Vitalija

Hotel Description

You know what? The Vitalija caught me off guard in the best possible way. I’ll be honest, when I first walked up to the building on Strugu iela – which is this quiet residential street just across the Daugava from Old Town – I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But there’s something genuinely welcoming about this spot that you don’t get from the bigger chain hotels downtown.

The thing about staying here is you’re actually living like a local for a few days. I mean, you’re literally in a neighborhood where people walk their dogs and grab groceries, not just tourist central. The tram stop is maybe a 3-minute walk, and honestly, getting into the heart of Riga takes about 10 minutes – way less stressful than dealing with Old Town’s cobblestone streets if you’ve got luggage. The staff at check-in were genuinely helpful (not just going through the motions), and they knew the area well enough to point me toward this little bakery around the corner that I never would’ve found otherwise. The rooms are clean and comfortable – nothing fancy, but everything works, the beds are actually decent, and there’s this old-school European charm that feels authentic rather than trying too hard. You can hear the city humming quietly outside, but it’s not the kind of noise that keeps you awake.

What really sold me on the place was how it sits in this sweet spot between being affordable and being somewhere you’d actually want to spend time. The 7.1 rating makes sense – it’s not going to wow you with marble bathrooms or champagne service, but it does what it promises without any unpleasant surprises. I stayed there in early fall when the weather was still decent, and you could walk along the river in the evenings, then come back to a place that felt like a proper base camp rather than just somewhere to crash. The neighborhood has a few cafes and that authentic Eastern European vibe where things feel lived-in rather than polished for tourists. If you’re the type who wants to experience Riga without paying Old Town prices or dealing with cruise ship crowds right outside your window, this is your spot. Just don’t expect luxury – expect comfort, authenticity, and a genuine slice of how this city actually works.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $30. Apartment with Shower with 2 single beds and 1 bunk bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $30. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $26. Small Single Room with 1 single bed for Max persons: 1

Reviews

• Good – Jozef from Slovakia – 4 August 2024 (7/10)

  Check it and check out done thought the codes ( can check in anytime( 24h checkin)
  
  What could be improved: It gave very old fealing and was charged extra 8€ for towels and linen. Otherways everything was okay

• … till next time … – Winfried from Germany – 14 May 2023 (7/10)

  🧙 interesting host – tried his best – location very central and near local bus stop 🦅

• Good – Zahid from United Kingdom – 20 August 2023 (7/10)

  Location was close to town centre and main bus station 🚉 you pay only 2euro at the airport 🛫 bus number 22 which takes you Alltwen way 30min to main bus station 🚉 .
  Remember you can pay only by credit card no cash or debit card!
  
  What could be improved: What I didn't like at this point too many roads closure at the bus station and main railway station been built !! Or rebuild on one side
  Again people should check before Travelling to riga.
  It's not for family with kids atleast not the centre area.
  Shops close too early.
  Other than that it's alright 👍

• beautiful stay in Riga – Leon from United States – 13 June 2025 (9/10)

  Location is very good , near city center and bus/train stations. Good hot/cold eater system.
  
  What could be improved: Everything was good. Probably could add and additional pot for long stays.

• Central accommodation in Riga suitable for tourism explorers – Axlrosemary from Sweden – 19 October 2023 (5/10)

  The location and the aesthetic of the apartment were really beautiful.
  
  What could be improved: More attention should be given to cleaning and security.

• It was nice but I wouldn’t recommend this to someone who is not really a risk taker and someone who isnt used of a littl – Adrian from Belgium – 7 August 2023 (5/10)

  It was really cheap.
  
  What could be improved: The hidden charges, or perhaps i didn’t read the entire confirmation email but i was surprised that the towels and linen must be rented and there is a deposit of 100 euro. The place was a bit scary as well nevertheless, it was probably a trade off of for the price paid.

• Good location, but unpretentious accommodation. – Barsy from Hungary – 22 May 2023 (4/10)

  The place was not far from the center.
  
  What could be improved: First of all, I booked accommodation for 3 people, which was available here in 2 rooms. Upon arrival, we had to pay a double deposit, i.e. 200 euros, the quality of the furniture and equipment did not justify this. The reservation was charged with additional costs, 4 euros had to be paid for bed linen and another 4 euros for towels, but we did not ask for this (these costs are per person). With these extra costs, the price of the room is no longer so favorable compared to the standard. The biggest problem is that the host took a photo of our IDs despite our request, when in fact he only needed our data. In our opinion, this contradicts the protection of personality. There was a webcam installed in the hallway, we hope it's only there. There was no information about this anywhere, it's confusing. Overall, we stayed in a place that was in the middle of an ongoing construction, and everything was done by amateurs instead of professionals. In a word: primitive.

• Hidden Costs and Slumlord Host – Tracy from United States – 29 April 2025 (1/10)

  The rush of fear when they made me wait in the streets
  
  What could be improved: The Check in delay, the absolute refusal to confirm my deposit. The dump itself, and the creepy host. The lack of a working remote making the television inoperable. Deceptive photos and smelled heavily of urine everywhere. You will need to wash everything you bring in there from the heavy odor that infects everything. It's not the building, it is the Slumlords alley that smells.
  
  
  Every location in Riga is good, this location is no better or worse than any other. And that it looked cheap, but hidden costs and lack of communication wipe all that out. Get a real place, not this slum.

• Bad – Jaaanis from Latvia – 29 May 2024 (1/10)

  What could be improved: Moldy and dirty shower and toilet, all apartment was dusty and not clean. Owner didnt respond to my messages when I had questions. Be aware that you will need to send 100€ to owners bank account from which he will then send you back 99.64€ because you need to pay for his bank commission!!!

• Passable – Sviatlana from Belarus – 3 January 2024 (5/10)

  The location is good, 15 min walk from the bus or train station and about 20-30 mins to the heart of the old city.
  The room has all the basic facilities, the price was reasonable.
  
  What could be improved: The host was unfriendly. He was an hour late for check-in, I waited in the cold December rain, and instead of an apology I got sheer rudeness.
  The room smelled slightly of gas and sometimes of sewage. It is tiny, so sometimes it wasn't easy to find a place for my things. And the walls are paper-thin, I heard each tiny noise from the next room.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities