Riga Transportation

Marshrutkas began in the 1930's in Russia. They can still be found in Russia these days, aloung with the Ukraine, the Baltics, some eastern european states and some of the 'Stans'. So what are they ? Basically they are shared taxis in the form of minibuses. They can be privately or publically owned. Operating on fixed routes they pick up and set down like buses for the most part. Fares will not be as cheap as municipal buses, trams and trollybuses but they are one hell of alot cheaper than normal taxis. They serve some city routes but are mainly useful for visiting other towns. Their only real downside is that they can become extremely crowded.

In Riga they leave from outside the main train station and from a bus station opposite. Just ask around for which stand to get to your required destination - you should not have to wait very long for one to be ready. Meet the locals and save a packet - great.

There are both buses and trains going between Riga and Sigulda about every hour.
I arrived to the train station in Riga well in time for the 7.52 train in the morning, bought a ticket and went to one of the cafés at the station for breakfast. The train to Sigulda took 1 hour and 10 minutes and the ticket was 1.10 Ls (December 2008).
At the tourist office in Sigulda I got a timetable for the buses and trains back to Riga. The departure time of the bus suited me better when I was going back. I bought the ticket from the chauffer on the bus and it was 1.50 Ls. Also the bus took 1 hour and 10 minutes.

From Riga airport I took buss 22 in to the city centre. When you come out from the arrival hall the bus stop is to the right. I bought the ticket on the bus and it was 0.40 Ls (December 2008). It took 25 minutes to go to the centre (bus station/train station). Also when I went back to the airport I took bus number 22. It is leaving from 13 janvara iela (near the bus station) and at that time there was more traffic and the ride took 35 minutes. It leaves a few times every hour.
There is also another bus going to the city centre, number22a. It is more express and also cost a little bit more. It leaves every half an hour and stops near the Orthodox Cathedral.

hi!
some additional info:
regular city buses still have conductors, and they are not very eager to accept larger notes; 5Ls will be fine, but 20Ls or more will cause some anxiety. Prepare to receive a handful of coins in return :). Ticket price in regular city bus: 0.40

Trolleybuses and trams now use tickets, which can be bought at "Narvesens" snack/coffee/newspaper shops, there are many of them over the town, and somewhere else, but I don't know, where :), or you can buy one at the driver (if this is 2 car tram, obviously, in the first car). Price: 0.50Ls at the driver, 0.40Ls at narvesens or other ticket selling point.
NB! these tickets need to be punched!

One more way of transportation is to use route taxis (small buses, with route number and route description behind the windshield). It's better to know what bus to use in that case, because, they are always in hurry and overcrowded (even this is not allowed) at the rush hours. Price: 0.50Ls, to be paid to driver and don't forget to ask for the ticket in return; usually they gives the ticket right away, but sometimes "forget" to do that at the more relaxed times, e.g., noon or later in the evening.
Pros: they do not stop at every bus stop, so they are faster
Cons:
* their driving manners are rather harsh :), and one may experience some extreme feelings during the ride, but this is just interesting, not harmful (I've never heard of or experienced any accidents myself, I've seen one or two buses involved in accidents over the years, scratched paint, basically).
* They do not announce stops
* I'm not sure about average driver's English speaking abilities, but locals can help you to translate to/from.

Btw, regarding stop announcements - rarely, but it happens, that announcements are off by 1 stop (during these years in riga I noticed only one occasion, where it was off by 2 stops), so, to be sure where you are, check with stop names on the signs from time to time. most of the trolleybuses and buses, except for the very old ones, have both visual and audible announcements, so, pronouncation should not be any problem.

HTH and welcome to Latvia :)

By the time the bus into Riga city had arrived at our bustop at the airport there were a few of us waiting - it was confirmed that yes this was the bus into the city - and in the bus went - stopped outside the Orthodox Cathedral and going by the map I had with me it looked a long way yet into the old centre where I was planning to go to the Tourist Office to look for accommodation - so I was quite surprised about this being 'a bus into the city centre'.

I had to walk about 15 minutes - having to negotiate my suitcase on wheels over quite a few cobblestoned paths and roads along the way and stopping for directions trying to follow my map that wasnt quite to where roads and places looked to be!

I have since found out that we must have got on bus No 22a - but if had waited for the bus No 22 to the bus station it would have been closer by about half the distance. The 22 also goes to the train station but the bus station is closer to the old town centre where the Tourist office, St Peters Church and the Town Hall square and handy accommodation is (including the excellent youth hostel that I stayed at on my 2nd night).

Prices for the bus into the city was minimal - cant remember actually - dont think it was even £1! the trams getting about the place for the remainder of my stay in Riga were only 20p for each trip I went on!

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We went by boat to Riga from Stockholm with M/S Regina Baltica. I found cheap tickets for a 40 houer cruise to Riga.

This ship was build in 1980 in Finland, it takes 1500 passengers it has 505 cabinets and 1156 beds. It can take up to 486 cars and have 9 levels total. So this is a truly big ship. It´s 145,2 meters long and 25,2 meters wide.

Our cabin with 2 beds, shower and toilet (all together 5 square meters) felt very small it was a little tricky to turn around and change clothes, but for this price you cant ask for more.

I paid 1500 SEK (about 150 EURO) for a 2 bed room with breakfast buffé and dinner buffé, you can find cheaper if your flexibel and can go at any time.

For more information about time schedule and price list wisit the web site you can also book your tickets there. You can also book hotels and car hire.

www.tallinksilja.com

4 more images

We went by boat to Riga from Stockholm with M/S Regina Baltica. I found cheap tickets for a 40 houer cruise to Riga.

This ship was build in 1980 in Finland, it takes 1500 passengers it has 505 cabinets and 1156 beds. It can take up to 486 cars and have 9 levels total. So this is a truly big ship. It´s 145,2 meters long and 25,2 meters wide.

Our cabin with 2 beds, shower and toilet (all together 5 square meters) felt very small it was a little tricky to turn around and change clothes, but for this price you cant ask for more.

I paid 1500 SEK (about 150 EURO) for a 2 bed room with breakfast buffé and dinner buffé, you can find cheaper if your flexibel and can go at any time.

For more information about time schedule and price list wisit the web site you can also book your tickets there. You can also book hotels and car hire.

www.tallinksilja.com

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The Central station is located close to Old town (walking distance 5 minutes). And the Central market place is about one block away (walking distance 5 minutes).

In the Central station buliding is the Origo shopping mall also. Restaurants, Cafés and stores.

Adress: 13. janvara iela