Getting around Riga: public transport, passes and taxis

Riga is compact and flat, so most trips inside the centre are a walk or one short ride. The tram, trolleybus and bus network covers the rest, and Bolt fills the gaps after midnight or when you are carrying luggage. Trains are a separate system and matter mainly for day trips.

Riga runs on a single e-ticket that covers trams, trolleybuses and buses for one ride. Buy it in the Vivi app, at a ticket machine, at a kiosk or at a station desk. Buying from the driver costs more, so load a ticket before you board. A day pass pays off from roughly three rides; a multi-day pass suits longer stays. Check the current prices in the app, since fares change.

Validate every ride, even when the vehicle is busy. Inspectors work the network and issue fines on the spot, and a ticket that was never validated counts as no ticket. Keep the ticket or app screen until you leave the vehicle.

Trams run across the centre and out to the suburbs, trolleybuses cover the ring around the Old Town, and buses reach the airport and the outer districts. For the Old Town, Central Market and the Art Nouveau streets around Alberta iela, walking beats waiting. Use a ride when you are crossing the river, heading to the airport or staying outside the centre.

Bus 22 is the standard airport link. Check the airport transfer page for the current route, stop and fare, and allow extra time in the evening peak.

Bolt is the local default and the easiest way to avoid a negotiation. Fares across the centre usually land between €5 and €12, and the app shows the price before you accept. Street taxis at the airport and on the Old Town ranks have a reputation for overcharging visitors, so order in the app or agree a price first. Tipping is not required; round up or tip in the app.

Vivi trains are the easy way out of the city. Jūrmala is about 30 minutes, Sigulda about an hour and Cēsis about 1.5 hours, with fares from roughly €1.5 to €5. Buy in the app or at the station; on-board purchase costs more. There are few departures a day on some lines, so check times before you leave.

For places off the rail network, a hire car is the practical option: €35–65 a day, dipped lights always on, and watch for elk at dusk on rural roads. Regional buses reach most towns, but book weekends ahead.

Budget about €1.5 per single ride and €5–12 per Bolt trip across the centre. A day of sightseeing on foot and one or two rides usually costs less than a day pass; three or more rides makes the pass cheaper. Day trips by train stay under €5 each way on the lines above. All figures are 2026 estimates — confirm in the app before you travel.

Validate first, board second — inspectors fine on the spot and an unvalidated ticket is not a ticket. Keep small change for paid toilets, which cost €0.50–1; malls and museums are free. If you are staying outside the centre, a multi-day pass usually beats single tickets. For navigation and timetables, a data plan helps; see the eSIM guide before you fly.