Getting around Latvia

Road in Vidzeme

By plane

Air Baltic flies from Riga to Liepaja International Airport in summer (May-September). It costs 18.60 lats from Riga to Liepaja and 10 lats from Liepaja to Riga. Several small airports available across Latvia, two in Riga - Spilves airport and Rumbulas airport.

By car

International car rentals are represented in Latvia. There are many offices in Riga, including some at Riga Airport. Cheaper car rental offices are also available. Drive with the headlights on all year round. Winter or all-season tyres are required for the winter period (December 1 to March 1). Many gas stations are self-service and operate round the clock. Gasoline with octane ratings 95 and 98 is available, as well as diesel fuel. You can browse a car rental companies list at the Riga International Airport website.

By bus

There is vast network of bus connections around Latvia. Buy bus ticket in bus station or in bus when boarding. If you have luggage ask bus driver to put into trunk. It depends from company if they will charge extra for that. There is express bus connections to major towns, which saves time. On Fridays and Saturdays buses could be crowded in the outbound direction from Riga. Bus time tables are available at the Rigas Autoosta site. SIA Liepezers. Bus and minibus rental in Latvia. Transfers. Coaches. Rent a bus in Latvia Bus rental in Latvia

By train

Train connections route map Useful to go by train if you need to connect to such towns as Jurmala, Saulkrasti, Jelgava, Ogre, Daugavpils. Gulbene and Aluksne is connected by narrow gauge railway. There are several tourist spots along the route.

By bike

It is advised to cycle in the early morning when there is less traffic, although one should be careful when choosing this time due to highly reduced drivers attention at this time. Expect heavy traffic from 5 PM to 8 PM. No left turn allowed from middle line. However, it is highly advised to choose by-ways and less densely populated roads due to highly hazardous traffic. It is vitally important to wear reflectors- reflective belts, bands and bright coloured clothing, as well as have the bike equipped with strong front and rear lights. Generally, cycling is still not safe in the country.

By thumb

Hitchhiking in Latvia is generally good. The roads around Riga present the largest obstacle, unless the city is your destination - there is no clean "by-pass" road, and a considerable amount of local traffic makes hitching very difficult. The easiest way to get around Riga is to find a "cross-country" lift at the border with Lithuania or Estonia. License plate numbers/countries of origin are your friends.