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Getting There & Away in Riga

How do you get to Riga?

Getting There8.4/10Easier to reach than about 80% of cities
Main airport
Riga International Airport (RIX)

Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: riga-airport.com, omio.com

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Airport bus No. 22 requires card payment only—no cash accepted on board; buy 90-minute public transport ticket (€1.50) at airport machines to save money.
  • Riga Central Station (trains) and Rīgas SAO (buses) are adjacent, simplifying transfers between modes for day trips or onward travel.
  • New direct daily train Vilnius–Riga–Tallinn (launched Feb 2025) allows seamless same-day travel between all three Baltic capitals through a single booking platform.
  • Jūrmala train departs every 30–40 minutes and costs €1.50—ideal for quick beach getaways or relaxation.
  • Rail Baltica high-speed rail project under construction; new Riga Central and Riga Airport stations expected by 2030, dramatically improving connectivity to Tallinn, Vilnius, Warsaw, and Poland.
  • Stockholm–Riga ferry has been suspended since March 2020; Helsinki ferry requires travel via Tallinn.
  • Riga airport parking is approximately €2.50/hour if renting a car.
  • Summer (April–Oct) sees increased tourist traffic at popular day-trip destinations; book tours in advance during peak season.

Airport

Name
Riga International Airport (RIX)
Distance From Center Km
10
Distance From Center Miles
6.2

Ground Transport Options

  • Bus No. 22
    Cost
    €1.81
    Frequency
    Every 10-30 minutes
    Operating Hours
    06:00–00:00
    Travel Time Minutes
    40
    Notes
    One-way ticket on bus 22; card payment only. 90-minute ticket (€1.50) valid on all public transport available at ticket machines.
  • Taxi (Licensed: XTaxi, TaxiLV)
    Travel Time Minutes
    20
    Notes
    Pre-paid vouchers available at airport terminal; valid for up to 4 passengers with luggage.

    Cost Typical Range

    Max
    €15
    Min
    €12
  • Ride-hailing (Bolt)
    Travel Time Minutes
    15
    Notes
    Price shown in app before booking; rates vary by traffic and demand.

    Cost Typical Range

    Max
    €18
    Min
    €10
  • Car Rental
    Travel Time Minutes
    20
    Cost Notes
    Parking at airport approximately €2.50/hour

Bus Connections

Domestic

Operator
Nordeka and regional carriers
Main Station
Rīgas SAO (Riga Central Bus Station), located near Central Market and Old Town walking distance

Notable Routes

  • Jūrmala
    Frequency
    Multiple departures daily
    Travel Time Minutes
    30
  • Sigulda
    Frequency
    Regular service
    Travel Time Minutes
    70
  • Kuldīga
    Frequency
    Hourly
    Travel Time Minutes
    70

International

To Lithuania
Direct buses to Vilnius available; popular alternative to train

Domestic

  • Pasažieru Vilciens (PV)
    Cost
    €1.50
    Frequency
    Every 30–40 minutes
    Destination
    Jūrmala
    Distance Km
    25
    Travel Time Minutes
    30
    Notes
    Main stations: Majori (central), Dzintari. Train departs from Riga Central Station.
  • Pasažieru Vilciens (PV)
    Cost
    €2.10
    Frequency
    Approximately 12 trains daily
    Destination
    Sigulda
    Distance Km
    50
    Travel Time Minutes
    70
    Notes
    Departs Riga Central Station. Gateway to Gauja National Park and medieval castles.
  • Daugavpils
    Frequency
    4 trains daily
    Travel Time Hours
    3–4

