Naughty Squirrel Backpackers Hostel
Australian-owned Old Town party hostel with a 24-hour bar and AK-47 shooting trips
Wonderful
503 reviews
Check availability & prices
Compare prices for Naughty Squirrel Backpackers Hostel in Riga
74%
Solo travelers
84%
Would stay again
81%
Made friends here
2 nights
Avg. stay
Our Honest Take
From the Hostelpedia team. No BS, just real advice
Naughty Squirrel is Riga's oldest party hostel and still the loudest. The 24-hour bar, the beer-pong nights and the happy hour guarantee a night-one social scene that smaller Old Town hostels cannot match. It is not subtle and it is not for light sleepers โ the stag crowd from UK flights arrives on weekends and the common room runs past 2am most nights. Pick it if you want the social energy, the Sigulda bobsled trip and the Australian-owner banter at reception. Skip it if you want sleep before midnight or a boutique feel, Blue Bird is across the Old Town for that. Tip: ask for the rooftop-courtyard dorm on the top floor, it's quieter than the first-floor rooms above the bar, and the Sigulda bobsled run is worth the โฌ95 for anyone who has ever watched the Winter Olympics.
๐ฏ Insider Tips
- 1Book the Sigulda bobsled day 48 hours ahead at reception, it sells out Friday-Saturday slots first
- 2Ask for a top-floor dorm, the first floor is directly above the 24-hour bar and noticeably louder
- 3Happy hour 8pm to 10pm nightly is the cheapest pint in Old Town, โฌ2.50 for a local beer
- 4Airport Bus 22 stops at 11 Novembra Krastmala, 4 min walk from the hostel door
๐ฅ Why We Love It
24-hour on-site bar with actual event calendar, not just a fridge
Bookable AK-47 shooting day and Olympic bobsled trip in Sigulda
Three-minute walk to Town Hall Square and House of the Blackheads
Smart-card dorm access and under-bed lockers sized for full backpacks
Australian ownership since 2007, consistent standards and staff
๐ The Full Story
Naughty Squirrel has been on Kalฤju iela since 2007 under the same Australian ownership, and it knows exactly what it is. The 24-hour on-site bar runs beer pong Tuesday, trivia Wednesday, Food Nights Thursday, and movie nights when nothing else is booked. Happy hour runs nightly from 8pm to 10pm with Latvian beers at โฌ2.50 โ cheaper than the Black Balsam shots the staff will push on you at check-in.
The location is the second reason to come: three minutes on foot to Town Hall Square and the House of the Blackheads, five minutes to St Peter's Church tower, eight to the Central Market. Dorms are 6, 8 and 10-bed with sturdy bunks, reading lights, and under-bed lockers big enough for a 70L backpack. Rooms use smart-card access and there's CCTV in the common areas, which matters because stag parties do rotate through here in summer.
The signature move is the day trips: Australian owner has a long-running deal with the Latvian Olympic bobsled team in Sigulda (โฌ95 including transport and two runs at 80+ km/h down the real Olympic track) and the AK-47 shooting range outside Riga (โฌ60 for 60 rounds). Both need booking at reception 48 hours ahead. The shared kitchen is small but functional, Wi-Fi reaches every dorm, and the free breakfast is cornflakes-and-toast rather than anything to plan around.
โจ The Vibes
๐ฌ What Travelers Say
Zhanna
๐ง๐ช Belgium ยท March 2026
โThe vibe is unbeatable, the staff are welcoming and you meet travelers from everywhere in the common area. The Sigulda bobsled trip was a highlight of my whole Baltic trip, do not skip it if you can book.โ
Tiago
๐ฒ๐น Malta ยท March 2026
โLegendary hostel, the bar alone is worth the stay. Happy hour prices are fair, beer pong nights get wild in a good way, and the location means you can walk back from any Old Town bar in two minutes.โ
Briony
๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom ยท February 2026
โTen out of ten for atmosphere. Friendly staff, spotless dorm, and the smart-card entry made it easy to come and go without keys. The Australian owner was on the front desk and gave us real tips for the city.โ
Sofi
๐ซ๐ฎ Finland ยท February 2026
โGreat hostel if you want to socialize. I was on the Helsinki-Riga weekend trip and met more travelers in one night here than three nights at other places. Dorm above the bar was loud but that is the trade.โ
๐ What's Nearby
Town Hall Square / House of the Blackheads
3 min walk
St Peter's Church tower
4 min walk
Dome Cathedral
6 min walk
Central Market
8 min walk
Riga Central Station
10 min walk
Airport Bus 22 stop (11 Novembra)
4 min walk
๐ House Rules
- โขCheck-in from 2pm, check-out by 11am
- โข24-hour reception and smart-card dorm access
- โขBar open 24 hours, happy hour 8pm to 10pm
- โขNo outside alcohol in the bar area
- โขQuiet hours in dorms 1am to 8am, the bar moves to the courtyard after 1am
From
โฌ21/night
Compare prices across booking sites
Room Types
Bed in 10-Bed Mixed Dormitory
โฌ21
Ten-bed mixed dorm on the first floor, most social of the lot, directly above the bar so expect late-night ambient noise. Under-bed locker, reading light, plug socket at each bunk.
10
Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory
โฌ25
Smaller six-bed dorm on the upper floor, quieter than the 10-bed, same bunk setup with lockers and lights. Smart-card access to the room.
6
Private Double Room
โฌ60
Private double with shared hallway bathroom, space for two backpacks and a small desk. Best-value private in Old Town for couples on a party weekend.
2
๐ Amenities
๐จ Other hostels in Riga
Cinnamon Sally Backpackers Hostel
9.0 ยท From โฌ18/night
Blue Bird Boutique Hostel - Riga Old Town
8.6 ยท From โฌ28/night
Central Hostel Riga
8.4 ยท From โฌ16/night
Elizabeth's YH Rooms
8.3 ยท From โฌ19/night
Hedgehogs Backpackers Hostel
8.3 ยท From โฌ19/night
Tree House Hostel Riga
8.3 ยท From โฌ20/night
Hostel Viktorija with Private Rooms
7.9 ยท From โฌ22/night
Don't sleep on this one
Naughty Squirrel Backpackers Hostel is one of the most popular hostels in Riga. Beds fill up fast, especially during peak season. Lock in your dates now.
Check Availability Now ๐ฅ