Your stay — Elephant
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Rīga.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Elephant, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on a higher floor (above 3rd floor) for a quieter stay, as the lower floors may receive more street noise from Sesku iela. Consider rooms on the 4th floor or above, as they are likely to be away from the service entrance and lift noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms near the lift as it's a 3-star hotel, and the lift may be smaller and noisier. Also, be mindful of rooms near the service entrance, as they might be more prone to noise from staff and deliveries.
Best views
Unfortunately, the hotel's address does not provide any notable views of Rīga's landmarks or scenic areas. However, rooms on the higher floors may offer a glimpse of the surrounding cityscape.
Quietest floors
3rd floor and above
🔊 Noise notes
Sesku iela can be a busy street, and rooms on the lower floors may be more susceptible to noise from passing traffic. Additionally, the service entrance and lift on the ground floor may generate some noise.
Insider tips
Arrive early for check-in to ensure a smooth process, especially if you have specific requests. Take a short walk to the nearby Kronvalda bulvaris park for a peaceful escape from the city bustle and a chance to explore the surrounding neighborhood.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Elephant
Free Wi-Fi in public areas, 300 Mbps speed; paid upgrade to 1 Gbps for €5 per day
Serves all floors, no stairs-only historic sections
Complimentary digital newsstand (Riga's daily newspapers) through the hotel's app
Check-in from 15:00, early bag-drop available from 08:00; late check-out until 12:00 (€20 fee)
Available in the lobby, €5 per bag per day
Step-free access to the main entrance, wheelchair-accessible rooms available upon request
On-site parking available for €15 per night; nearest public car park (Sesku iela parking lot) is €10 per day; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.50 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: €50 advance deposit + €100 incidental card hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Svētās Trīsvienības katoļu baznīca (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
- Church: Svētā ercenģeļa Mihaila pareizticīgo baznīca (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Green — 96 m · ~1 min walk
Evelīnes dārzs — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Bumbu patvertne 495 — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
Pļavnieku parks — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Swedbank — 73 m · ~1 min walk
Latvijas aptieka — 128 m · ~2 min walk
Mix — 957 m · ~12 min walk
Vagonu parks — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Eur (EUR)
Travellers can exchange money at Rīga International Airport's currency exchange offices (with a less favorable rate), or opt for a better rate at banks or private exchange offices in the city centre. Be cautious of high commission fees.
Contactless payments are widely accepted in Rīga, including in most restaurants, cafes, and shops. Credit cards are accepted in many places, but some smaller shops and street food stalls may only accept cash.
Tipping in Latvia is not expected but rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% in restaurants and bars is considered polite. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but you can round up the fare to the nearest euro.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A cup of coffee from a local café can cost around 1-2 EUR, and you can find affordable options on almost every street corner.
A budget lunch option is a traditional Latvian dish like Āboltīne (meat and potato pie) or a simple salad from a street food stall for around 3-5 EUR.
You can find a filling and affordable dinner at a mid-range restaurant for around 10-15 EUR for a main course.
The cheapest and most authentic food options can be found in the Old Town's streets, especially near the Town Hall Square.
Billa, Maxima, and Rimi are common supermarket chains in the LV-1035 area, offering a wide range of products at affordable prices.
For affordable high-street shopping, head to the nearby Elizabetes iela or Brīvības iela, where you can find a mix of local and international brands.
A single ticket for public transportation costs around 0.80 EUR, and a day pass can be purchased for around 5 EUR. The cheapest way to get to the LV-1035 area from the airport is by taking bus number 222 or 241 for around 1.10 EUR.
Buy public transportation day passes or a 5-day pass to save money on individual tickets.Eat at local cafes or street food stalls for a more affordable and authentic dining experience.Explore the city on foot or by bike to avoid transportation costs.
