- To Prague from Riga by train
- How to get from Riga to Prague by bus
- Choosing wings
- The car is not a luxury
The capitals of Latvia and the Czech Republic attract tourists with their architectural monuments of the Middle Ages, and travelers try to see as much as possible in one tour. If you are also looking for an answer to the question of how to get from Riga to Prague with less material and time costs, pay attention not only to land transport, but also to the offers of airlines.
To Prague from Riga by train
Transfer from the capital of Latvia to the Czech Republic by train is the most inconvenient and quite expensive. There are no direct trains on this route, and with transfers in Minsk, Vitebsk or Orsha, the journey will take at least 35 hours. The ticket price even in a reserved seat will be from 30 to 50 euros.
If you are an avid rail fan, take the combined route. Take a part of the way by bus from Riga to Dresden, and then change to a direct train to Prague. Bus routes Riga - Dresden are present in the Ecolines timetable on Fridays and Saturdays. Departure of the bus at 12.30, arrival in Dresden at 11.05 the next day. For a day on the way, you will have to pay from 110 euros. For a detailed schedule and other important information, please visit www.ecolines.net.
Tickets for the Dresden - Prague train are available on the German Railways website www.bahn.de. The ticket price will be around 20 euros. In general, the trip "will cost a pretty penny" and take too long to recommend this transfer option as ideal.
How to get from Riga to Prague by bus
International buses leave in the capital of Latvia from the bus station, located at: Pragas iela 1. Passengers on the Riga - Prague flight organized by Ecolines spend approximately 22 hours on the way. Ticket prices start at 40 euros and may depend on the day of the week and how far in advance travel documents are booked. Detailed schedule and conditions of purchase on the carrier's website - www.ecolines.net.
All European bus companies offer their passengers a decent service that allows them to travel with great comfort, even over long distances:
- During the trip, passengers have the opportunity to prepare hot drinks in a coffee machine and use a dry closet.
- The buses are equipped with individually adjustable air conditioning systems above each seat.
- On the way, you can watch movies or play games using the screens of the multimedia system.
- Free wi-fi is available on most flights.
- Each passenger seat is equipped with a socket for recharging phones.
Unlike the train, the Eurolines buses have spacious cargo compartments and the ticket price includes three pieces of baggage for each passenger.
Choosing wings
The capitals of Latvia and the Czech Republic are separated by 1,300 kilometers and the fastest way to overcome them by plane. Direct flights are offered by the Latvian carrier Air Baltic. The cost of tickets for the flight Riga - Prague is about 150 euros, but the airline often runs special promotions, during which tickets are significantly cheaper. If you subscribe to the email newsletter and follow the situation, you can book a flight for 50-70 euros. In the sky, passengers on direct flights spend just over two hours.
European low-cost airlines offer their own flight options with connections. For example, Norwegian Air Shuttle sells tickets for € 100 and operates connecting flights in Stockholm. In this case, the road, taking into account the connection, will take about 4 hours.
In Riga, the international airport is located just ten kilometers from the historic center. City buses on route 22 will help you to get to the airport. While waiting for the flight, passengers of the Riga airport can dine in a cafe or buy souvenirs in memory of Latvia. The duty-free shops offer a large selection of perfumes and alcoholic beverages, including the famous "Riga Balsam".
Having landed at Vaclav Havel Airport in the Czech capital, you can get to the city by taxi or bus. The airport and Prague are only 17 km away. Buses NN 119 and 100 run to the terminal station of the Prague metro Nádraží Veleslavín (line A). The whole journey, taking into account the transfer, will take no more than 30 minutes. Buses run at intervals from 5 minutes during rush hour to 20 minutes in the early morning and evening.
The car is not a luxury
If you prefer to travel by your own or rented car, do not forget about observance of traffic rules on European roads. The fines for breaking them are too heavy to disregard the laws.
To travel on the roads of the Czech Republic, you will have to purchase a vignette. This is a special permit for driving on toll sections of the autobahns. The vignette is sold at gas stations and border points, and you should buy it immediately after crossing the border. The issue price is about 11 euros for 10 days. This is the minimum period for which a permit is purchased.
Other useful information for motorists:
- There are no toll roads in Latvia. You will have to pay two euros only if you decide to visit the resort area of Jurmala. In the period from April 1 to September 30, entry to the seaside is paid.
- You can park in Riga only for money. You will be allowed to park your car for free only in the evening and at night on weekdays or around the clock - on Sunday or holidays.
- The price of a liter of fuel in the Czech Republic and Latvia is approximately 1.15 euros. The cheapest gasoline is at gas stations near shopping centers. If you have time to queue up at these gas stations, you can save up to 10% of your fuel savings.
Fares for travel on toll roads, the amount of fines for traffic violations and other useful information for auto travelers is collected on the website www.autotraveler.ru.
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.
