Europe
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The 6 Best Hotels in Riga Latvia
I’ve spent more than two months in Riga, so I’ve had plenty of time to figure out which areas make sense to stay in and what I’d actually recommend to someone coming here. There are plenty of hotels in Riga Latvia from historic properties in the Old Town to modern hotels with spas, rooftop views, and better-value options outside the most touristy streets. In this guide, I’ll share 6 of the best hotels in Riga Latvia, including options for different budgets, locations, and types of trips. Hotels in Riga: Quick Picks Category Hotel Best Overall Hotel Grand Poet Hotel and SPA by Semarah Best Hotel in Old Town Konventa Sēta…
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The 7 Best 4 Star Hotels in Porto, Portugal
Porto has no shortage of hotels, and you don’t necessarily need to go all the way up to five-star prices to get a really good place to stay. Some of the 4- tar hotels in Porto have excellent locations, great facilities, and plenty of character without the price tag of the city’s luxury properties. In this guide, I’ll share the 7 best 4 star hotels in Porto, from central city stays to hotels with pools, spas, views, and more space. 4 Star Hotels in Porto: Quick Picks Category Hotel Best Overall 4-Star Hotel Dorma Essenzia Porto Best for First-Time Visitors HF Fénix Porto Best Boutique Hotel Acta The Clover Best…
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The 7 Best 5 Star Hotels in Porto, Portugal
Porto has a surprisingly good selection of five-star hotels, and they are not all trying to give you the same experience. You have historic buildings in the center, design-heavy boutique hotels, riverfront properties, and hotels where the pool and spa are almost as much of the reason to stay as Porto itself. If you’re spending the money on a 5 star hotel in Porto, I’d look at the location and the actual experience you’re getting rather than just picking the most expensive room. In this guide, I’ll share the 7 best 5 star hotels in Porto, including the ones I’d look at for a city break, a romantic stay, a…
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The 7 Best Hostels in Porto, Portugal
Porto has a lot of hostels, which is great if you’re traveling on a budget, but it also means there are plenty of very different options to choose from. I’d look at the location first because Porto is hilly and you can save yourself a lot of unnecessary walking by staying somewhere central. After that, it really comes down to whether you want a big social hostel, something quieter, or a place that feels a little more like a boutique property. In this guide, I’ll share the 7 best hostels in Porto, including the ones I’d consider for different types of travelers and budgets. Best Hostels in Porto: Quick Picks…
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The 4 Best Hostels in Nice, France
Nice is not exactly the cheapest destination in France, so finding a good hostel can make a pretty big difference to your budget. I’d also pay attention to location here because you can easily end up paying less for a hostel that puts you somewhere less convenient. I’ve spent time in Nice and traveled around the French Riviera, and these are the 4 best hostels in Nice I would look at first, whether you want something social, a central location, or simply a good-value place to stay while exploring the city. Best Hostels in Nice: Quick Picks If you don’t want to read through all four, these are the ones…
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The 5 Best Hostels in Bratislava, Slovakia
I spent time traveling around Bratislava and wanted to include the hostels that actually stand out rather than simply listing every highly rated place in the city. In this guide, I’ll share the 5 best hostels in Bratislava, from a boutique capsule-style hostel to the famously social Wild Elephants, plus a few simpler options if you mainly care about location and price. Best Hostels in Bratislava: Quick Picks If you don’t want to read through all five, these are the hostels I would look at first depending on what matters most to you: Category Hostel Best Overall Hostel CHORS like a hotel Best Hostel for Solo Travelers Wild Elephants Hostel…
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Where to Stay in Riga: My Top Areas and Hotels in 2026
I’ve been to Riga three times, and I’ve stayed long enough that I’ve experienced the city as more than just a tourist passing through. My first visit was as a backpacker traveling through the Baltics, and the other two were completely different — I was working as a flight attendant and based in Riga for about a month each time. So if you’re trying to figure out where to stay in Riga, I’m not basing this on a weekend visit or just looking at a map. I’ve spent more than two months in the city altogether, stayed in different parts of the Riga area, used the buses, walked around constantly,…
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How Many Days in Riga Do You Really Need? (2026)
I’ve been to Riga three times. Not three weekend trips — more than two months total, including two separate stints where I was based there for about a month at a time, working as a flight attendant. So when someone asks how many days in Riga they actually need, I’m not guessing based on one quick visit. I’ve had Riga as a backpacker passing through, and I’ve had it as somewhere I actually lived for a while. That makes a difference here. How many days in Riga you need depends on what kind of trip you’re planning. If you just want to explore Riga itself, you don’t need a huge…
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The Best Time to Visit Riga (And What Three Stays Taught Me) 2026
I’ve been to Riga three times, and none of them were a quick weekend trip. The first time was during my first solo backpacking trip around Europe, when I traveled through 13 countries in three months. I’d met a group of Portuguese people in Slovakia doing Erasmus in Poland, ran into them again in Poland, and ended up traveling with them through Poland and all three Baltic countries by bus. We came into Riga from Lithuania and I stayed at Cinnamon Sally Backpackers Hostel. The other two times were different. I was working as a flight attendant, based in Riga for about a month each time. That’s not visiting a…
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Is Riga Safe for Solo Female Travelers? My Experience After Spending Months There
I’ve visited Riga three times, and I’ve spent more than two months there altogether. My first visit was during my first solo backpacking trip around Europe, when I traveled through 13 countries in three months. I later returned twice while working as a flight attendant, when I was based in Riga for about a month each time. That means I’ve experienced Riga in a few very different ways — as a solo backpacker passing through and as someone who had weeks to actually live there and get to know the city. In this guide, I’ll share my personal experience of is Riga safe for solo female travelers, including how I…
