Tips and Tricks on how to get to Riga

From 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.

1) By plane:
Riga International Airport Riga 10/1, Marupes pagasts, Rigas rajons Tel: +371 7207135; Fax: +371 7211767 E-mail: offce@riga-airport.com Website: www.riga-airport.com Information line: +371 7207009 Information on visas: +371 7075615 Customs: +371 7507252 Baggage reclaim: +371 7207236

Airlines

Aerosweet: Airport, tel. 720-7502. Flights to Kiev. www.aerosvit.com

Aer Lingus Phone: (+371) 7357736 Flight to Dublin http://www.aerlingus.com/

Air Baltic: at the airport, tel. 720-7777; and at Elizabetes 85a; www.airbaltic.lv Aeroflot: (B-4) Gertrudes 6, tel. 727-8774; www.aeroflot.ru. Austrian Airlines: tel. 750-7700. www.austrianairlines.lv British Airways: (G-2) Torna 4, tel. 732-6737; at the airport, tel. 720-7097; www.britishairways.com. CSA (Czech Airlines): Airport, tel. 720-7636; www.czech-airlines.com Easyjet: from Riga to Berlin. www.easyjet.com Estonian Air: (H-3) Aspazijas 22, at Riga Hotel; tel. 721-4860; at the airport, tel. 7207458. www.estonian-air.ee Finnair: at the airport tel. 720-7010; Barona 36, tel. 724-3008. www.finnair.com KLM: Airport, 3rd floor, tel. 766-8600. Latcharter: Airport, tel. 720-7398; www.latcharter.com

LOT: Maza Pils 5, tel. 722-7234, and at the airport, tel. 720-7113. www.lot.com Lufthansa: Airport, tel. 750-7711. www.lufthansa.com Ryanair: flies from Riga airport; www.ryanair.com SAS: (I-2) Kalku 15,in the old city, tel. 720-7777. Airport, tel. 7207055. www.scandinavian.net

Trasport from the airport to the centre of Riga

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 ?nal stop is at Abrenes Iela. There are several stops on the way in Pardaugava 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 0.20. 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 0.25. In the city centre the bus stops at the National Art Museum (Kr.Valdemara iela 10) and the Cathedral (Brivibas 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 Taxis 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 foor arrival terminal. Tel: +371 7207509 A journey to the city centre takes about 15 minutes. Fares are metered with a minimum charge of LVL 1.00 plus LVL 0.35 per kilometre during the day. The rate increases slightly at night and certain other periods such as holidays. Approximate taxi costs: LVL 0,40 already on the meter ( 6.00 - 24.00) LVL 0,35 per every km ( 6.00 - 24.00) LVL 0,60 already on the meter ( 0.00 - 6.00) LVL 0,40 per every km ( 0.00 - 6.00) LVL 4,00 per every hour waiting YOUR JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE SHOULD COST AROUND LVL 6.00.

2) Buses and Trains

Central Train Station:
Gogola iela 3, Riga, LV - 1547, Latvia Information: 1181 (from abroad: +371 7231181) Fax: (+371) 7820231 e-mail: pr@ldz.lv Riga has daily train service to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Every other day there is a train to Vilnius (uneven days) and to Gomel in Belarus (even days). Once or twice a week, there is a train to Lviv in Ukraine. Train service unfortunately still has a strong Soviet flavor. For an overnight train, you can book a bed in a compartment. There also is a local electrical commute train service.

Bus Central Station

Near the central market, tel. +371 900-0009. With the deterioration of train service in Riga and the rest of the Baltic states, bus service has taken over. There are comfortable buses to major cities in the east and in the west. Ecolines: at the bus terminal, tel. +371 721-4512; ecolines@ecolines.lv. Their buses service many destinations all over Germany, Moscow, Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp, London, Paris, Lille, also Kiev and Odessa in Ukraine. www.ecolines.lv. Eurolines: at the bus terminal, tel. +371 721-4080 agency@eurolines.lv, www.eurolines.lv. Their buses have direct service to Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and many other destinations all over Germany; to St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kaliningrad and other destinations in Russia; and to Lithuania and Estonia. Tickets sold at bus stations and travel agencies. Nordeka: Dzirciema 121, tel. +371 746-4620, nordeka@nordeka.lv. They have bus service to Tallinn, Klaipeda, Kaliningrad, Kaunas, Minsk, Warsaw, Belostok and St. Petersburg; local routes, too. www.nordeka.lv.