Do you know which is the best place to live in Riga? Which are the cheapest and the most expensive neighborhoods in Riga? Which neighborhoods in Riga are great for students, young professionals or family life? To answer all of these questions Urban Treetops have gathered descriptions, reviews, and history of nine neighborhoods that are made for urban living. We have based our research on the results of 2017 and 2018. We hope you will find your new home in Riga!

Urban Treetops team has created a list of the best neighborhoods where to live in Riga for students, young professionals or if you have chosen Riga as your new home because of international business opportunities. Choosing your new home has never been easier than now because just by one click you can access all the information you think you need. However, with so much information you can also get misguided. Whatever is your end goal every person wants to find a cozy, warm and safe home. We are hoping that our neighborhood guide of the best neighborhoods where to live in Riga will help you to make a wise choice in 2018! 

1. Center neighborhood

The Center neighborhood in 2017 started to face changes that mostly were impacted by the increase in real estate tax. 3% real estate tax was and still is applied to buildings that have old and disorderly facades. In general, all buildings that are abandoned in the Center neighborhood will face much stricter monitoring in 2018 than in recent years. Of course, this means that more buildings will be renovated and taken care of, hopefully – fingers crossed. All of this have pushed the building owners and real estate management companies to act more proactively regarding taking care of their buildings. Which of course, is a good thing for the city guest, but maybe not that great for renters. As they will probably need to pay the higher rental fee because someone will need to cover the cost of real estate tax increase.

Nevertheless, Center neighborhood just recently has been witnessing some promising signs of recovery. However, there needs to be a much stronger push and strategical help from the municipality of Riga than at the current moment.

Taking into consideration that Center neighborhood is very diverse, active, architecturally different and still many of most important public and private sector objects are situated there we have chosen this is as number one for students, young professionals, and international business companies. An important factor for choosing the Center neighborhood as #1 was probably a large number of rental options available on the market. No other neighborhood in Riga can stand close to Center neighborhood. However, to find a good quality 1 bedroom rental apartment (approximately 40 square meters) you will need to pay at least EUR 350, plus additionally, you will need to pay approximately EUR 100 for utilities and real estate management services.

Here you can see the map that highlights the borders of Center neighborhood in Riga:

The Center neighborhood is offering great dining places, coffee shops and small boutique restaurants that will surprise you! More recently, several beer breweries have been opened in this neighborhood that is serving and producing good quality beer.

You can find many people on the streets of Center neighborhood. Especially, tourists who are enjoying the beautiful architecture and history.

Even in the cold winter time the coffee shops and restaurants are full with people

Although, there is a great diversity regarding the public transportation in many instances it’s not super efficient. So you clearly need to know your route otherwise you can be late!

It’s no secret that many students and young professionals are loving the neighborhood of the center because of its location and romantic pre-war buildings. This also means that the apartment prices are quite high and they are getting higher every year. It also means that finding a decent quality apartment is getting harder. In most cases, if you are renting an apartment in the Center neighborhood you can forget about free parking because you will need to find pay for that as well!

In the end Center neighborhood is a good starting point for your new life in Riga, Latvia. When you will be more adjusted to day to day life in Riga you can evaluate other neighborhoods for your needs as well.

2. Quiet Center

The Quiet center is one of the most distinguished and exclusive neighborhoods in Riga with fantastic architectural values and luxury residential apartments. More and more international students, young professionals, diplomats and business people are choosing this neighborhood as their new home.

Nowadays, the Quiet center neighborhood has turned into a luxury residential area with high real estate prices. Mostly wealthy foreigners, diplomatic representatives (with many of embassies located in the area) and foreign students are staying in the Quiet center.

 Actually many buildings of the neighborhoods housing stock are still unused. These residential buildings need to be renovated and then they will be ready to host new residents. Will it take a long time to regain the earlier brilliance of early 20th century? Let’s hope not. 

Benefits from living in the Quiet center:

• restaurants right next to your home
• clean and tidy environment
• easily accessible
• multicultural environment
• the neighborhood is connected with green zones (parks/promenades, bicycle paths)
• pre-war buildings and Art Nouveau architecture
• very good location for your primary residence.

