What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Riga?
Emergency number
112
Police: 110. Ambulance: 113.
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: globalcitizensolutions.com, jarniascyril.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- 112 works everywhere in Latvia free of charge and is the easiest number to remember as a visitor — you don't need to know the separate direct-dial numbers.
- Downloading the '112 Latvija' app before you need it is worth doing: it can auto-share your GPS location with dispatchers, which is especially useful if you don't know the exact street address in an emergency.
- The Riga Tourist Police line (+371 6718 1818) is a good non-emergency option for lost documents, scams, or general help in the Old Town, staffed in English and Russian.
- 112 dispatchers will never call you back first — if you receive a callback from that number it's because your call dropped or they need to clarify details, not a scam.
- Latvia has also rolled out cell-broadcast emergency alerts (red/orange/yellow) that appear directly on smartphone screens even without a SIM or internet connection — these never contain links, so treat any alert with a clickable link as a scam.
- In a medical emergency, call 113 (medical) or 112 (general emergency/police/fire) — both are free and work 24/7.
- No appointment is needed at any hospital emergency room in Riga — just bring ID and any relevant medical history/insurance documents.
- For orthopedic injuries specifically (broken bones, sprains, dislocations), the Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics on Duntes iela is the specialist option, but for anything more serious (chest/head trauma, multi-system injury, poisoning) go to Riga East Clinical University Hospital (Gaiļezers) or Pauls Stradiņš instead.
- Riga East Clinical University Hospital (Gaiļezers) is the country's main severe-trauma and polytrauma referral hospital but is located outside the immediate city center — an ambulance will route you there automatically if needed, so this is not something to plan around, just know it exists.
- English is not guaranteed at public hospital admission/ER desks; private clinics (not covered in this list) are better for non-emergency English-language care, but for true emergencies go to the nearest public ER regardless of language.
Emergency Numbers
Official Safety Apps
112 Latvija
- Features
- Lets users call or text the 112 emergency number, shares approximate GPS location with dispatchers, sends push notifications for weather/hazard alerts and siren tests, includes a map of nearest bomb/emergency shelters, and provides safety guidance for various emergency scenarios.
- Languages
- Latvian and English
- Platforms
- iOS and Android, free to download
- Publisher
- State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD), developed with EU funds
Riga Specific Numbers
- Riga Municipal Police
- +371 6703 7811 / +371 6703 7822
- Riga Tourist Police 24h
- +371 6718 1818
- Notes
- The tourist police (part of the Riga Municipal Police) patrol mainly the Old Town and offer help/info in English and Russian around the clock.
Direct Service Numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire Rescue
- 112
- Gas Emergency
- 114
- Ambulance Medical
- 113
- Coast Guard Search And Rescue
- 115
Other Useful Helplines
- Child And Adolescent Helpline
- 116111
- Support Line For Crime Victims
- 116006
- 24 7 Crisis Hotline Psychological First Aid
- 116123
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 112
- Description
- Single European emergency number, free of charge from any landline or mobile, connects to police, fire, and ambulance services. Operators can assist in Latvian, English, Russian and German.
Hospitals
Open 24/7
- Phone
- +371 67041001 / +371 67042424
- Name
- Riga East Clinical University Hospital (Gaiļezers) – Emergency Medicine and Patient Admission Clinic
- Address
- Hipokrāta iela 2, Rīga, LV-1038
- Local Name
- Rīgas Austrumu klīniskā universitātes slimnīca
- Trauma Designation
- Latvia does not use the US-style Level I–IV trauma center system. This hospital is described by its own administration as the largest emergency-care provider in the country and the only facility nationally equipped for microsurgery, toxicology, and polytrauma (multi-system trauma) patients — functionally Latvia's top-tier trauma referral center.
- Notes
- This is the country's largest hospital campus and main national referral point for the most severe trauma cases. It treats roughly 70,000 emergency patients per year, with 140–260 people arriving daily. It sits in the Purvciems/Ķengarags area, several kilometers from the Old Town/city-center — further out than a typical 10-minute nomad-zone radius, but included here because it is the primary severe-trauma facility for the entire city and country.
Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital
- Phone
- +371 67069341
- Hours
- Open 24/7
- Address
- Pilsoņu iela 13, Rīga, LV-1002
- Local Name
- Paula Stradiņa klīniskā universitātes slimnīca
- Trauma Designation
- No formal US-style trauma-level designation exists in Latvia. Described as the main general emergency hospital for the city with a full emergency room and urgent-care unit.
