How to get to Riga?

General information

Latvia can be accessed by virtually every means of transportation. Maritime transport links the three main seaports (Riga, Liepaja and Ventspils) with the other Baltic Sea countries, there are good railway links with Russia and Belarus, while coach routes have developed rapidly in recent years to link neighboring countries as well as more distant major European cities.

Highways lead into Latvia from Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus and Russia.

Air traffic is growing exponentially. Several low cost airlines have found their way to Latvia as well as long haul flights to the USA.

Currently Riga International Airport is the main hub for air traffic.

By plane

RIGA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Marupes pagasts, Rigas rajons

Tel: +371 67207009, fax: +371 67211767

Website: www.riga-airport.com

Information line: +371 67207009

Riga international airport provides services to/from 35 European, Asian and American destinations in 24 countries.

COUNTRIES SERVED: United States of America, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Estonia, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Russia, Great Britain, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Finland, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Germany, Sweden.

CITIES SERVED: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Helsinki, Kiev, London, Manchester, Milan, Minsk, Moscow, Munich, New York, Oslo, Paris, Prague, Rome, St Petersburg, Istanbul, Stuttgart, Tallinn, Tampere, Tashkent, Tel Aviv, Warsaw, Vilnius, Vienna.

Transport from the airport

The airport is located 13 km from the city centre, linked by means of bus and taxi services.

Buses

Route number 22 departs from the bus stop opposite the arrival hall, across the short term car park. On the return leg, the bus disembarks right by the departure terminal. In the city centre the final stop is at Abrenes Iela. There are several stops on the way in Pārdaugava and the city centre - the Central Railway Station, Central Market, Strelnieku laukums near Old Town and others.

The bus operates every 10-20 minutes from 05.30 to 22.40. The journey takes about 30 minutes and costs LVL 0.30. Tickets are sold on board (cash in small denominations is necessary).

Bus number 22a stops near the main centrally located hotels. The bus operates every hour and journey time is about 20 min. The ticket costs LVL 0.35. In the city centre the bus stops at the National Art Museum (Kr.Valdemāra iela 10) and the Cathedral (Brīvības bulv. 23).

There are also private courtesy minibuses operated by some hotels. Check with your hotel for details.

Detailed information about public transport in Riga: www.rigassatiksme.lv

Taxi

Taxi services from the airport are operated by the company Riga Taksometru Parks, whose vehicles are a distinctive red colour. Their desk is located in the ground floor arrival terminal. Tel: 67207509

A journey to the city centre takes about 15 minutes. Fares are metered with a minimum charge of LVL 1.50 plus LVL 0.50 per kilometre during the day. The rate increases slightly at night and certain other periods such as holidays.

YOUR JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE SHOULD COST AROUND LVL 8.00

By bus

It is possible to get to Riga also by bus. There are three international Coach Operating Companies: Ecolines Latvia (http://www.ecolines.net/), Eurolines Latvia (http://www.eurolines.com/) and Nordeka (http://www.nordeka.lv/home_eng.html).

Tickets for these operators can be reserved by phone, booked on-line, or purchased at tourism information centres throughout the country. Payment can be made using cash or major credit cards.

By car

Since September 1, 2001 Latvia has visa-free agreements with 32 countries, including all the European Union countries, and this greatly facilitates making tourist and business trips for the citizens of Latvia.

First of all,  travellers have to be sure that their vehicle, which they are planning to use for their trip, is in the proper technical condition.

Otherwise, the technical condition of the car can be checked on the Latvian border, or in any other foreign country, and then you will have to pay a fine; you will not be able to continue your way until the car’s malfunction has been fixed.

Note: to travel by car that belongs to another person, you need to have a notarized letter of permission. Depending on the country which you are going to visit, a notarized letter has to be certified with an Apostille or legalized. More detailed information about the necessity to certify this document can be obtained at the Consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia on Elizabetes Street 57, tel. 7 286 815, as well as at Auto-moto Society of Latvia (LAMB) on Raiņa bulvāris 1