- To Riga from Helsinki by train
- How to get from Helsinki to Riga by ferry and bus
- Choosing wings
- The car is not a luxury
There are only some 400 kilometers between the capitals of Finland and Latvia, but transfer issues should always be approached responsibly and deliberately in any situations. If you are interested in the answer to the question of how to get from Helsinki to Riga quickly and inexpensively, pay attention to land transport. Aviation in this case evaluates its services not too democratic.
To Riga from Helsinki by train
There are no direct rail passenger flights between the capitals of Latvia and Finland, and with transfers in other European cities, the journey will take a lot of time and money. For a profitable transfer, it is better to pay attention to other types of intercity transport.
How to get from Helsinki to Riga by ferry and bus
In Latvia and Finland, located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, passenger transport by sea and, in particular, ferry services are very popular. This type of transport can hardly be called fast and efficient, but you can take a car, bicycle, pets on the road, or just enjoy the delights of a leisurely journey on the water.
Action plan for passengers on the Helsinki - Riga route:
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The first part of the journey goes by sea. In the Finnish capital, you will board a ferry to Tallinn. The cost of a ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn is 25-30 euros in the simplest case. Up to six ferries leave a day, the passengers of which spend a little more than an hour and a half on the way to the Estonian capital. Ferry timetables, ticket prices and booking conditions can be found on the website www.lindaline.ee.
- Arriving at the seaport of Tallinn, passengers must transfer to the international bus station. It is located at: st. Lastekodu tn. 46, pl. 13. Buses on routes 17 and 17a and trams NN2 and 4 will help you get there. The station's website offers useful information, bus timetables and the procedure for purchasing tickets. The site address is www.tpilet. The price of bus tickets from the Estonian to the Latvian capital is approximately 20 euros. You will have to spend about 7.5 hours on the road, taking into account the transfer in Tallinn.
European bus carriers offer great comfort during travel. Each passenger can put their luggage in the spacious cargo hold. The bus interior is equipped with modern multimedia and air conditioning systems. On the way, it is possible to charge a cell phone and other electronic equipment and use a dry closet.
Choosing wings
Modern European realities pleasantly surprise tourists with low prices for air travel. If you monitor tickets and book them in advance, it is easy to fly from one capital to another for 39 euros and even cheaper. To do this, you should subscribe to the e-mailing of special offers from air carriers.
The usual prices for tickets from Helsinki to Riga do not look very democratic. Air Baltic offers its services for 90-100 euros round trip. But on the road you will have to spend only an hour if the flight is direct. Finnair's prices are a couple of dozen euros higher.
The airport in the Finnish capital, from where international flights take place, is called Vantaa. It was built 20 kilometers from Helsinki and you can get from the city to the passenger terminals either by taxi for 40 euros or by bus at an order of magnitude cheaper. The bus line 615 you need follows from the Central Railway Station of the Finnish capital. There passengers are picked up by Finnair's own branded buses. The road to the airport will take about 40 minutes. Buses operate on the railway station - airport route from 6 am to 1 am.
While waiting for their departure, passengers can shop at duty-free shops and buy traditional Finnish souvenirs. Vantaa has currency exchange offices, cafes and restaurants. Curious tourists will be happy to visit the Aviation Museum on the territory of the airport, and fans of a healthy lifestyle will relax in the spa center with a sauna and a swimming pool.
Riga airport, where international flights arrive, was built just a dozen kilometers from the city. Arrived passengers can get to Riga by electric trains and buses. The bus stop of route 22 is located opposite the exit from the terminal, tickets are sold by the driver. The price of a transfer from Riga airport to the city is about 1 euro. The Airport Express minibus will cost four times as much. Its distinguishing feature is its bright green color.
The car is not a luxury
When going on a journey in your own or rented car, do not forget about the need to strictly adhere to traffic rules. Fines in Europe are very high, and the traffic police do not give discounts even to foreign tourists.
Useful information for car enthusiasts:
- The cost of one liter of fuel in Finland and Latvia is 1.50 and 1.15 euros, respectively. The cheapest thing to do is to refuel at a gas station near large shopping malls.
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There are no tolls for the use of roads and parking lots in Finnish cities. The only exception is the capital, where an hour of parking a passenger car costs an average of 3 euros.
- In Riga, all parking lots are also paid during the daytime on weekdays and Saturdays. You can park your car freely on Sunday and holidays. There are also no toll sections on highways.
All prices in the material are approximate and given as of January 2017. It is better to check the exact fare on the official websites of the carriers.
