EURAXESS LATVIA

Other Daily Life Issues

Arrival
Transportation
Transport by Personal Car
Communications
Banking, Money
Shoping, Cuisine
Useful Information and Services
Culture Life, Sport, Tourism, Events, Leisure

Arrival

Flight

RIX - Riga International Airport (http://www.riga-airport.com/) - airport is situated eight kilometres from city centre, connected by taxi, airport express or bus (lines 22 and 22A to city centre, frequency 10 - 30 minutes, journey time about 30-45 minutes).

Air Baltic Corporation (airBaltic) (http://www.airbaltic.lv/) – national flight operator, offer direct flights out of three Baltic States capitals – Riga (Latvia), Vilnius (Lithuania) and Tallinn (Estonia) to largest part of Europen capitals and largest cities.

Train

Latvian Railway (http://www.ldz.lv/) - international and domestic routes. See routes, train timetable and prices onthe portal. Riga Central Train Station (Terminal) is located in city centre.

Ferry

Freeport of Riga (http://www.freeportofriga.lv/) - international passenger lines; near to city centre. See ferry services and routes on the portal.

Buses

Riga International Bus Station (http://www.autoosta.lv/) - located in city centre, international and domestic bus connections.

Largest bus operators in Latvia:

Ecolines (http://www.ecolines.net/);
Eurolines (http://www.eurolines.com/);
Nordeka (http://www.nordeka.lv/);
HansaBuss (http://www.hansabuss.ee/).

Transportation - Public Transport in Riga and in Other Cities

Trams, trolleys, buses, maxi-taxi and taxi provide public transport in Riga, while in other cities buses, maxi-taxi and taxi, as also tram in Liepaja and Daugavpils represent public transport. Tickets for one journey in Riga in all public transportation cost 50 santims (2011). Monthly passes are available. Final destinations are marked on the front of all trams, trolleys and buses. Taxi rate is marked on taxi passenger doors.

Riga city and Regional public transport (Rigas satiksme) (http://www.rigassatiksme.lv/) - routes information, traffic schedule, ticket prices.

Transport by Personal Car, Driver License, Car Insurance

Peculiarities of road traffic regulations:

vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road;
speed limit for cars: 50 km/h in cities; 90 km/h outside cities;
lights must be switched on all times – 24h;
seatbelts must be used at all times;
the maximum permitted alcohol concentration in the blood is 0.50 mg/ml for drivers with more than two years experience and 0.20 mg/ml for drivers with less than two years experience.

The driver must be able to produce the following documents if requested by police or border guards:

standard European vehicle driving licence or other licence meeting the requirements of the convention on road safety in the respective transport category;
vehicle registration document;
third party insurance cover, border crossing contract or green card;
up-to-date technical registration document.

To travel by car that belongs to another person, you need to have a notarized letter of permission. The same regulations and documentation requirements apply to motorcyclists.

Motor Insurers Bureau of Latvia (http://www.ltab.lv/);

Latvian State Roads (http://www.lvceli.lv/);

Road Traffic Safety Department (http://www.csdd.lv/).

Communications

Latvian Post (Latvijas pasts) (http://www.pasts.lv/) (in Latvian !).

Phone - 371 - Latvia phone code. No separate city or region codes have been used in Latvia! At present moment eight digit numbers has been used both for fixed and mobile phone!

Banking, Money

Currency - Latvia national currency is the lats consisting of 100 santims. Banknotes have nominal values of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 lats, while coins have nominal values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 santims, and 1 and 2 lats. The lats was reintroduced in 1993. Name: Lats; Code: LVL; Symbol: Ls.

Exchange rate to Euro is fixed since 2005: 1 EUR = 0.702804 LVL .

Bank of Latvia (http://www.bank.lv/) – informationa about Latvian money, monetary policy, payment, exchange rates and settlement system.

The most commonly used Credit Cards for paying (Visa, Master, American Express ...) is widely accepted in shoping centres and by service providers in Latvia, but in some cases you need to have cash. You can withdraw money from cash machines. The wide network of banks and its branches, currency exchange offices and cash machines is easy to access.

Shoping, Cuisine

Riga Central Market (http://www.rct.lv/) - the largest market in the Baltic States and one of the biggest outdoor markets on the European continent. On portal you can find information about price level and its dynamics for food products and therefore evaluate daily life expenses for you and your family in Latvia.

Although Latvian cuisine has traditionally been based on agricultural produce, meat and fish also features prominently in the Latvian diet. On an average day Latvians usually eat a moderate breakfast before going to work. Lunch in Latvia is eaten between midday and three: this is dependent on what time the day has begun. People usually eat a hot lunch. On arriving home from work, a second lunch, or supper, is made. This is eaten around six or seven in the evening.

Consumer Rights Protection Centre (http://www.ptac.gov.lv/) - the state institution to realise the consumer rights protection.

Consumer Guide (http://www.pateretaja-celvedis.lv/) - an independent consumer gateway – EU network.

ECC-Net - European Consumer Centre Latvia (http://www.ecclatvia.lv/).

Useful Information and Services

Electricity system in Latvia is 220 volts AC, 50 Hz; the plug is two – pin, European – style.

Time - Latvia is on Eastern European Time, three hours ahead of GMT in summer, and two hours in winter.

Weather – see the Latvian Hydrometeorological Agency (http://www.meteo.lv/).

Is it safe in Latvia? Actually, Riga is no different than any major city in the world. There is potential for pickpockets, petty crimes, personal assaults for robbery. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid potential problem situations. State Police (http://www.vp.gov.lv/, phone: 02).

The free single emergency phone line in case of accident: 112.

Viss.Lv (The Whole) (http://www.viss.lv/) - portal about daily life issues, shopping, services, tourism and etc. in Latvia.

Uz Kartes (On Map) (http://www.uzkartes.lv/) – institutions, leisure, shoping transport services, finanses and tourism on map.

Culture Life, Sport, Tourism, Events, Leisure

Bilesu Serviss (Tickets Service) (http://www.bilesuserviss.lv/) – advertisement and tickets on-line to concerts, theaters, shows, events ... .

Eventguide.lv (http://eventguide.lv/) - the calendar of events in Latvia - culture, sports, business, for kids, ...

KoDarit.Lv (What To Do?) (http://www.kodarit.lv/) - portal about tourism, leisure, culture and sports events in Latvia.

Vietas.lv (Places) (http://vietas.lv/) – tourism, leisure, recreation, services.

If you need additional information or need personal assistance for particular case regarding the Daily Life Issues, please use our HelpDesk or contact the EURAXESS Latvia Services Centre.