Passports / Visas

UK citizens do not require a visa to visit Latvia. Other nationalities are advised to check with the Embassy of Latvia in London.

Health advice / risks

No specific vaccinations are required for travellers arriving in Latvia directly from the UK.

Medical services

Private medical care is well organised and of high quality with private ambulances. The state owned public hospitals are not so efficient however.

Drinking water

The drinking water is safe in most offices and hotels as well as in private houses. However, in apartment houses it is suggested to filter or boil the water before use, as the centralised water supply is not thoroughly filtered.

Travel routes to Latvia

It is most convenient to travel to Latvia by plane as there are regular, good quality air links. A car or bus is the next reasonable alternative as there are good road links. Ferry lines are mainly directed towards Scandinavia and other countries around the Baltic Sea, while railway connection is provided mainly with Russia and the CIS (not Western Europe).

Property Frontiers is able to assist in making travel arrangements for Latvia. Please visit our Travel Services page for more information.

Air

The largest and most central airport in Latvia is Riga International Airport. It lies some 8 km south-west from the city. Currently, the routes to Riga are serviced by such major international airlines as British Airways, SAS, Lufthansa, Finnair and Delta. At present, there are direct flights to London (Gatwick) four times a week.

Roads

Latvia has a well-developed road network, with principal transport corridors integrating the country internationally in North-South and East-West directions. However, visitors travelling by car should be aware that long queues may occur on the border at peak times. The Via Baltica - one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the Baltic zone - is an international highway across the Baltic states and Poland. When completed, it will link Finland and Scandinavia with Central and Southern Europe.

How to get to & from the airport

Riga airport is about 10 kms outside the city. By taxi to the city centre will take about 30 minutes and cost around 8Ls. Or take a no 22 bus which run every half hour between the airport and city centre. The journey will take around 30 minutes and cost around 18 santims. Bus tickets are available from the bus driver.

Travelling in Latvia

Riga is geographically in the middle of Latvia, and the other main cities are situated up to 300 km from Riga.

Rail

Latvia has an inexpensive rail service with a railway network connecting the major cities of Latvia, although the journeys may take quite a long time. There is a higher density of railways in the Riga metropolis, where electric commuter trains provide a relatively fast connection to the suburbs and nearby towns.

Roads

The speed limits on the Latvian roads are:

Highways 110 km/h
Open roads 90 km/h
Built-up areas 50 km/h

Parking is recommended in a guarded parking lot (price ranges between 0.20-0.40 lats per hour). Look for "AutostParking". There are several local and international fuel station chains all over the country, including Shell, Statoil, Neste and Texaco. Maps and guides are widely available in bookshops.

There is an effective bus service between the cities and towns in Latvia, which is faster and cheaper than the train.

Hotels

Almost all types of accommodation are available in Latvia. Riga offers hotels for every taste and some have public Internet access. Prices range from 45 to 95 lats for a single room and LVL55 to LVL105 lats for a double room.

Restaurants

Service, quality and variety in the Riga dining scene have improved. Various international foods can be obtained including Chinese, French, Italian, American, German, Greek, Irish, and Mexican etc. And, of course, there are many places where typical Latvian food is served. Menus are usually trilingual (Latvian, Russian and English). A list of upmarket restaurants is provided below).

Grill Room
Radisson-SAS
Kugu Street 24
RIGA, LV-1048
Tel: + 371 706 1111
Fax: + 371 706 1100
Open 18.00-23.00. Closed Sunday, Monday.

Otto Schwarz
Hotel De Rome
28 Kalku Street
RIGA, LV-1050
Tel: + 371 708 7600
Fax: + 371 708 7606
Open 07.00-23.00.

Piano Bars ( Vernisaza Building)
Terbatas 2
RIGA
Tel: + 371 728 8230
Open 12.00-24.00. Live music every night.

Symposium
Dzirvanu 84 (in the Berga Bazars)
RIGA
Tel: + 371 724 2545
Fax: + 371 724 2546

Vincents
Elizabetes 19
RIGA
Tel: + 371 733 2634/733 2830
Open 11.00-24.00.

Tipping

Tipping is not mandatory, but is a nice gesture for good service. The payable amount is usually rounded upwards by a couple of lats, but usually not more than 10% of the service value.

Electricity supply

220 volt AC 50Hz. Two-pin European-style plugs are used.

Hours of business

Banks : 9.00 - 17.00
Shops : 10.00 - 19.00