Even after more than 100 years, the Quiet Center has unquestionable charm! Maybe the neighborhood community is not that loudest, but it welcomes every new resident.

Local residents know the neighborhood because of its great restaurant selection.

Here you can see the map that highlights the borders of Quiet Center neighborhood in Riga:

Although real estate prices in the vicinity of the Quiet center neighborhood are estimated at several hundred thousand, in many cases even in millions of euros, it does not it does not interfere with daily real estate business. It will be very difficult for you to find a home below the average market value. In the Quiet center, you can find mostly luxury property, the same applies to rent a property.

3. Kipsala

The neighborhood of Kipsala is well known for it’s prestigious, luxury homes and well closeness to the city center.  It’s also a popular area for students who are studying at Riga Technical University. Many of those students are also living in the neighborhood of Kipsala because of good quality student dormitories that situated right next to Riga Technical University.

Here you can see the map that highlights the borders of Kipsala neighborhood in Riga:

The neighborhood of Kipsala is located on the left side of Riga, better know as the Pārdaugava (from the Latvian language). Historically the neighborhood of Kipsala (LV: Ķīpsala) was associated with the shipping industry. The first residents of the island were the local fisherman more than 100 years ago! Taking into consideration that Kipsala has its own island between two sides of Riga, residents of the city do not pay enough attention to this beautiful and quiet place. Nowadays this neighborhood is a home for one of the biggest university campuses in Latvia!

If you prefer to have a more quiet lifestyle and prefer that your property is located in waterfront Ķīpsala is definitely the best place to rent or buy a property. You will greatly appreciate the personal and exclusive touch of this neighborhood. The neighborhood offers all types of entertainment and healthy lifestyle opportunities: a swimming pool, jogging field near to the waterfront and a fitness center. If you prefer sailing and enjoy water sports the island offers you several places to anchor your boat or yacht.

The mixed-use of property zoning provides you with attractive and cool community features. From university students to families with children, Ķīpsala is the perfect balance between peace and innovation. You will be included in a well-established community with safe and healthy living traditions. Finding your perfect home can be challenging but you will start to appreciate the neighborhood of Ķīpsala from the first step your on the island! A breathtaking display of Riga and river Daugava is one of the reasons why many people decided moving to Ķīpsala.

The real estate prices in the neighborhood of Ķīpsala are one of the highest in Riga and if there are any new developments then demand is higher than on average in other neighborhoods. The neighborhood offers several high-end properties, especially the ones with a view of Old Town Riga. Therefore, if you are looking for renting an apartment in student campus you can expect a stiff competition! The same applies to investment properties or high-end residential apartments. The better the location the higher prices and location of Kipsala is perfect!

4. Agenskalns

The neighborhood of Agenskalns is located on the left side of River Daugava between Kalnciema Street and Riga-Jurmala railway. Agenskalns is best known for its extensive architecture and landscaped parks, ponds, and waterfront of the river Daugava. Of course, nowadays Agenskalns is facing rapid transformation. The neighborhood with rich architectural roots is a great place to buy an apartment in existing residential apartment buildings as well as in new developments.

One of the most important architectural additions to the neighborhood is the National Library – the Castle of Light. This project is one of greatest cultural achievements of the 21st century in Latvia. Do not forget about – Agenskalns Market. The market has a landmark status and it is the third largest market of Riga. The construction of the market began more than 100 years ago!

Beyond public green space, the residents of Agenskalns prefer a more relaxed lifestyle. The neighborhood also is a host for one of the best educational institutions in Latvia: several faculties of Riga Technical University (RTU), RISEBA University of Business, Arts and Technology and much more! With universities and active communities surrounding your apartment, you will notice people jogging in the parks or just walking their pets. You cannot imagine Agenskalns without its most famous community – Kalnciema Quarter. The Kalnciema Quarter is the long-needed Renaissance not only in the neighborhood of Agenskalns but for the whole city of Riga.