International

  • LTG Link
    Frequency
    Once daily
    Destination
    Vilnius, Lithuania
    Arrival Time
    11:04 in Riga (when traveling from Vilnius)
    Cost Class 1
    €34
    Cost Class 2
    €24
    Departure Time
    07:05 from Riga
    Travel Time Hours
    Approximately 5 (Vilnius–Riga leg)
    Notes
    Direct daily service launched in late 2024. Mandatory seat reservation included. Single booking platform covers entire journey Vilnius–Riga–Tallinn.
  • Tallinn, Estonia
    Total Journey Time Hours
    12
    Cost Riga Tallinn Class 2
    €31
    Travel Time Riga To Tallinn Hours
    Approximately 6–7 with transfer
    Notes
    Connection via Valga (Estonia). Through-service launched February 2025 with coordinated schedules.
    Description
    Vilnius–Riga–Tallinn through-service; requires transfer at Valga border station
  • Vilnius–Riga–Tallinn–Warsaw Route
    Status
    Future planned by Rail Baltica
    Expected Completion
    By 2030 (Phase I)
    Notes
    Will operate as standard-gauge, high-speed rail; currently under construction.

Ferry Connections

Operator
Tallink

Routes

  • Stockholm, Sweden
    Status
    Suspended indefinitely (since March 2020)
    Historical Frequency
    3 weekly
    Historical Journey Time Hours
    17
  • Helsinki, Finland
    Frequency
    7 sailings per week
    Journey Time Hours
    19
    Notes
    Connection via Tallinn: take train/bus to Tallinn, then ferry to Helsinki (2–2.5 hours).

Terminal Info

Name
Rīgas pasažieru termināls (Riga Passenger Terminal)
Access
Easily accessible by public transport; ~500m from Kronvalda bulvāris tram stops; close to Central Station
Location
3a Eksporta Street, Riga (city center)
Distance From Old Town Minutes
15

Day Trip Destinations

  • Jūrmala
    Type
    Beach resort
    Train Cost
    €1.50
    Distance Km
    25
    Travel Time By Bus Minutes
    40
    Travel Time By Train Minutes
    30
    Description
    Famous seaside resort with 26+ km of sandy beach; Art Nouveau wooden villas; pedestrian shopping street (Jomas iela).
  • Sigulda (Gauja National Park)
    Type
    Nature, castles, adventure
    Train Cost
    €2.10
    Distance Km
    50
    Travel Time By Car Minutes
    50
    Travel Time By Train Minutes
    70
    Description
    Gateway to Latvia's largest national park; medieval Turaida Castle, castle ruins, Gūtmanis Cave; referred to as 'Switzerland of Latvia' for mountainous terrain.
  • Kemeri National Park
    Type
    Nature (bogs, hiking)
    Distance Km
    45
    Travel Time By Bus Minutes
    70
    Description
    Mineral springs, vast bogland with wooden boardwalk trails; located near Jūrmala.
  • Rundāle Palace
    Type
    Historical architecture
    Access Mode
    Best by car or organized tour; requires bus transfer at Bauska (inconvenient for day trip via public transport)
    Distance Km
    75
    Travel Time Hours
    2.5
    Entry Fee Combined
    €17
    Description
    Baroque palace and gardens; UNESCO-adjacent architectural significance.

Services

  • Bus, Tram, Trolleybus, Minibus Network
    Operating Hours
    05:00–23:30 (limited night service weekends)

Ticketing

Typical Price 90min
€1.50

Options

  • 90-minute ticket
  • 24-hour ticket
  • Mobile app (Rīgas Satiksme or Mobilly)

Station Info

Riga Central Railway Station, Stacijas laukums 2, Riga. Connects to Central Bus Station; serves as hub for domestic and limited international service.

Public Transit Operator

Rīgas Satiksme

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.riga-airport.com
  2. 2.riga-airport.com
  3. 3.omio.com
  4. 4.latvia.travel
  5. 5.airmundo.com
  6. 6.euronews.com
  7. 7.interrail.eu
  8. 8.everyrail.com
  9. 9.info.railbaltica.org
  10. 10.cinea.ec.europa.eu
  11. 11.netferry.com
  12. 12.ferryscanner.com
  13. 13.ferryhopper.com
  14. 14.rop.lv
  15. 15.seat61.com
  16. 16.latvia.travel
  17. 17.shortgirlontour.com
  18. 18.machupicchu.org
  19. 19.tradingeconomics.com

More About Riga

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.