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Basic Info
Old Town Riga (Vecrīga in Latvian or Stahree
Riga in Russian) - The absolute center of town where a majority
of nightclubs, restaurants, shopping and hotels are located. It
has limited auto traffic and is basically a very large pedestrian
mall.
Click
here to see a full size map of Old Town.
Riga Center - The center district of the city which includes
Old Town and the surrounding areas. Almost everything in the center
is a 10-15 minute walk from Old Town. 90% of all tourist friendly
nightclubs, restaurants, shopping and hotels are located in the
Center.
Click
here to see a full size map of Riga Center.
Outer Districts - These include Pļavnieki, Ķengarags, Jugla,
Purvciems, Imantā, Ilguciems & Ziepniekkalns. Although Riga is
safer than most major cities it is not advised for tourists to
visit attractions in these districts unless they have some experience
with Riga (or are native Latvian or Russian speakers).
Click
here to see a full size map of Riga.
Currency Tips
The currency used in Latvia is the Lat. I can be
written as Lats, LVL or Ls. The currency comes in coins of 1 Santims
(about 1.4 Euro Cents), 2 Santimi, 5 Santimi, 10 Santimi, 20 Santimi,
50 Santimi, 1 Lat and 2 Lats (about 3 Euro). Paper currency denominations
go from 5 Lats, 10 Lats, 50 Lats, 100 Lats and up.
The current exchange rates for various currencies is as follows:
Hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and shops in Riga will usually
not accept any currency besides Lats so you will need to exchange
your Euros, Pounds, Dollars etc. Always exchange your currency
at an established bank like Hansabanka, Nordea Bank, Parex Banka
etc.! Do NOT use the small currency exchange booths (valūtas maiņa)
which are all over town!!! The rates given at the small currency
exchange windows are usually very bad. The rates they post on
their signs are usually the rates they will sell the listed currency
for.... not what they will buy it for! Be very careful about this
as this is one of the easiest ways to lose a large amount of money
in Riga!
Transportation Tips
Taxi Tips - It is advisable to be very careful
about picking up taxis off the street in Riga as you are likely
to get charged the "tourists" rate which is usually double or
triple what it should be. If you pick up a taxi off the street
do not trust the meters! You should insist on a fixed rate for
your destination. Most trips within Riga Center should never be
more than 3 to 4 Lats. If you ever find yourself getting charged
a huge amount then remember you can always get out of the taxi
and refuse to pay until a more reasonable price is agreed upon.
Public Transportation - Riga has very good public transportation
that will allow you to get around town for a very affordable rate.
Within Riga there are three types of public transportation. They
all cost 30 Santimi (about 43 Euro Cents). You do not need to
purchase tickets in advance as they all have conductors who will
sell you a ticket. The different types of public transport in
Riga are as follows:
Autobus (Autobusi) - These are regular buses which have
routes all over the city. To find an Autobus that goes to your
destination you can see all the routes and times here.
An easier way to figure exactly what bus to use is by using the
optimal
route search tool.
Trollybus (Trolejbusi) - These are buses which run on electric
cables strung throughout the city. The routes are more limited
and run mostly in the Center. To find an Autobus that goes to
your destination you can see all the routes and times here.
An easier way to figure exactly what bus to use is by using the
optimal
route search tool.
Tram (Tramvaji) - These are trams which run on tracks throughout
the Riga Center and the outer districts. The routes are limited
but Trams are the fastest method of public transportation as they
are less effected by traffic congestion than Autobuses or Trollybuses
which run in normal traffic. To find a Tram which goes to your
destination you can see all the routes and times here.
An easier way to figure exactly what tram to use is by using the
optimal
route search tool.
It very important to remember that an Autobus and a Trolleybus can
have the same number but they will go to different destinations
as they are different buses! If you are looking for a Trolleybus
make sure you get on a bus which is connected to the overhead electrical
wires!
Telephone Tips
Local telephone calls in Riga are very expensive
so be careful about using the phone in your hotel room as the
rate is likely to be very high. Your best bet is to purchase a
SIM card for your mobile phone as soon as you arrive. The cheapest
brand is Zelta Zivtiņas (Tele2) and can be purchased for various
amounts (ranging from 99 Santimi to 12.95 Lats) at convenience
stores like Plus Punkts and Narvesen. Make sure you tell the cashier
that you need a new number!
Nightlife Tips
General Nightlife Tips - Riga is a very safe
city but it pays to be careful when you are out enjoying a night
on the town. Be especially wary of the nice girls who approach
you on the street asking you if you want some "company", as typically
this type of come-on will result in you getting scammed out of
some money, or in some cases, an unfortunate meeting with her
"boyfriend" who will demand a very large "donation." Also make
sure you have exchanged all your Euros, Pounds, Dollars etc. into
Lats before you go out as you are likely to get a very bad
exchange rate when you try to change money at 2AM after a few
drinks!
Strip Club Tips - Unfortunately most strip clubs in Riga
are set up to squeeze the most money out of you in the shortest
period of time. They will try to lure you in with the promise
of a free drink but once you are inside you will find yourself
quickly set upon by a few pretty girls who will chat you up and
try to get you to order for them as many drinks as possible. Be
very careful as these drinks for the girls can sometimes cost
as much as 30 to 50 Ls each!!! Typically after about 1 hour you
will have spent 300 Lats and not have received even so much as
one lap dance for you trouble! In general it is best to avoid
the strip clubs unless you have someone with connections at the
club to assure that you do not get the "tourists" treatment.
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