anywhere else this central.

Trade-off: Fewer hotels to choose from, and a 10–15 minute walk into Old Town (or a short tram ride).

Art Nouveau streets at the door Evenings without stag-party noise Independent cafés and parks 10–15 min walk to Old Town

Hotels worth a look

Hotel Bergs Suites — Quiet Centre

We name only one hotel here because the area runs on serviced apartments rather than big hotels, and the Art Nouveau walking route starts on these streets rather than a tram ride away.

Browse Quiet Centre hotels

The Centre (Centrs)

€€ · mid-range

Best for business and larger hotels

The working city between the station and the Art Nouveau blocks. This is where the larger modern hotels are, the ones with a restaurant, a gym and a spa on site, and where the conference venues sit.

Trade-off: A busier, office-and-traffic feel than Old Town or the Quiet Centre, and less atmosphere on the doorstep.

Larger modern hotels On-site spas and restaurants Conference venues close by Trams and buses from the door

Hotels worth a look

Grand Poet Hotel & SPA by Semarah — Centre
Radisson Blu Latvija — Centre
Aston Hotel Riga — Centre

Browse Centre hotels

Central Market & the station

€ · best value

Best value, and best for late arrivals

Trains, long-distance buses and the airport bus all land within a few hundred metres of each other here, and the Central Market — five former Zeppelin hangars of food — is the reason to stay rather than just the reason to pass through.

Trade-off: The streets around the station are functional rather than pretty after dark. Fine for most people, but it is not the postcard Riga.

Best value this close in Trains, buses and airport bus Central Market for cheap food About 10 min walk to Old Town

Hotels worth a look

Aparthotel Amella — Central Market
Hanza Hotel — near the station, budget

More on the practicalities in our cheap hotels guide and the airport guide.

Browse hotels near the market

Āgenskalns

€ · best value

Best for drivers and families

A residential neighbourhood across the river from Old Town, with wooden houses, a renovated market hall and parking that does not cost a fortune. If you are picking up a car for day trips, this is the sensible side of the water to sleep on.

Trade-off: You are a tram or bus ride from the sights, not a stroll.

Parking is the point Quiet and residential Across the river from Old Town Easy exit road for day trips

Hotels worth a look

Bellevue Park Hotel — Āgenskalns, free parking

Read the car rental guide first — in the centre you will not need one.

Browse Āgenskalns hotels

Add-on: a spa night in Jūrmala

€€ · swings with the season

Best for a beach-and-spa break

Jūrmala is the beach resort 25 minutes by train from Riga Central Station, and the obvious place for a spa night. It works as a one- or two-night add-on to a Riga stay rather than as a base for sightseeing — 30 km of white sand, pine forest, wooden villas and pools.

Trade-off: Peak summer is the expensive season and the sights are all back in Riga. Winter is when the spa hotels are best value.

Spa hotels and pools Pine forest and 30 km of beach 25 min by train from Riga Best as a 1–2 night add-on

Hotels worth a look

Jurmala Spa Hotel — Jūrmala
Lielupe Hotel SPA by Semarah — Jūrmala
Baltic Beach Hotel & SPA — Jūrmala
Lettia Aparthotel — Jūrmala

Our spa hotels guide and Jūrmala guide go into detail.

Browse Jūrmala hotels

The € bands are relative positions among Riga's areas, not nightly rates. Rates and review scores move daily, so we do not print them here — check the live figures for your dates.

How to Choose, and When to Book

Two to three nights, first visit — Old Town. You will spend most of your time inside the medieval core, and the walk home at midnight is the point.

Four nights or more — split the stay, or pick the Quiet Centre and walk in. Old Town is wonderful for two days and a little relentless for five.

December and New Year's Eve — book early. See the Christmas market guide and the New Year's Eve guide for the dates that sell out first.

Consider apartments for three nights or more — Riga has a deep supply of serviced apartments, especially in the Quiet Centre, and they often undercut an equivalent hotel room.

Getting in from the airport is cheap either way — Bus 22 is about €2 and takes roughly 30 minutes; a taxi or Bolt covers the 10 km in 15–20 minutes for €10–15. Neither is a reason to pick one area over another. Details in the airport guide.

Free cancellation is the norm — most Riga properties offer it up to a day or two before check-in, so book something now and refine later.

Travelling with children? — see Riga with kids for why the Quiet Centre often suits families better than Old Town.

Want named picks instead of areas? — best hotels in Riga for luxury, boutique and budget choices, and our neighbourhoods guide for the full breakdown beyond accommodation.

Early arrival or late departure? — rather than paying for an extra night to hold your bags, drop them at a luggage storage point near Old Town or the station and explore hands-free until check-in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best area to stay in Riga for a first visit?

Old Town. It puts the main sights, restaurants and the Christmas market within walking distance. The trade-off is that it is the busiest and most expensive area.

Is it better to stay in Old Town or the Art Nouveau district?

Old Town for atmosphere and a short stay; the Quiet Centre / Art Nouveau area for calmer evenings and a more residential feel. Both are walkable to each other.

Where should I stay if I arrive by bus or train?

Around the Central Market and station is the most convenient for late arrivals and early departures, and tends to be the best value.

Should I stay in Jūrmala instead of Riga?

Jūrmala works as a spa add-on of one or two nights, but Riga is the better base for sightseeing, with frequent trains to the coast.

Last updated: October 2026. Hotel names are listed without prices or review scores, which change daily — check live figures for your dates.

Compare Riga Hotels

Search every area in one place and sort by what matters to you.

Search Riga hotels