Public transport in Riga and Latvia: tickets, routes, trains
In Riga, you can easily get by without a car. Buses, trams, trolleybuses, and minibuses run through the city from about 5:00 AM until almost midnight (as of 09/2026, Rīgas satiksme). On weekends, night buses operate on some routes.
A single ride costs €1.50 and is valid for 90 minutes with transfers (as of 09/2026, the carrier's official website). Below, we'll cover where to buy a ticket, which routes save time, how to get from the airport RIX, and how to travel to other cities in Latvia by bus or train.
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Public transport in Riga
💡 In short:
- One ticket is valid for 90 minutes with transfers, purchase rules are explained in the fares section.
- Prices and tickets: 09/2026, verified on the official Rīgas satiksme website.
The city network is operated by Rīgas satiksme: trams, trolleybuses, buses, and minibuses. Schedules, a route map, and a trip planner are available on the carrier's website. In practice, three things matter: where your route runs, how long it takes, and whether you can catch the last departure. On weekdays, transport barely runs at night, and on weekends only a few night buses operate. So a late arrival is worth planning ahead.
Tickets and fares in Riga
A single-ride ticket costs €1.50 and remains valid for 90 minutes (as of 09/2026, carrier's fares). During that time, you can transfer to another tram, trolleybus, or bus. The rule is simple: tap your ticket at the electronic validator every time you board.
The easiest way to buy a ticket is at a Narvesen kiosk or at a ticket machine at the stop. Machines are not everywhere, so don't count on them on a small side street. Another option is the Mobilly app: it sells tickets right on your phone and works without cash.
Purchase method | Where | When it's convenient |
|---|---|---|
Narvesen kiosk | throughout the city | during the day, before your trip |
Ticket machine | at some stops | if there's a machine at your stop |
Mobilly app | phone | when there's no kiosk or machine nearby |
Remember the key point: the ticket is valid for 90 minutes with transfers, but you must tap it every time you board. Without a new tap when transferring, the ticket is considered invalid. Show the ticket to the driver and inspector on request. In addition to single-ride tickets, Rīgas satiksme sells day passes and monthly passes, so if you take several rides a day, a pass may be cheaper.
Routes that save time
Among dozens of city routes, a few are especially useful for visitors.
- Bus 22 connects RIX airport with the city center. The trip takes about 30 minutes, buses depart every 10-30 minutes (as of 09/2026, bus and tram schedules).
- Tram 11 runs from the center to the Mežaparks district, the trip takes about half an hour.
- Buses 4, 7, and 8 take you from the center to the Āgenskalns district, where the local market operates.
If you're staying in the center, most old town sights are within walking distance, and transport comes in handy for outlying districts, markets, and the airport. Check the route in advance: some services run only on weekdays.
How to get from Riga airport
From RIX airport to the center, bus No. 22 runs. The stop is located in parking lot P1, between exits E and C (as of 09/2026, official airport website). The trip takes about 30 minutes, with intervals of 10-30 minutes. The route falls under a separate airport fare, so a ticket costs more than a regular city one; check the current price on the Rīgas satiksme website.
© Kayhan ERTUGRUL · CC BY-SAPhoto: Kayhan ERTUGRUL, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsDuring the day the bus runs frequently, but early in the morning and late in the evening intervals get longer. If you have a night flight, check the airport transfer option: it may be more convenient than the bus.
Tours and tickets in Riga
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Intercity buses across Latvia
Latvia is covered by a dense network of bus routes, and the bus is often the most convenient way to get to another city or into the countryside. Schedules, travel times, routes, and ticket prices are available on information boards at the bus station and online at autoosta.lv and 1188.lv in Latvian, Russian, and English.
You can buy a ticket for an intercity route in several ways:
- at ticket offices at the bus station;
- from the driver at the last moment, but there may be no seats left;
- at a ticket machine at Riga International Bus Station, which operates around the clock;
- in the Mobilly app.
The ticket shows the trip number, departure time and place, and the seat number. A paper or electronic ticket is shown to the driver or inspector, so you should keep it until the end of the trip.
Trains across Latvia
The railway connects Riga with several destinations: by train you can reach Liepāja, Sigulda, Cēsis, Jelgava, Rēzekne, and other cities. The operator works under the Vivi brand, and schedules and tickets are available at vivi.lv.
A train ticket can be bought at a ticket office at the station. If the office is closed or the station has none, the conductor sells tickets right in the car, and you can also get one in the Mobilly app. The ticket is shown to the conductor and, during checks, to the inspector, so keep it until the end of the trip.
If you plan to continue traveling around Europe, train tickets are convenient to look up on Trip.com.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does a public transport ticket in Riga cost?
One 90-minute ticket costs €1.50, and within that time you can transfer to another tram, trolleybus, or bus (as of 09/2026, Rīgas satiksme fares). See the fares section above for where to buy a ticket and how to validate it.
How do I get from the airport to central Riga?
Bus 22 runs from RIX airport to the center, the trip takes about 30 minutes, with intervals of 10-30 minutes (transport page on the airport website). The route falls under the airport fare, so the ticket costs more than a city ticket. If your flight arrives at night or you have a lot of luggage, consider a transfer or taxi.
Are there night buses in Riga?
Yes, on weekends Rīgas satiksme runs night buses on some routes. On weekdays, transit starts running around 5:00 and operates until almost midnight. If your plane lands at night, check the carrier's schedule in advance: night services do not run on all routes.
What is the best way to get to Sigulda, by train or bus?
You can reach Sigulda by either Vivi train or intercity bus. Trains leave from central Riga, buses depart from Riga International Coach Terminal. See schedules and prices on the official Vivi website. On weekends, buy your ticket in advance: popular departures fill up.
Where can I buy intercity bus tickets?
Tickets are sold at the coach terminal ticket offices, at a 24-hour ticket machine, and in the Mobilly app. See the intercity bus section above for details.
In short: what is worth booking
Public transit in Riga is cheap and straightforward: a 90-minute ticket costs €1.50, and bus 22 connects the airport with the center in half an hour (as of 09/2026, Rīgas satiksme fares).
- If you are taking a short trip around Riga, single 90-minute tickets will be enough.
- If you are heading to another city, compare the Vivi train and intercity bus by time and price.
- If your flight arrives at night, look into a transfer option in advance.
For a longer trip around Europe, see train tickets on Trip.com.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.