Emergency Contacts
RīgaWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Rīga, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Elephant
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Swedbank — 73 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Latvijas aptieka — 128 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Centrāltirgus (Central Market) tram stop → Riga Student Hostel (Augusta Deglava iela)
💡 Best local transit option from the hostel into Old Rīga. Buy an e-talons card from Narvesen kiosks (€2 flat fee) and top it up—single rides are cheaper than paper tickets. Tram 7 runs directly past the hostel.
Rīga International Airport (RIX) → Riga Student Hostel
💡 Use the Bolt app to avoid overpriced airport touts. A trip should cost €10–15; anything over €20 is a rip-off. Forus Taxi is the official airport partner and reliable.
Rīga International Airport (RIX) → Autoosta (Central Bus Station)
💡 Buy your ticket from the vending machine at the stop (cash or card) and validate it onboard. The bus drops you a 10-minute walk from Riga Student Hostel; get off at 'Centrāltirgus' instead of Autoosta to cut the walk.
Autoosta (Central Bus Station) → Riga Student Hostel (Augusta Deglava iela)
💡 Only runs Friday and Saturday nights. Late arrivals from the airport can wait here—check the schedule at Rigas Satiksme website. The stop 'Audēju iela' is closer to the hostel than the main bus station.
About Rīga
Wikipedia ↗
Riga ( REE-gə), officially Riga State City (Latvian: Rīgas valstspilsēta), is the capital, primate, and largest city of Latvia and the second largest in the Baltics. Home to 588,911 inhabitants (as of 2026), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga metropol...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Elephant?
Request a room on a higher floor (above 3rd floor) for a quieter stay, as the lower floors may receive more street noise from Sesku iela. Consider rooms on the 4th floor or above, as they are likely to be away from the service entrance and lift noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Elephant?
Avoid rooms near the lift as it's a 3-star hotel, and the lift may be smaller and noisier. Also, be mindful of rooms near the service entrance, as they might be more prone to noise from staff and deliveries.
Is Elephant noisy?
Sesku iela can be a busy street, and rooms on the lower floors may be more susceptible to noise from passing traffic. Additionally, the service entrance and lift on the ground floor may generate some noise.
Which rooms have the best views at Elephant?
Unfortunately, the hotel's address does not provide any notable views of Rīga's landmarks or scenic areas. However, rooms on the higher floors may offer a glimpse of the surrounding cityscape.
What are insider tips for staying at Elephant?
Arrive early for check-in to ensure a smooth process, especially if you have specific requests. Take a short walk to the nearby Kronvalda bulvaris park for a peaceful escape from the city bustle and a chance to explore the surrounding neighborhood.
What time is check-in at Elephant?
Check-in at Elephant is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Elephant have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in public areas, 300 Mbps speed; paid upgrade to 1 Gbps for €5 per day
Is there a city or tourist tax at Elephant?
€1.50 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Elephant?
A budget lunch option is a traditional Latvian dish like Āboltīne (meat and potato pie) or a simple salad from a street food stall for around 3-5 EUR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Elephant?
A single ticket for public transportation costs around 0.80 EUR, and a day pass can be purchased for around 5 EUR. The cheapest way to get to the LV-1035 area from the airport is by taking bus number 222 or 241 for around 1.10 EUR.
Top Attractions in Rīga
💡 Bring bread for the ducks but skip the overpriced pedal boats—free walking along the east bank is prettier and quieter. Go on a sunny weekday to avoid crowds.
💡 Pop into the Art Nouveau Museum (small fee) for the interior experience, but the street-level tour is free. Look up for the winged griffins and sphinxes that different architects added as signatures.
💡 Arrive early (7–9am) for the best selection of fresh berries and farm cheese. The fish pavilion serves cheap sprats and pickled herring. Avoid the tourist-trap souvenirs near the main entrance.
💡 The €9 ticket is worth it for the view, but avoid midday summer queues—go just before sunset for golden light and fewer tourists. The audio guide is free through the church's app.
💡 Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month. Even if you pay (€7), the permanent collection is excellent value. The cafe in the basement has decent coffee and a quiet courtyard. Check the temporary exhibitions—often cheaper than the main ticket.