In the neighborhood, we can actually see that a strong and creative community is the key to success for improving the neighborhood. Additionally, Agenskalns has that hipster vibe which makes it, even more, friendlier and pleasurable for daily life. Can it get any better than this? Try to find it out on your own in the neighborhood of Agensklans!

Here you can see the map that highlights the borders of Agensklans neighborhood in Riga:

If you are looking for a beautiful and green environment with a positive vibe, Agenskalns could be the right place to buy or rent your new home. With easy access to rest of Riga, Agenskalns offer a variety of properties: prewar buildings made out of wood, low rise, and mid-rise apartment buildings as well as new developments.

5. Teika

Only in the first half of 20th century, more intense construction of residential apartment buildings was in progress in the neighborhood of Teika (from Latvian: a legend or a tale). Therefore, we can assume that from urban planning view, Teika is a relatively new neighborhood. The planning of streets and infrastructure was actually planned as an urban component of a city and did not develop in a natural way. Back in days, Teika was a place for planners to realize their ideas of a modern neighborhood.

Here you can see the map that highlights the borders of Teika neighborhood in Riga:

A cool fact is that the neighborhood originally was named because of a movie theater called Teika. Maybe this explains why the neighborhood used to have an artistic and entertaining identity, which nowadays has somewhere disappeared. The question you should ask yourself is: when are you going to join the neighborhood of Teika?

Unpretentious and more equal than other neighborhoods in Riga, Teika is welcoming every newcomer. Close to 30 thousand inhabitants, Teika offers you 30 thousand reasons why you should join the neighborhood. Maybe Teika is not the coolest place for hipster bars, restaurants, and bicycle roads but we hope it will get there! The city inside a city, with its own characteristics and community expressions.

The neighborhood of Teika is a desirable place to live in, especially for families with children. Teika provides an accessible market for families with average and above average income. These and other additional factors are the reason why the neighborhood real estate sales and rental prices for residential homes are over the average in comparison to other neighborhoods in Riga. There is a huge demand for residential apartments in Teika neighborhood which was built in the 1920s and 1930s. Prices are much higher in this area than in other neighborhoods in Riga.

6. Grizinkalns

The neighborhood of Grizinkalns (LV: Grīziņkalns) and its one of kind wooden residential buildings and a newly renovated park is a hidden pearl of Riga. You will love to run or walk in the nearby park, which will give you a great energy boost. You can most certainly feel the soul in the neighborhood of Grizinkalns. In the meantime, you will admire the beautiful architecture of the neighborhood.

In the last couple of years, the neighborhood of Grizinkalns has changed dramatically. There was a period from the early 1990s to 2010 when it was not encouraging to live in the neighborhood. However, since then there have been visible improvements. That has stimulated young families, students, and young professionals to find their new home in this neighborhood. All of these improvements have made the neighborhood much more prosperous and livelier.

Daugava stadium has a Latvian national sports-based status (since 1992). It is a multifunctional stadium in Riga, Latvia, which was opened in 1958. It holds athletics competitions, football, and other events, for example, The Latvian Song and Dance Festival which is one of the largest amateur choral events in the world and an in the Latvian culture.

Taking into consideration the improvements in public infrastructure and safety measures as well as renovation of Grizinkalns park, the prices are starting to grow. Also, the close proximity to the city center makes the neighborhood attractive not only for local residents but for foreigners. Which makes competition for good quality residential apartments even tougher.

Here you can see the map that highlights the borders of Grizinkalns neighborhood in Riga:

The neighborhood is a host for a number of great activities for kids and teenagers. It feels that the neighborhood is gaining a new soul and an extremely positive vibe. You will adjust to neighborhood quickly because of its diversified community that helps to preserve the culture and lifestyle of the Grizinkalns.  The generations of families living in the neighborhood provide a feeling of traditions and coziness.

