Spacious Apartment in Old Town Riga

You know what struck me first about this place? The building itself – it’s one of those gorgeous 19th-century townhouses on Smilšu iela that somehow survived everything Riga’s been through. I mean, you’re literally sleeping in Old Town history here, and honestly, that 9.7 rating makes perfect sense once you step inside.

The apartment is genuinely spacious, which is kind of a miracle in this part of town where most places feel like they were carved out of broom closets. You get actual room to spread out your stuff (trust me, after living out of a suitcase, this matters). The ceilings are high in that old European way that makes you feel fancy, and the windows – well, they face the street so you get that authentic cobblestone soundtrack. It’s not exactly quiet, especially on weekend nights when people are bar-hopping between Folkklubs and the spots on Kalķu iela, but honestly? That’s part of the charm. You’re in the heart of everything.

What I really loved is how walkable everything is from here. The House of the Blackheads is maybe a three-minute stroll, and you’re even closer to some of the better local spots that tourists usually miss – like that little coffee place on Audēju iela that does incredible pastries. The Daugava riverfront is right there too, which is perfect for morning walks before the day gets crazy. Parking is… well, it’s Old Town, so good luck with that. But the tram stops are super close, and you can walk to basically anything worth seeing anyway.

The check-in was smooth – none of that awkward hunting around for keys or confusing building codes. The place feels lived-in but well-maintained, if that makes sense. Like someone actually cares about it rather than just churning through Airbnb guests. The kitchen has everything you need if you want to grab stuff from the Central Market (definitely do this, by the way – it’s incredible and only about ten minutes away). There’s decent Wi-Fi, which matters if you’re trying to work remotely, and the heating actually works, which is more important than you’d think in a Baltic winter.

I guess what sets this apart from other Old Town places is that it feels like a real apartment rather than a hotel room someone stuck in a historic building. You get space to actually relax after spending days wandering around all those Art Nouveau buildings in the Alberta iela area. Plus, being on Smilšu means you’re close enough to the action but not directly on top of the main tourist drag – so you get some breathing room without sacrificing convenience.

Bottom line: if you want to experience Riga like you’re actually living there temporarily rather than just passing through, this is your spot. The price point makes sense for what you get, and honestly, finding anything this good in Old Town at this level is pretty rare. Just don’t expect complete silence at night – you’re in the middle of one of Europe’s most underrated party cities, after all.