Riga International Airport (IATA: RIX) is a relatively compact and easy-to-navigate airport. From the moment you disembark, it won’t take long until you’re at the baggage pick-up, and it’s just a short way to the exit. However, there seems to be some slight confusion when it comes to getting from Riga airport to the city center. Therefore, in this article, you’ll find every possible way to reach Riga’s center after landing at Latvia’s biggest airport.
First of all, let me tell you that: the trip between the Riga airport and the city center is short (~10 km), and there’s nothing to worry about. Latvia is a perfectly safe country with warm-hearted people, and getting to Riga’s Old Town won’t take more than half an hour. After visiting Riga a couple of times, here’s everything you need to know to have a smooth arrival in the beautiful Baltic country.
Let’s start.
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Your options for getting from Riga airport to the city center
So, let’s break down the options for your trip between Riga’s RIX airport and the city center.
From Riga airport to the city center by bus
Most international travelers to Riga will choose to reach the city center by bus. Latvia has an extended public transport network, and the capital is served by various buses. Bus travel is the cheapest option and provides a relaxed way to reach the capital’s heart.
Straight after exiting the airport, you’ll have to reach the bus stop where Bus 22 departs from. At the time of writing, the bus stop is a few meters away from the arrival’s exit, on your right hand. The bus schedule is reliable, and there are several itineraries around the clock. During rush hours, there will be more than five itineraries per hour. For most travelers, the most convenient stop is “Old Town,” where most hotels are.
Bus 22 runs between 5:45 am and 11 pm. The trip from Riga’s airport to the city center takes approximately 35 minutes. You can find the schedule for Bus 22 here.
How much does the bus ticket cost?
A single ticket for Bus 22 costs 1,15 euros if you buy it in advance from a vending machine; however, if you buy the ticket straight from the bus driver, you’ll have to pay 2 euros.
When buying a ticket from the bus driver, there’s a relatively bizarre regulation: you can’t pay cash. Therefore, have your debit or credit card in hand before embarking on Bus 22.
From Riga airport to the city center by taxi
The taxi option is probably the only one that requires some attention. Although there’s a designated area where you can hire an official airport taxi, the chances are that some taxi drivers will try to make contact with you upon arrival. These are unofficial taxis operating outside of the airport’s designated area. It’s better to avoid agreeing to a taxi ride, no matter the price they offer. There’s a big chance this is a scam, and they’ll overcharge you.
That said, if you’d like to travel between the Riga airport and the city center by taxi, it’s better to go for an officially licensed taxi. They have a transparent pricing policy, and the cars are in mint condition.
Where to find them? There’s a designated carriageway where taxis queue straight out of the arrivals exit.
A taxi ride to the city center of Riga takes approximately twenty minutes.
How much is the taxi ride to Riga’s city center?
For the taxi ride from Riga’s airport to the city center, you should expect to pay between 22 and 25 euros.
A taxi alternative
If you’d rather skip the taxi option, there’s an alternative. You can download the Bolt app and book a ride the moment you need it. Bolt is a service pretty much like Uber and is slightly cheaper than a taxi. All you have to do is download the app and book your driver. You can find more info about Bolt here.
From Riga airport to the city center by private transfer
Of course, there’s also the option to get from Riga airport to the city center by private transfer. That’s probably the most comfortable and stress-free option, but it comes at an extra cost. Pre-booking a private transfer between the airport and Riga’s center means your driver will wait for you at the arrivals. The driver will take your luggage, and you can have an easygoing transfer to your hotel.
Private transfers are always costlier, and you should consider them depending on your budget. They are always a good idea if you are 2-4 people traveling because you can share the costs. The cars are in excellent condition, and the ride to your hotel won’t take more than twenty minutes.
How much is a private transfer to Riga’s center?
The cost of a private transfer from Riga airport to the city center varies. The exact price will most likely be between 35 and 60 euros.
That said, if you are one person, you can pre-book a private transfer for 35 euros here.
On the other hand, for groups of up to three people, it’s better to book a ride on a group basis. The best option will be to pre-book this private transfer for 55 euros.
From Riga airport to the city center by car
Finally, you also have the option to rent a car for your stay in Riga. You can pick up your car at the airport and start your trip to the city center. That’s the best option for people willing to take day trips from Riga. On the other hand, renting a car to travel between the airport and the city center doesn’t make any sense.
So, if you’d like to see more of Latvia and are not up to organized tours, the car will give you some freedom. However, I wouldn’t recommend renting a car to drive around Riga: the city is compact, and you can go everywhere on foot or by public transport.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Riga?
Renting a car in Riga is cheaper than in other European capitals. Especially in the low season, the prices for renting a car can be as low as 30 euros per day.
Every big car company (Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt, etc.) operates in Latvia, and finding a car to rent won’t be a problem, The service I always use for renting a car abroad is Rental Cars, which aggregates the prices of international and local car rentals and provides you the best prices with full transparency on the costs. You can book a car in Latvia here.
Recap: from Riga airport to the city center
In brief, here are the options for traveling between Riga airport and the city center:
- Bus: 35 minutes, 2 euros
- Taxi: 20 minutes, ~25 euros
- Private transfer: 20 minutes, 35-55 euros
- Rent a car: prices from 30 euros per day
Bonus section: My Riga guides
So, before finishing this article, I’d like to share my Riga guides. After spending adequate time in the Latvian capital, I wrote several guides about the beautiful Baltic city. You will find lots of info and Riga travel tips for your upcoming journey.
So, let’s keep it short:
The ultimate travel guide to Riga, Latvia. In this comprehensive article, you’ll find the best things to do in Riga, the hotels I recommend for your stay, and food tips. Read my Riga travel guide here.
Art Nouveau architecture in Riga. The Latvian capital has the biggest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings worldwide. This magnificent architectural style is visible in over a third of its buildings. You can see more about the Art Nouveau movement in Riga here.
The KGB Museum in Riga. The former KGB Headquarters witnessed some of Riga’s darkest moments. I joined a tour of the KGB building and shot plenty of photos. You can read more about the KGB Museum here.
From Riga airport to the city center: conclusion
As you’ve read in the previous lines, traveling from Riga airport and the city center is straightforward. If you don’t have heavy luggage, I honestly believe that taking Bus line 22 is the best option. On the other hand, if you arrive in Riga after a long flight or have bulky luggage, it’s a good idea to consider a taxi or, even better, a private transfer.
More about Riga: The House of the Black Heads
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Last Updated on April 15, 2023 by George Pavlopoulos