The Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel is a Latvian-run hotel in the Old Town, part of the Rixwell group, which operates several properties in the city. It is aimed at travellers who want a comfortable, central base with a traditional look, rather than the extra polish of a five-star name or the pared-back style of a design hotel. Rooms are designed for comfort, with the usual range of standard and larger rooms, and the staff are used to guiding visitors to the best sights and restaurants. Its position in the heart of Vecrīga means the Town Hall Square, the Cathedral, St Peter’s Church and the Three Brothers are close at hand, and the river and the Central Market are not far beyond. A restaurant and bar in the hotel make it easy to start the day with breakfast or end it with a drink.
Who it suits
Couples and small groups who want a central Old Town base at a sensible price, first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere and travellers who prefer a local hotel group to an international chain. It is also a sound option for a short break, when you will spend most of your time out on the cobbles and want a reliable room to return to.
The location
The Old Town is compact, and from this address you can see most of the main sights in a day on foot. The atmosphere changes through the day, with quiet mornings, busy middays when tour groups arrive and a lively evening scene around the squares.
As with any hotel inside the old walls, noise from bars can reach lower floors at weekends, so ask for a higher or inner-facing room if you want a calm night. Access by car is restricted, so enquire about parking or use a taxi from the airport or station.
What to expect inside
A traditional style of décor, a staffed reception, a restaurant serving breakfast and other meals and a bar. Room sizes vary, as they often do in older Old Town buildings, so check the category you are booking and the bed type, particularly if you are travelling with children or a lot of luggage. Services and facilities can change between seasons, so confirm anything important, such as breakfast inclusion or lift access, with the hotel.
Trade-offs
You will pay a little more for the location than you would for a hotel on the edge of the centre, and this is not a spa hotel, so those who want a pool or treatment rooms should look at the Wellton Centrum or the Radisson Blu. For a quieter, more design-led stay, the Neiburgs or Grand Palace may suit better. Rates rise in summer and around Christmas, so book early for those periods.
Tips
Walk out early to enjoy the lanes before the day-trippers arrive, ask the reception to book a table for Friday and Saturday dinners and use the hotel’s position to take a break midday and return to the cobbles in the evening, when the spires are lit and the Old Town is at its best.
Why stay here
- ✓Central Old Town location
- ✓On-site restaurant
- ✓Hotel bar
- ✓Breakfast service
- ✓Classic-style rooms
- ✓24-hour reception
- ✓Wi-Fi
- ✓Walkable to the Cathedral and Town Hall Square
Good questions
Where is the Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel?+
In the Old Town, within walking distance of the Town Hall Square, the Cathedral and St Peter’s Church.
Does the hotel have a restaurant?+
Yes, the hotel has a restaurant and bar; check opening hours and breakfast arrangements when you book.
Is parking available?+
Car access in the Old Town is restricted, so ask the hotel about parking before you arrive.
