Landing in Riga, with a meeting at 10
The practical half of a business trip: getting in from the airport, paying for a tram, and knowing how far anything actually is. Written for the founder flying in for two days, not for a holiday. Part two covers the city itself.
Three ways into town,
and what each one costs
RIX sits about 10 km south-west of the centre. Every option below leaves from the same arrivals area.
| Option | Cost | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bus 22 | €1.50–1.81 | The city bus, straight to the centre. €1.81 from the driver, card only — bus 22 is the one route where Rīgas satiksme sells on board. A 90-minute ticket bought beforehand at the terminal Narvesen or a machine costs €1.50. Route N22 runs hourly through the night. |
| Bolt | €15–25 | The usual range into the centre, though it moves with demand — you see the exact fare before you accept it. Cars collect from the short-term car park P1, not the kerb. No app? There are Bolt self-service screens at the E and C arrivals exits that take a card and print your plate number. |
| Licensed airport taxi | €33.50 fixed | Three brands are licensed at RIX: XTaxi, TaksiLV and Red Cab. Their tariffs are printed on the car door. A fixed-price voucher to the centre is €33.50 from the Visitor Centre in Arrival hall E — one trip, up to four passengers, any time of day. |
One thing worth knowing: the three licensed brands display their tariff on the car door, and the airport voucher and Bolt both quote a price up front. Operators outside that set their own rates, so Riga Airport’s own advice is simply to agree the fare before you set off — the same rule that applies at Frankfurt or Vienna.
Trams, trolleybuses
and one rule
Riga's centre is small enough to walk end to end in half an hour. For everything else there is one network — trams, trolleybuses and buses, all run by Rīgas satiksme, all on the same ticket.
The one rule: validate your ticket every single time you board, including when you change vehicle mid-journey. An unvalidated ticket is the same as no ticket.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| 90 minutes | €1.50 |
| Ten × 90 minutes | €15.00 |
| 24 hours | €5.00 |
| 3 days | €8.00 |
| 5 days | €10.00 |
Buy on an e-talons card, in the Mobilly app, or at a Narvesen kiosk. A 90-minute ticket covers changes within the 90 minutes, but each boarding must be validated.
The fixed fares here were checked against Riga Airport and Rīgas satiksme in September 2026; the Bolt range is what a ride into the centre typically costs, not a published tariff. Operators change all of it — check before you rely on an exact figure.
Four things that save
an afternoon
Your phone already works
Latvia is in the EU, so an EU or EEA plan roams here at domestic rates. Founders flying in from Germany, Austria or the Netherlands do not need a local SIM. Outside the EU, LMT, Tele2 and Bite all sell prepaid at the airport — bring your passport, registration is required.
Cards work everywhere
Latvia uses the euro and card acceptance is near-universal, including on bus 22 and in the smallest café. Carrying cash is optional.
Bring the documents, not scans
If your trip includes signing at a notary or opening a bank account, bring original identity documents. We tell you exactly what your file needs before you book the flight.
Two days is usually enough
Formation itself does not require you to be here — it can be done by power of attorney. Trips are usually about the bank, the notary, or meeting the people who will run your file.
Everything is closer than you think
Riga's business city is compact. Our office is on Kalku Street in the Old Town, two minutes' walk from the Freedom Monument, and the institutions you may need are within the same few blocks.
Old Town
Where our office is, and where most of the meetings, notaries and law firms you will visit are clustered.
The centre, across the canal
The banks, the larger hotels and the newer offices sit just north-east of the Old Town, all within a walk.
Riga Airport, RIX
About 10 km south-west. Bus 22 and every ride-hailing car run the same road in.