Getting around · Riga · Latvia
Getting around Riga
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Old Riga is pedestrianised and compact, and the Art Nouveau district, Central Market and Moscow Suburb are within a 15-minute walk of it. Rīgas satiksme's trams, trolleybuses and buses cover the rest of the city on the same tickets. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- RIX
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Multi-day e-tickets
Ways to get around
Walking
Walking is the best way to see Old Riga and the Art Nouveau streets; the Central Market is about 10 minutes from Town Hall Square.
Tram
Trams cross the river to Pārdaugava and run to Mežaparks (line 11) and along Miera iela.
Buy e-tickets from machines, kiosks or the official mobile app before boarding; buying from the driver costs more.
Bus
Buses and trolleybuses fill the gaps, and bus 22 links the airport with the city centre.
Train
Suburban trains from Riga Central Station serve Jūrmala, Sigulda, Cēsis and the Vecāķi beach line.
Ride-hailing
Ride-hailing apps such as Bolt are widely used and show fares upfront; they are inexpensive by Western European standards.
Use an app rather than hailing taxis outside bars or at the station, where overcharging has been reported.
Boat
Small cruise boats run along the city canal and the Daugava in the warmer months, departing near the Freedom Monument and the Old Town embankment.
Tickets and passes
Multi-day e-tickets
Rīgas satiksme sells 24-hour and longer tickets for unlimited travel on trams, trolleybuses and buses.
From the airport
Riga International Airport is about 10 km south-west of the centre. City bus 22 reaches the centre in about 25–30 minutes, and ride-hailing cars or taxis take around 20 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
No. The centre is walkable and suburban trains reach Jūrmala, Sigulda and Cēsis. A car helps for Rundāle Palace, Kuldīga and rural Latvia.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Jūrmala | About 30 minutes by train | Suburban train from Riga Central Station to Majori or Dzintari |
| Sigulda and the Gauja valley | About 1 hour 15 minutes by train | Suburban train from Riga Central Station |
| Rundāle Palace | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car or tour; buses run via Bauska with a local connection |
| Cēsis | About 1 hour 45 minutes by train | Train from Riga Central Station |
| Ķemeri National Park | About 1 hour by train plus a walk | Suburban train on the Jūrmala line |
| Kuldīga | About 2 hours by car | Car, or bus from Riga coach station |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Riga?
No. The centre is walkable and suburban trains reach Jūrmala, Sigulda and Cēsis. A car helps for Rundāle Palace, Kuldīga and rural Latvia.
+How do you get from the airport to Riga?
Riga International Airport is about 10 km south-west of the centre. City bus 22 reaches the centre in about 25–30 minutes, and ride-hailing cars or taxis take around 20 minutes depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Riga?
Walking: Walking is the best way to see Old Riga and the Art Nouveau streets; the Central Market is about 10 minutes from Town Hall Square.