- Notes
- Commonly cited as the main go-to emergency hospital for adults in Riga, roughly 10–15 minutes from the city center.
Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics
- Phone
- +371 67399440
- Hours
- Emergency room / Casualty Department open 24/7
- Address
- Duntes iela 22, Rīga, LV-1005
- Local Name
- Traumatoloģijas un ortopēdijas slimnīca
- Trauma Designation
- Specialized orthopedic-trauma hospital, not a general trauma center — treats only injuries to limbs and spine caused by mechanical factors (fractures, sprains, dislocations, ligament/tendon/muscle injuries). Not equipped for general medical emergencies, head/chest/abdominal trauma, or polytrauma.
- Notes
- Only specialized musculoskeletal trauma and orthopedics hospital in Latvia; go here specifically for limb or spine injuries, not for general emergencies.
Riga 2nd Hospital
- Phone
- +371 67614033
- Hours
- Emergency admission ward open 24/7
- Address
- Ģimnastikas iela 1, Rīga, LV-1004
- Local Name
- Rīgas 2. slimnīca
- Trauma Designation
- General hospital with a 24-hour emergency admission department; no formal trauma-level designation.
- Notes
- Listed by Latvia's National Health Service among the city's round-the-clock emergency admission points.
Children's Clinical University Hospital
- Phone
- +371 67064499
- Hours
- Emergency admission open 24/7
- Address
- Vienības gatve 45, Rīga
- Local Name
- Bērnu klīniskā universitātes slimnīca
- Trauma Designation
- Pediatric-only emergency and trauma care; no formal trauma-level designation.
- Notes
- Use this facility specifically for pediatric emergencies rather than the adult hospitals above.
Healthcare
- Emergency Care
- Free for all, regardless of insurance status. Call 112 for ambulance. Emergency pharmacies operate 24/7 in Riga.
- System Overview
- Latvia has a mixed public and private healthcare system. The public system is managed by the National Health Service (NVD) and provides universal coverage to residents, though quality is rated below EU average. Riga has modern facilities, but rural areas have limited resources.
Health Insurance
- Recommended
- Most expats supplement with private insurance even if enrolled in public system.
- Mandatory For Nomads
- Digital nomad visa requires minimum €42,600 health insurance coverage for full visa duration. Common providers: AXA, Cigna, Bupa, Pacific Prime, SafetyWing, Nomad Insurance.
- Private Coverage Cost
- €250
per year, basic plans; €800/year for comprehensive
Public Healthcare
- Waiting Times
- Long waits typical for non-urgent care and specialist consultations. Language barrier common; most public doctors practice Latvian/Russian; English less common.
- Access Requirements
- EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can access with EHIC card. Non-EU residents with work permits can register with NVD. Digital nomad visa holders are not automatically enrolled and must obtain private insurance (minimum €42,600 coverage).
- Registration Process
- Must register with a family doctor and National Health Service (NVD). EU citizens affiliated with another country's social security can use S1 form, registered at NVD office Cēsu iela 31 k-3 Riga.
- Description
- State-funded system provides general practitioner consultations, specialist consultations (usually with referral), hospital stays, emergency care, maternity care, pediatrics, prescription medications, and laboratory/imaging exams with some co-payments.
Private Healthcare
- Features
- Shorter wait times, English-speaking staff, modern equipment, choice of practitioner. Prices lower than Western Europe but higher than public system.
- Prevalence
- Concentrated mainly in Riga and major cities. Preferred by most expatriates for routine and specialist care.
- Major Providers
- AIWA Clinic, Veselības centrs 4, Pauls Stradiņš University Hospital (private ward)
Consultation Costs
General Practitioner Consultation
- General Practitioner Consultation
- €30
Specialist Consultation (General)
- Specialist Consultation (General)
- €50
Specialist Consultation (High-end, E.g. Dentist)
- Specialist Consultation (High End, E.G. Dentist)
- €80
Pharmacies
- Overview
- Widely available and well-stocked across Riga. Many pharmacists speak English and can recommend over-the-counter treatments.
- Accessibility
- Pharmacies accept walk-ins. Many have online appointment systems.
- Emergency Pharmacies
- Operate 24/7 in Riga for urgent medication needs.
- Prescription Requirements
- Valid doctor's note required. Must be filled at registered pharmacies. Foreign prescriptions generally not valid; must obtain local GP reissue. Some medications may have different brand names or availability.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Riga
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.