In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Riga’s hotels range from boutique hotels in medieval townhouses to five-star parkside hotels and spas. Old Riga (Vecrīga) suits first-time visitors who want the sights and taverns on foot; Centrs and the Boulevard Circle have the train and bus stations and the larger hotels; and the Quiet Centre (Klusais centrs) has tree-lined streets, bistros and the Art Nouveau district. Hotels add a municipal tourist tax per person per night (under-18s exempt). Or book a tour: an Old Town walking tour with a local guidead is sold on GetYourGuide.
⚠️ Mind the Old Town cobblestones with wheeled luggage. Vecrīga is paved with rough granite cobbles. If you arrive on foot from Central Station or the airport bus stop with wheeled suitcases, book a hotel on the southern or eastern edge of the historic quarter, or take a Bolt taxi to the hotel door.
Riga’s neighbourhoods
The choice comes down to medieval atmosphere, nightlife, parks or transport links:
| Neighbourhood | Best For | Walking Time to Vecrīga | Character & Atmosphere | Recommended Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Vecrīga) | First-timers, short breaks, sightseeing | 0 mins (In the centre) | Pedestrian cobblestones, historic churches, lively taverns | Dome Hotel, Neiburgs, Grand Palace, Hotel Justus |
| Centrs & Boulevard Circle | Business, transit access, shopping | 2–5 mins | Grand 19th-century boulevards, park views, luxury spas | Grand Poet, Grand Hotel Kempinski, Radisson Blu Latvija |
| The Quiet Centre | Architecture fans, couples, quiet dining | 12–15 mins | Restored Art Nouveau facades, embassies, chef bistros | Pullman Old Town (border), boutique design apartments |
| Pārdaugava (Left Bank) | Modern views, airport proximity, budget | 10–15 mins (across bridge) | National Library, river vistas, modern business hotels | Radisson Blu Daugava, Rixwell Elefant |
Vecrīga (Old Town): best for first-timers and short breaks
Vecrīga is the medieval core, with Gothic spires, pastel guildhalls and pedestrian cobbled lanes.
Why stay in the Old Town
- Walkability: Step directly outside your hotel entrance into Town Hall Square, Dome Square or St Peter’s Church. Everything in the historic core is a five to ten-minute walk.
- Mornings: The squares are quiet until the tour groups arrive.
- Dining and drinks: Cellars, bakeries, cafes and taverns, including Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs and Black Magic Bar—are right on your doorstep.
Top Old Town hotels
- Dome Hotel (Miesnieku iela 4): A 5-star boutique hotel in a restored 400-year-old townhouse on an alley near the Dome Cathedral. It has wooden furnishings, original ceiling beams, a rooftop cocktail terrace overlooking the cathedral tower, and a Finnish sauna. Check availability on Hotels.comad.
- Neiburgs Hotel (Jauniela 25/27): A design hotel in a 1903 Art Nouveau building on cobbled Jauniela. It offers apartment-style suites with kitchenettes and floor-to-ceiling windows, a ground-floor restaurant, and a small wellness area. See the Hotels.comad.
- Grand Palace Hotel (Pils iela 12): Built in 1877 as a bank, this member of The Leading Hotels of the World sits on quiet Pils iela near Riga Castle. Rooms have antique furnishings and heated marble bathroom floors. Check availability on Hotels.comad.
- Hotel Justus (Jauniela 24): A 4-star boutique hotel located directly opposite Neiburgs on Jauniela. It has exposed 18th-century brick walls, wrought-iron details and a bar. Jauniela stood in for Baker Street in the Soviet television series Sherlock Holmes. Check availability on Hotels.comad.
- Konventa Sēta Hotel (Kalēju iela 9/11): A large hotel in the 14th-century Convent Yard complex between St Peter’s and St John’s churches. The interiors are contemporary Scandinavian-Baltic, with the original timber beams and stone arches kept. Check availability on Hotels.comad.
Centrs and the Boulevard Circle: boulevards and spa hotels
The 19th-century boulevard ring curves round the east of Old Riga, laid out after the medieval ramparts were demolished.
Why stay in Centrs
- Convenience: It sits between the Old Town and the shopping and financial districts, close to Riga Central Railway Station and the International Bus Station for day trips to Sigulda, Rundāle and Jūrmala.
- Parkside views: Many properties overlook the canal gardens of Bastejkalns and the Freedom Monument.
- Spas: The larger hotels here have swimming pools, saunas and treatment rooms.
