Public transport in Riga
In Riga, public transport services are provided by buses, trams, trolley-buses, and minibuses. Riga public transportation works from around 5 a.m. every morning and up until shortly before midnight. Night buses drive some routes during the nighttime hours on weekends. Rigas satiksme website offers public transport timetables, a map, and a route planner.
You may find the following routes useful:
- Bus No. 22 travels between the Riga Airport and downtown Riga. A trip from the airport to the centre of the city takes approximately 30 minutes. Buses leave every 10 to 30 minutes.
- Tram No. 11 travels between the centre of Riga and Mežaparks neighbourhood. One trip is 30 minutes. In the summer, the Retro Tram also travels the route – a replica of an electric tram of 1909-1910.
- Buses No. 4,7,8 can get you from center of Riga to Āgenskalns neighbourhood, where local Āgenskalns market is situated.
Buying tickets, ticket prices
The most convenient way to buy public transport tickets is at Narvesen outlets or at stops equipped with ticket machines (then it will cost you EUR 1,50 for 90 minutes ticket) – although such machines are not available at all stops. More nature-friendly way to buy public transport tickets is using Mobilly mobile application.
Tickets can also be bought from the driver, but tickets this way cost more – EUR 2. We, therefore, recommend buying your ticket before the trip.
A ticket for one trip is also meant for one boarding – if you must board another transport to reach your destination, you need to register a new ticket.
A passenger has to register his or her ticket with the electronic validator each time he or she boards a public transport vehicle!
Buses
Latvia has excellent and very regular bus connections, making it is one of the most convenient means of transport for anyone who wants to get to know Latvia’s cities, towns and its vast countryside.
Information about buses in Latvia, including timetables, journey times, routes, ticket fares and other information, is available on information boards at the bus station, as well as online in Latvian, Russian, and English, on websites such as Autoosta.lv and 1188.
Buying Bus Tickets
Tickets for domestic and international routes may be bought at the following places:
- At ticket desks at the bus station;
- Last minute from the bus driver, although you may find that there are no seats available;
- At the ticket sales terminal or ticket machine at Riga International Bus Station which operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week;
- On Mobilly mobile application.
The ticket will display the journey number, time and place of departure and seat number. A paper or online ticket should be presented to the driver or inspector, if any, and so it should be kept until the end of the trip!
Rail
Latvia’s rail network system connects the Latvian capital with lines to several different directions – you can get to Liepāja, Sigulda, Cēsis, Jelgava, Rēzekne etc. by train.
Timetables can be found at each station, as well as online at Pv.lv and 1188.lv or on Mobilly mobile application.
Rail tickets
It is possible to purchase rail tickets at station ticket-offices. If the station ticket office is closed, or the certain station does not have a ticket office, tickets can be purchased inside the train from the onboard conductor. If it is more convenient for you, you can but rail ticket on Mobilly mobile application.
Tickets must be presented to onboard conductors and also ticket-inspectors in case of an inspection. This is why tickets must be kept until the end of the journey.