Useful apps for Latvia: transport, maps, translation

Latvia is small and well connected, so you need fewer apps than for a long multi-country trip. The short list is ride-hailing, maps, translation and a way to buy Riga transport tickets. Add a bus or train app only if you plan to move between cities.

Bolt is the ride-hailing app people actually use in Riga and other Latvian cities. It also covers taxis and, in some cities, scooters. Uber does not operate in Latvia, so do not expect it to work. Set up your account and payment card before you arrive; a foreign card usually works, and you can pay in cash with some drivers if you prefer.

Google Maps handles driving, walking and public transport in Riga well enough for most trips. It shows tram, trolleybus and bus routes and walking times between stops. Coverage of rural roads and forest tracks is thinner, so if you drive outside the main routes, download offline maps for the region before you leave Wi-Fi.

For Riga's trams, trolleybuses and buses, use the Rīgas Satiksme e-ticket app or the ticket machines at stops and on board. Contactless bank cards are accepted on many services. Buy and validate before you board where the system requires it; inspectors do check.

A translation app with the Latvian offline pack is worth having. English is widely spoken in Riga, less so in smaller towns and villages, and Latvian place names are long. Offline packs work without data, which matters if your SIM runs out or you are outside coverage.

For intercity travel, book on the operator's own website or app, or buy at the station. There is no single national booking app that covers every bus and train, so check the operator for your route. Timetables are also posted at stations.

Set up Bolt and your payment card before you land, and check that your phone plan allows data roaming or buy a local SIM or eSIM on arrival. Prepaid SIMs from LMT, Tele2 and Bite are sold in Narvesen kiosks and supermarkets, and eSIMs work across the country.

Download offline maps and the Latvian translation pack while you still have fast Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, trains and buses, but it is not everywhere and it is not always fast.

Keep a small amount of cash as a backup. Contactless cards work almost everywhere, but a few small vendors and rural places may prefer cash.

If you are only in Riga, you can skip most transport apps: the old town and centre are walkable, and trams and buses cover the rest. If you are driving to Kurzeme or Vidzeme, offline maps and a charged phone mount matter more than any single app.