For many, Latvia is primarily associated with Jurmala and Riga. But these cities are only a small part of the beauty that a trip to Latvia can offer you.
Public transport
The most widely used transport in the country is buses. It is by bus that you can move around the city, as well as make transit and intercity trips.
Riga is ready to offer any type of transport, except for the metro. Conveniently, the existing route schedule is followed very accurately. You can find it at any stop.
On the territory of Riga, there are unified electronic tickets that are valid for all public transport. You can buy such a pass at the final stop of the route, ticket offices that are available at stops, and kiosks: Plus Punkts, Narvesen, Preses apvieniba. You can also purchase such a ticket from the driver.
Route taxis are another way to get to your destination. As a rule, routes connect the center of Riga and sleeping areas. The fare is the same, but the driver has to pay for the trip.
Unlike Riga, only buses run on the territory of Jurmala. Minibuses are used only on Jurmala-Riga flights.
Taxi
Private carriage is not held in high esteem in Latvia. Official taxis have classic checkered patterns and yellow numbers. You can find taxi ranks near the train station, at the airport, shopping centers, but cars stop on the streets without any problems. The most convenient option is to order by phone. At the same time, the fee for the car delivery is not taken, and the tariff is almost always somewhat lower than that of a taxi taken on the street. The night rate is about 20% higher than the day rate.
Air transport
There are international airports in Riga, Ventspils and Liepaja. The national air carrier is Air Baltic.
Railway transport
Rail travel is not the most popular way to travel. Trains can be helpful if you need to get to:
- to Jurmala;
- to a place located no more than 50 km from Riga (morning and evening traffic jams make trips around the city very tiring);
- to the city of Liepaja, Ventspils or Daugavpils (they are located 200 km from Riga and travel by train is much cheaper than by bus).
Car and camper rental
To rent a car, you will be required to present an international driving license, have a driving experience of at least a year and have 19 years of life behind you. In some companies, a driver can get a car if he is 25 years old. And, of course, a credit card.
Camper is a comfortable mobile home on wheels. The rental conditions are similar to the car rental conditions. But the minimum rental period is from 4 to 7 days (it depends on the tourist season).
