Riga Transportation

For a trip out of Riga, most people prefer buses. Latvia’s train network is slow, old and surely not dense. However, a couple of destinations are best reached via train, for example Sigulda. Once arrived at the train station, you are confronted with the someone bureaucratic latvian train system. Trains are divided into international, diesel and suburban electric. Tickets for these are sold at different counters. So don’t expect to get a ticket for a diesel train at the suburban counter….

English speaking skills are not as common as it may be expected, but with hands and signs, it is possible to get a train ticket for the desired destination. And don’t throw your receipt away – because that little piece of paper IS your ticket.

For timetable and network information, check out the web page below. You can get the same information at the train station, but it will makes things easier to plan a little in advance.

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Latvia’s national railway company, Latvijas Dzelzcels operates rail services in Riga. Development of the Latvian railways has not been a great priority since independence in 1991. The system has suffered as a result of this, though recently the main station has been revamped. Many trains are poorly maintained and delays are common– the routes to the satellite towns and villages around Riga generally have a better service than intercity and international routes.

Riga’s central station, Centrala Stacija, Stacijas laukums has separate departure and arrival halls for international and domestic services. Passenger facilities include ATM, bureau de change, train service information, post office, left luggage, cafés and restaurants.

Long-distance rail services in Riga can be slow and prone to delays. Tickets for mainline services are sold in the main departure hall and tickets for the electric commuter trains are sold in the smaller departure hall. Long-distance journeys can be booked in advance (tel: 583 3397). Direct trains go to Minsk (journey time – 8 hours), Vilnius (journey time – 4 hours 30 minutes) and Moscow (journey time – 16 hours). Trains no longer run to Tallinn, Berlin and Warsaw.

Me and my friend went from Vilnius to Riga by Eurolines bus. I bought the tickets online, which was very easy. After the payment I just printed out the tickets, I guess you could also pick up the tickets from Eurolines office. The tickets cost 13,50 € per person.

According to the timetable the trip should've lasted 4,5 hours, but it only took less than 4 hours. The bus left on time at Vilnius bus station and stopped once in some Lithuanian town (can't remember the name) and then on Lithuanian-Latvian border, where they checked our passports.

Audio-guided Riga city sightseeing.

Hop on and hop off all day!
Trip duration: 90 min.
Audio guide in 8 languages
Ticket is valid for 48 hours from the first time you take the bus

Daily departure from the Latvian Riflemen Monument.
Individual sightseeing around Latvia and the Baltic States.

You can get around the old town centre by foot. If you want to go outside the city centre, you can catch a bus, tram or taxis (they depart in front of the railway station) More info about the timetables, fares at www.rigassatiksme.lv.

Riga is a major transportation hub and is the centre of the local road and railway system. Most visitors travel to Riga by air via Riga International Airport, which was renovated and modernized in 2001. Baltic Sea ferries connect Riga to Stockholm, Kiel and Lübeck.

If you want to save all the hassle involved with Riga's dodgy taxi drivers then book an airport transfer through Out-There.eu
An Out-There.eu guide will meet you at Riga airport, escort you to your minibus and give you low down on this fantastic city. Out-There also transfer their guests back to the airport, if they wish so. This is a particularly good idea as getting a taxi back to the airport at the correct price is never easy in Riga!

Riga taxi drivers generally look like gangsters, but engage in worse extortion rackets. The taxi from the airport to town will cost you approximately LVL 7 (about EUR 10). On the way back, I was fleeced for nearly LVL 15. I ate the head off the driver, but he didn't care. When you're in an Eastern bloc country, you have to remember that corruption reigns - and the police wouldn't care about one foreigner. I took this taxi from outside the Hotel Riga - a travesty to have this place rated as a 4-star hotel - and now that I think about it, I don't remember a taxi light on the top of the car. Riga in general is not a rewarding place to visit, and the taxi rip-off just makes you want to get out of there as quickly as possible. Get the hotel to ring for a taxi - there's a slight chance you won't be robbed blind. Otherwise, take the bus - it costs just LVL 0.30.

From Riga airport there is a bus (number 22) every 20 minutes to the city centre. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the city centre and most impressively will only cost you 0.30lat. You pay this on board to one of the ticket ladies.