P6 Old Town Apartments

You know what caught me off guard about P6 Old Town Apartments? The fact that it’s actually on the sixth floor – and I mean, you’re literally living above Riga’s medieval heart in this converted space that feels more like a friend’s stylish apartment than a typical hotel. The elevator’s one of those old European ones that takes forever, but honestly, by the time you reach the top, you’re already getting excited about the views you’re going to have over those red-tiled roofs.

The location is just ridiculous in the best way possible. Pasta iela is this narrow cobblestone street that most tourists walk right past without realizing there’s accommodation tucked up there. You’re maybe a two-minute stumble from Livu Square (perfect for those late-night drinks at one of the outdoor terraces), and the Daugava River is close enough that you can hear the occasional boat horn if you open the windows. I actually loved falling asleep to the sound of footsteps echoing off the medieval walls below – it’s like staying inside a history book, but with decent Wi-Fi and a proper shower. The apartments themselves have this modern-meets-old-world thing going on that could’ve been cheesy but somehow works. The floors creak just enough to remind you you’re in a building that’s probably older than your home country, but the kitchen setup is surprisingly functional if you want to grab groceries from the Rimi down on Audēju iela and cook something instead of eating out every night.

Here’s the thing about staying in Riga’s Old Town – it gets loud on weekends, especially during summer when the bachelor parties descend on the city. But being up on the sixth floor actually shields you from most of the street noise, which is something I didn’t expect. The fact that this place has a 9.3 rating makes total sense once you’ve stayed there; it’s not trying to be fancy, it’s just doing everything right without making a big deal about it. Parking’s going to be your biggest headache (welcome to European old towns), but there’s a paid lot about five minutes away on foot, and honestly, once you’re settled in, you won’t want to drive anywhere anyway – everything worth seeing is walkable, and the trams are right there if you want to venture out to places like the Central Market or across the river to check out the Art Nouveau district. The check-in was refreshingly straightforward too, none of that awkward small talk while they try to upsell you on breakfast or tours. Just keys, quick rundown of how everything works, and you’re set to explore one of Europe’s most underrated capital cities from what’s basically your own private perch above it all.