How to get to Riga from the airport

Please know that on Saturday, June 2 (but not other meeting and pre-meting days) we have arranged our staff who will welcome you at the airport. As well, on June 2 (and, sorry, again not on the other days) we will arrange minibus shuttle transportation to the hotels.

If you are arriving to Riga on dates other than June 2.
There are taxis and a regular city bus from the airport to Riga centre.
Taxi from the airport.
Taxi from the airport will cost you approx. 7 Lats (12-13 Euro). Those who live in Konventa seta, please note that taxis can not enter Old Riga (in fact, they can, but that will cost you another 5 Lats Old Riga entrance pass). So, if you stay at Konventa Seta, please ask taxi to bring you to Hotel Riga instead. It is 3 min walking from there to Konventa Seta.
Bus from the airport.
To find the bus stop walk out from the arrival hall, you will see a parking lot in front of you. Cross the parking lot keeping slightly right and you will see the bus stop.
It is bus No 22, a regular city bus, which has several stops. Still, it will bring you to the centre not longer than in 20-25 minutes. Bus ride costs just 0.20 Lats and you can pay inside the bus. Bus will bring you to the Central railway station (see map of Riga centre).

When arriving, you will need Latvian money. First of all, there are two cash boxes in the arrival hall of the airport. You will also see many cash boxes downtown. If, however, you have to exchange banknotes, there are plenty of exchange offices and banks where to do that.
Please note that you have no difficulties to change back Lats to another currency when leaving the country. It is possible to change back into US dollars or German marks everywhere. If you wish to change Lats into other European currencies, the exchange office may not have it.
Note that Lats is big. One US dollar is worth approx. 0,63 Lats, one Euro is 0.56, and one German mark is around 0.27 Lats.
However, Lats doesn't seem big when you spend it… Latvia is a rather expensive country.

Trams, trolley buses and buses. There are a number of trams, trolley-buses and buses as well as an inexpensive "fixed route taxi" minibus service in Riga. If you need to reach some specific destination, please ask the local organisers for advise on the best route. Bus, trolley-bus or tram cost 0.20 Lats and the fare is payable inside to the cashier. Minibuses and some express buses cost 0.25-0.30 Lats.

Taxis. There are several taxi companies in Riga, so taxis look all different. However, a taxi should have a yellow register plate (other cars have white) with letters TTX. Taxis are considered safe and reliable in Riga. Unlikely to some other countries, for years we have not heard of cases where taxi drivers would cause problems to tourists however some might try to make more money when smelling a foreigner. If you still want to be very very very sure, use a red Renault Megane, a white Opel Omega, white Toyota Avis or a black Mercedes taxi- these all come from big and well-known companies, the Renault Meganes are the former State taxi company. The ride between border of Old Riga and e.g. hotel Viktorija or hotel TIA would cost something like 2 Lats in daytime and 3 Lats at night.

Receptions and dinners.
Sunday, June 3 - reception hosted by the University of Latvia, it will take place in the small Hall (Maza aula) in the University main building.

Monday, June 4. Reception hosted by the Riga city Council at the Melngalvju nams (Blackheads' house). Melngalvju nams was destroyed during and after the World War II and built anew in 1990's. It was reopened slightly more than a year ago and it serves as representation place of Riga City. If you plan to have a dinner in Old Riga, it is perhaps a good idea to think of having it after this reception, because a full meal will not be served in this case.

Wednesday, June 6. The Conference Committee dinner is hosted by the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science. It will be offered at a place that Riga's inhabitants really like. Lido dzirnavas (Lido mills) is the highest point in the chain of restaurants and food industries owned by a popular Latvian self-made man Gunars Kirsons. It is new yet built in a mixture of Latvian traditional style and a total kitsch, huge, democratic, with wide variety of tasty food and lots of attractions for children. Being there you will understand, why people like to come there and why it is sometimes even difficult to find a place in the three-floor building which has accommodated as much as 1500 people at a time on some occasions.

When looking for souvenirs, don’t rush to buy them in Old town. Those who are patient buy the same stuff at the Airport tax-free for very reasonable prices. Same goes for other typical tax-free goods like beverages and perfumes: Riga airport tax-free is one of the cheapest in Europe.