If you’re looking for a stylish apartment in the heart of Riga’s Old Town, this fits the bill perfectly. It is RIGHT NEXT to the Swedish Gate, so step outside the apartment and you have one of Riga’s historic sights right there in front of you. It’s also very, very close to the cathedral, the Three Brothers, the pretty parks alongside the canal, and the Freedom Monument. Riga is a compact city and so everything is within easy walking distance, but this location really is ideal.
The apartment itself is lovely. It’s at the top of a historic building, so has wooden beams that really add character and charm. This is offset by clean, modern furnishings that really gives the place a contemporary feel. It’s been tasteful decorated, and the living room’s Velux windows let in a lot of light and offer glimpses of the historic buildings outside. (The apartment is accessed via two flights of stairs and then a spiral staircase, so keep that in mind if you have any mobility issues.)
Guntis met us at the apartment and offered some tips regarding the city, and had already given us some suggestions in advance. At the end of our stay, he advised us how to get a taxi back to the airport (which takes around 20 minutes and costs about €15).
Riga is an excellent little city with lots to see and do, and I definitely recommend Guntis’ apartment. One note of caution, though: We stayed Thursday to Tuesday and on the first three nights, the street outside was quite noisy into the early hours. This wasn’t with traffic or anything like that: it was just people eating, drinking and having a good time. The Sunday and Monday nights were completely silent. I only mention this because it’s something to consider if you’re a very light sleeper or struggle if there’s background noise. However, it certainly didn’t put us off and we would stay here again in a heartbeat. Opening the door straight on to a famous, historic part of the city (especially early in the morning when it was quite quiet apart from a man painting the Swedish Gate) never got old. A wonderful stay in Riga.