Top Centrs hotels
- Grand Poet Hotel by Semarah (Raiņa bulvāris 5/6): A design-led 5-star hotel facing Bastion Hill park, with Bohemian-eclectic interiors, a French-Baltic restaurant, and the Hedonic Spa (a 15-metre swimming pool, Finnish sauna, bio-sauna and steam rooms). Check availability on Hotels.comad.
- Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga (Aspazijas bulvāris 22): Directly opposite the Latvian National Opera on the canal park border, on the site of the 19th-century Hotel de Rome. It has marble bathrooms, a rooftop restaurant overlooking the opera gardens, and the Kempinski The Spa. See the Hotels.comad.
- Radisson Blu Latvija Conference & Spa Hotel (Elizabetes iela 55): A high-rise in central Riga with the six-storey ESPA Rīga spa and the 26th-floor Skyline Bar. Check availability on Hotels.comad.
- Wellton Riga Hotel & SPA (Vaļņu iela 49): A 4-star hotel on the southern border of Old Riga, two minutes from the railway station and Central Market, with an indoor spa pool, salt sauna and massage rooms. Check availability on Hotels.comad.
- Pullman Riga Old Town (Jēkaba iela 24): Built into an 18th-century stable block with a glass extension on the park boundary near the Swedish Gate. It has an indoor lap pool and a sauna. Check availability on Hotels.comad.
The Quiet Centre (Klusais centrs): architecture and upscale dining
The Quiet Centre is a residential district 12 to 15 minutes’ walk north of Old Riga, around Alberta, Elizabetes, Strēlnieku and Antonijas streets.
Why stay in the Quiet Centre
- Art Nouveau: Mikhail Eisenstein’s sculpted facades are on your doorstep. Our Riga Art Nouveau guide has the details.
- Quiet nights: Few pubs, so little late-night noise on the tree-lined streets.
- Dining: Wine bars, bistros and bakeries, mixed in with embassy residences.
Spa hotels and booking advice
Several Riga hotels have swimming pools and saunas:
- Winter spa breaks: From November to April you can tour museums in the morning and spend the afternoon in the pools and saunas of the Hedonic Spa at the Grand Poet or at ESPA Rīga.
- Seasonal prices: Hotel rates peak from June to August and during the December Christmas market. Booking 4 to 8 weeks ahead gives the best choice of rooms. April, May, September and October have milder weather and lower rates.
Tourist tax and arrival logistics
- Tourist tax (Tūrisma nodeva): Riga charges a municipal accommodation tax per person per night. Children under 18 are exempt, and the hotel collects it at check-in or check-out.
- From Riga Airport (RIX):
- Public Bus 22: Stops outside the terminal and reaches Old Town (11. novembra krastmala or Centrāltirgus) in 25 to 35 minutes for €1.50 (see our Riga airport to city guide).
- Bolt Taxi: The Bolt app takes you to the hotel door.
What to explore next
- Riga in one or two days: A 48-hour itinerary through Vecrīga and the boulevards.
- 3 Days in Riga: A long weekend with a day trip.
- Where to Eat in Riga: Restaurants, taverns and bakeries near your hotel.
- Is Riga Safe?: Night-time safety and which areas to avoid.
- Public Transport in Riga: Trams, buses and ticket validator rules.
Common questions
Does Riga charge a tourist tax on hotel stays?
Yes. Riga charges a municipal accommodation tax per person per night. Children under 18 are exempt, and the hotel collects it at check-in or check-out.
Where should first-time visitors stay in Riga?
First-time visitors should base themselves in Old Riga (Vecrīga). The historic core is pedestrianised and compact, with the House of the Black Heads, Dome Cathedral, St Peter's Church and Central Market within a 5 to 10-minute walk.
Which neighbourhood is quietest and best for architecture lovers?
The Quiet Centre (Klusais centrs), the embassy district north of the Esplanāde, has leafy boulevards, restaurants and the Art Nouveau facades around Alberta and Elizabetes streets.
What kinds of hotel does Riga have?
Old Town hotels run from 3-star and boutique 4-star properties to five-star hotels, and rates change with the season. Rates peak from June to August and during the December Christmas market.
Is it easy to reach hotels from Riga Airport?
Yes. Public bus route 22 departs every 10 to 15 minutes directly outside the terminal, reaching the Old Town embankment (11. novembra krastmala) or Central Station in 25 to 30 minutes for a €1.50 fare.
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