Top 3 Hostels in Riga for Adults

Looking for the best hostels in Riga? You’re in the right place. As an experienced traveller who’s stayed in countless hostels, I’ve narrowed down the top options for mature adults seeking comfort and value in Latvia. Without the right hostel, you could end up in a noisy party atmosphere or subpar accommodations that ruin your trip.

Tree House Hostel stands out as the best overall choice. Located in the heart of Old Town, it offers a relaxed social vibe without being too rowdy. The spacious common areas and well-equipped kitchen create the perfect environment for meeting fellow travelers while still getting a good night’s sleep.

For those wanting more social interaction, Cinnamon Sally Backpackers Hostel is ideal. It’s conveniently located near the train station and offers free evening events like pub crawls. The included breakfast is a nice perk too.

Blue Bird Hostel is the top pick for travelers seeking peace and quiet. Its central Old Town location and capsule-style beds provide a tranquil retreat, though be prepared for some street noise during busy seasons.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book through them—at no extra cost to you! Think of it as buying me a virtual coffee while I help you plan your trip!

Discovering the Best Hostels for Adults

I’m approaching 40, and it’s only in the past year that I’ve discovered my love for hostels. If you’d told my 20-something self that I’d end up enjoying hostel stays, I’d have laughed—but here I am, literally writing this post from a cosy hostel kitchen (Tree House, in case you’re wondering).

What changed my mind about hostels was realising that they aren’t just for young party goers looking to drink and socialise every night. While there’s nothing wrong with that and those kinds of hostels exist, they’re not my scene—and if you’re like me, you’ll be happy to know that this article isn’t about them. 

Instead, I’ve focused on quieter, more mature hostels that offer a welcoming vibe for adult travellers. My first priority is always sleep, so I prefer quiet, clean and secure hostels.

While these hostels may not be the cheapest options in Riga, they’re also far from being the most expensive. They strike a balance between comfort, location, and price, offering great value for adult travellers seeking quality accommodations.

1. Tree House: A Social Hostel with a Chill Vibe

🌳 A welcoming and chill vibe in the heart of Riga’s Old Town.

You can find Tree House Hostel in the Old Town, a stone’s throw away from the Freedom Monument (Brīvības piemineklis). It’s about 10 min walk away from the bus station, and close to all there is to see in Riga’s Old Town.

Tree House Hostel offers a relaxed, social vibe right in the heart of Riga’s Old Town. Its spacious common room and kitchen create the perfect environment for meeting fellow travelers. This isn’t a party hostel—no strong alcohol is allowed, and the common area closes at night—making it ideal for those who prioritize a good night’s sleep. 

In the kitchen there is a big map of the world and I have – countless of times – found myself looking at it and dreaming about places to go while listening to the stories of other travellers.

There are also quieter nooks for working, if you find it too loud in the main common area. Some rooms even have sofas, so you can feel right at home lying down and scrolling on your phone 😀📱

Even though it’s in an old building (like all the hostels featured in this post!), the hostel takes pride in the cleanliness and comfort for the guests. Because of the location, you can expect some noise from the streets – especially in the summer there can be live music outside on the terraces, so bring earplugs.

The kitchen is big and well-equipped, so cooking your own meals won’t be a problem. There’s also free tea and coffee provided at any time of the day.

2. Cinnamon Sally: Perfect for Social Backpackers

Perfect for connecting with others and exploring the city with new friends.

Cinnamon Sally is located right across the street from the main train station, so it’s perfect if you are not interested in staying in Riga’s Old Town, or you need to catch an early train or bus – bus station is 10 min walk away too. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s only a 10 min walk to the edge of the Old Town, so you’re not too far away for sightseeing.