7. Skanste

On the right side of river Daugava and in close proximity to the city center of Riga, the neighborhood of Skanste is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in Riga. The mix of residential buildings and high-class offices for financial and banking sector presents a landscape of modern Northern European city. Skanste in recent years has turned into one of the powerhouses for businesses in Riga. Which supplies the neighborhood with high-quality office buildings and luxury residential apartments. In result, Skanste has turned into one of the most luxurious neighborhoods in Riga, Latvia and in some instances even in the Baltic States. Therefore, if you enjoy a comfortable living with a touch of excellence the Skanstes is the best place to live and work in the city of Riga.

The area is being built from the ground up which means that the average residential sales price per square meter is much higher on average than in other neighborhoods in Riga. With great zoning plans and futuristic planning of neighborhood development, the future of Skanste seems extremely promising.

The community in Skanste neighborhood is in the developing process. With large amounts of young professionals and families living in the neighborhood, Skanste is a promising example of how an empty space can be transformed into an urban and modern community. Be a part of building a great community and transformative community.

Here you can see the map that highlights the borders of Skanste neighborhood in Riga:

The neighborhood of Skanste is shaping pretty nicely… looks great especially at night time! We are recommending to visit this developing and fastly changing neighborhood! Especially in the summertime when there are pop-up food markets or neighborhood celebration festivities. Also, Skanste is bordered by Brasa, Sarkandaugava, Petersala-Andrejsala and the Center neighborhoods that also are changing for the good side.

8. Purvciems

Purvciems is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Riga predominantly with multi-storey residential buildings. The neighborhood has about 60 thousand inhabitants. Most of the multi-storey residential buildings were built in Soviet time, around the 1980s – 1990s when Latvia was still occupied by the Soviet Union. The neighborhood also has a small percentage of single family homes. If you translate the meaning of Purvciems in English you will get the result of: “Marsh village”. The neighborhood covers an area of 5 square kilometers which is enough to include all necessary services for a convenient living.

Here you can see the map that highlights the borders of Purvciems neighborhood in Riga:

The neighborhood of Purvciems is many characterized by residential apartment blocks from the Soviet Occupation time, though there are plenty of single-family homes which are built into small “mini-neighborhoods”. A large number of Latvians and Russians live in this neighborhood. In recent years many people from Latvian countryside are moving to the city and neighborhood of Purvciems is becoming a home for them.

Those who live in Purvciems tend to say one thing about their neighborhood – I love living in Purvciems.

It’s a truly unique community of people who love their families and their friendly neighborhood. While the infrastructure, streets and green zones aren’t too fancy, Purvciems has all the necessary shopping centers, gyms, schools and several restaurants to make living there extremely convenient! Check out the Soviet Block houses that will help you to imagine how was the life like in the Soviet Union. Of course Purvciems is not a place where you can grab a drink at cool bars, the neighborhood doesn’t have any fancy restaurants but it has something else: “It’s a place for families and kids“.

9. Avoti

In the middle of 19th century, a dense construction, and strategic planning was launched in the neighborhood of Avoti (in Latvian: water fount). A formerly swampy place was turned into a lovely neighborhood for factory workers. In the late 19th century and early 20th-century construction of multi-residential rental housing was in full power. As a result, nowadays the neighborhood have vast examples of Art Nouveau architecture. After visiting the neighborhood you will be captivated by the experience. A truly unique fact is the early wooden residential housing from the middle of the 19th-century which is still preserved. Today the neighborhood is facing long needed renewal.

Here you can see the map that highlights the borders of Avoti neighborhood in Riga:

The raising average rental price in the city center of Riga impacts the rental price in the neighborhood of Avoti as well. We have seen many new renovation projects in this neighborhood in the past few years. This is also one of the reasons why the neighborhood has been changing to the good side. This transformation has helped to achieve significant improvements in the quality of life for current residents and helped to attract newcomers. Taking into consideration that the neighborhood of Avoti has a lot of pre-war rental buildings with decent rental prices, many Latvians prefer to live closer to the city center. Therefore, the neighborhood of Avoti is a great place to start with.

The new housing development activity is still low in the neighborhood  of Avoti. There is still large demand for qualitative rental apartments.

Urban Treetops real estate.

Call or email Urban Treetops team to find out more about the Top neighborhoods in Riga.