Getting around Riga is really easy. You can get around the historic centre and its immediate surroundings on foot. For more distant journeys, you can use the extensive public transport network, which includes buses, trolleybuses and trams.
Walking
You can explore the corners and main sights on foot. It takes about 20 minutes to walk slowly through the historic centre. There is also an easy path along the waterfront to the main markets Rīgas Centrāltirgus paviljoni.
In addition, there is no public transport to the centre itself. All lines go around the historic centre.
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It is necessary to take into account that the historical centre of Riga has cobbled streets and pavements. When travelling with a stroller or, for example, a wheelchair, it is necessary to take into account reduced comfort, even though many sights and services are wheelchair accessible.
Public transport
Public transport in Riga includes 6 tram lines, 22 trolleybus lines and 51 bus lines. The operator is the transport company Rigas Satiksme, on whose official website rigassatiksme. lv you can find all the latest information on timetables, route plans, ticket prices and any closures.
When planning your journey, it is important to keep in mind that the numbers of individual lines overlap depending on the type of transport. Tram, trolleybus and bus lines start with identical numbering from one.
Public transport is cheap, accessible, reliable and safe. Vehicles are maintained and gradually upgraded. You can take a 30-year-old tram or a brand new one. The cars, even the buses, include USB connectors for charging mobile phones.
Boarding and alighting is via any door except on these lines, where you only board through the front door:
- trolleybuses: 1, 11, 13, 20, 27, 34 and 35
- buses: 7, 9, 10, 12, 18, 20, 23, 26, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 38, 39, 43, 44, 47, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60 and 63
This information can also be found at the bus stops.
Tickets
As a tourist, you can get by with only disposable paper tickets when in Riga.
These can be purchased at Narvessen newsagents around the city or at vending machines at busy bus stops. The last option is to use the mobile app Rigas satiksme, Mobilly or Narvesen. You can find out how to pay using the mobile app on the transport company's website rigassatiksme.lv/code-tickets.
Tickets are sold in several time variants:
- 90 minutes - price 1,50 eur
- 24 hours - price 5 eur
- 3 days - price 8 eur
- 5 days - price 10 eur
- 1 month - price 30 eur
Please note that you must mark your ticket every time you board the bus, even when transferring between two buses. The ticket is only attached to the reader when you board the bus, not when you get off.
Tickets are transferable and can be marked for the last time 1 minute before expiry.
Bus line 22
Tickets can be purchased from the driver on the only bus line 22, which connects the city centre with Riga RIX Airport.
You can only pay with a contactless payment card and a 90-minute ticket costs 1,81 eur.
Night services
All public transport lines in Riga start running in the early morning from around 4:45am and run until midnight. The last service leaves the terminus no later than 23:50.
There are no night lines or connections in Riga.
Cruises
You can make your visit to Riga more attractive by taking a cruise on the Daugava River. Sightseeing cruises are available from spring to autumn, specifically from April to October, and there are 4 different cruises to choose from. All of them are operated by the shipping company River Cruises Latvia.
The boat piers can be found between the bridges Vanšu Tilts and Akmens Tilts.
You can choose from the following cruises:
| Name | Itinerary | Cruise times | Cruise times | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Boat | Around Zakusala Island | 5x daily from 10:00 to 20:00 | 1 hour | 15 eur |
| Canal Boats | through the historic centre | 11 times a day from 10:00 to 20:00 | 1 hour | 15 eur |
| Mežaparks | to the northern district of the city | 10:30 | 1 hour 15 minutes | 15 eur |
| Jūrmala | to Jurmala beach | 10:00 | 2 hours and 30 minutes | 20 eur |
Discounts can be applied for students with valid ISIC card, where the price of the cruise is based on 10 eur, respectively 12 eur for the cruise to Jūrmala and children pay the same 5 eur for the cruise.
Tickets for the cruise can be purchased at the docks or online at the company's website rivercruises.lv, where you can also find other official information.
Bicycles
On sunny days, you can rent a bicycle and explore not only the centre, but especially the wider suburbs of Riga.
Just like in other European cities, you will find Nextbike racks in Riga.
You can easily rent and return them via the nextbike mobile app, which you can download from both the Appstore and Google Play.
Taxi
If you plan to use regular taxis, insist on using a taximeter.
Stress-free cars can be used through the Bolt app. Uber does not work in Riga. Slightly more expensive, but always with excellent and fast availability is Baltic Taxi.
By train to Jurmala
The popular resort by the Blat Sea is easily reached by train from Riga Central Station. Don't look for the "Jurmala" station on online transport search engines, you need to choose one of the many stations in the city. The most popular (closest to the beach) stations are Dzintari, Majori or Melluzi.
The train to Jurmala takes half an hour and runs 2-3 times an hour during the day. Just buy a ticket at the station, it will cost you 1,4 euro. The return is not discounted in any way.
You can find the exact timetable on the Latvian Railways website, or use the general transport search engine in Latvia 1188.lv, which will also find all intercity bus connections.