Out of the three hostels featured, Cinnamon Sally is the most social. They offer free events in the evenings, like pub crawls, so if you’re looking for a way to spend your evenings (and your money 💸), this is your place! They sell some alcohol on the premises, but the vibe is not a party party hostel: you are not allowed to bring in strong alcohol for example. I believe they have a Whatsapp group you can join to talk to others staying there, but I didn’t feel the need to join so I can’t say how active it is.

There’s also a large quiet space for working, in case it gets too loud in the main common room, so you’re easily able to get a few hours of work in between seeing the city.

🥐 Compared to the other two, they offer breakfast as part of your stay, so the price is a couple of euros more expensive. They bake breakfast every morning, so while it might not be a five-star hotel selection, you will definitely be fueled to explore the city. They also offer free tea and different coffees during the day.

Out of the three, this hostel is closest to the popular Riga Central Market.

Fun fact: you quite literally have to walk through McDonald’s to get in, so very handy (too handy?) for late night snacks!

3. Blue Bird: Quiet, Central, and Ideal for Solitude

A peaceful retreat in the centre of Riga’s Old Town. 🐦

Blue Bird Hostel is located in the centre of Riga’s Old Town. It’s a perfect place to stay, if you want to soak in the atmosphere of the outdoor terraces and evening vibes.

The location also means that you can enjoy the music from the outside in your room too, so bring good earplugs, if you want to catch some sleep. In the winter it is obviously quieter, but in December the Riga Christmas Market (read my tips for the Market here!) is literally at your doorstep, so evenings can be noisy.

The noise is not too bad once you are in bed, because the beds in dormitories are capsules – you can close the curtain and have your privacy. The curtain and the walls also block some of the music drifting from outside, or your loud neighbours. The capsules can get stuffy in the hot summer months, though, so bring light sleeping gear.

Out of the three hostels featured, I felt that the Blue Bird was the quietest one. The common areas are small, and there didn’t seem to be anyone interested in socialising when I was there. Kitchen is also quite small, so be mindful if you plan on cooking all your meals.

One thing I should note though, is the fact that the reception is on the 3rd floor, and the rooms are on the 4th and 5th. This wouldn’t be a problem, but the old building does not have a lift! So keep this in mind if you’re travelling with a lot of luggage, or you have trouble going up and down the stairs.

Best Riga Hostels at a Glance: Key Features and Choices

All of the hostels on my list offer female and mixed dormitories, as well as private rooms. They all also have good wi-fi, and are clean and comfortable.

Tree House Hostel

• Central location in Old Town
• No breakfast
• Social, but not a party party hostel
• Dormitories in the low season from 18 € to 24 € depending on the size, high season add 5 €

Choose Tree House if you are looking for nice people to talk to and chill with.

Cinnamon Sally Backpackers Hostel

• Close to the train station
• Breakfast & towel included
• Social backpacker hostel
• Dormitories in the low season from 21 € to 28 € depending on the size, in the busier season add 5 €

Choose Cinnamon Sally if you want to spend evenings socialising with new friends.

Blue Bird Hostel

• Central location in Old Town
• No breakfast
• Quietest of the three
• Dormitories in the low season from 25 € to 28 € depending on the size, in the high season add around 5 €

Choose Blue Bird if you are looking to spend time on your own and appreciate your own space.

If you’re wondering if visiting Riga in the winter is worth it, read my recommendations here!

Final Thoughts: Finding the Right Hostel for Your Style

Whether you’re looking for a vibrant social scene, a quiet retreat, or a mix of both, Riga has hostels that cater to every traveller’s needs. I didn’t even touch on the subject of party hostels, because it’s not what I look for in my accommodation, but you can find plenty of those in Riga too!

You might have noticed that I’ve included links to both Booking.com and Hostelworld in this post to help you find the hostels. If you don’t have a favourite booking platform yet, and are unsure which one to use, you can read my guide about Booking.com vs Hostelworld here!

If you’re planning to stay in a hostel, you’ll want to be a good roommate—so make sure to read my post “Hostel Etiquette 101” for a fun take on the habits to avoid!