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How to get from Riga Airport to the City Centre

Riga, an extraordinary city and Latvia’s capital city, is packed with wonderful activities for all. Designated as a UNESCO heritage site, Riga is home to fascinating history, captivating architecture, bustling local markets and so much more.

When visiting the Baltic city, you will be landing at Riga International Airport, and from there, you have two transportation options to get to Riga’s city centre; you can take a taxi or a bus. Taking a Riga airport taxi or private transfer is always the best way to get around a new city. They are available 24/7 and provide fast and reliable door-to-door services, getting you to your Riga hotel in just 20 minutes. For a more cost-savvy alternative, you can take bus No. 22 from the airport to Old Town. The bus is direct and frequent, taking 35 minutes to reach the Old Town centre.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Riga at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €27 20min 24/7 Book
Book
Taxi €22 20min 24/7
Bus €2.30 35min 05:30–00:00

How to get from Riga airport to city centre by taxi

Taking a taxi from Riga airport to the city centre is a great way to travel. Taxis are not only affordable in Latvia, but they also provide 24/7 door-to-door services, taking you and your loved ones to your Riga hotel in just 20 minutes.

However, it is important to know that only two official taxi companies are allowed to operate from RIX; RedCab and Baltic Taxi.

Taxi fare from Riga airport to the city centre

Taxis in Riga calculate their fares using a taximeter based on the time and distance travelled to your exact location. A 20-minute taxi ride from Riga airport to the city centre costs around €22.

Nevertheless, if you wish to travel at a fixed price with no hidden fees and a local English-speaking driver, you may wish to pre-book your Riga airport transfer with Welcome Pickups.

Cost

€22

Trip Duration

20 Min.

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Riga International Airport

Where do I get a taxi from?

The official taxi rank at Riga International Airport (RIX) is located right outside of the ‘Arrivals’ terminal exit.

Convenience

Taking a taxi from Riga airport to Old Town in Downtown Riga is a great travel option. Taxis are available 24/7 and provide convenient services whilst taking care of you, your travel partners and your personal belongings.

Nevertheless, as some taxi companies and drivers are known to overcharge, it is recommended to travel at a fixed rate, with no extra costs, by pre-booking your private airport transfer with a top-rated company.

Editor’s Note

It is good to know that there are no price differences for day, night or weekend trips in Riga. 

Useful Tips

It is not customary to tip your taxi driver in Latvia, although it is always appreciated. Most travellers round up their end fares to the higher amount.
Some Riga taxi drivers take longer routes, resulting in a higher fare. For this reason, it is recommended to follow your journey by using your mobile phone's GPS.
Only two official taxi companies can operate at Riga International Airport: Red Cab and Baltic Taxi.

How to get from Riga airport to the city centre by bus

A great cost-savvy alternative to a taxi is available from Riga airport to Old Town with Bus Line 22. The bus is direct from the airport to Downtown, taking 35 minutes to reach.

How much is a bus ticket from Riga International Airport to Downtown?

A one-way ticket on bus No. 22 costs €1.15 if you purchase your tickets in advance at the ticket vending machines or €2 if you buy your tickets directly from the driver.

You can find the ticket vending machines at the airport’s bus stop and the airport’s information office.

Cost

€1.15

Trip Duration

35 Min.

The bus leaves Riga airport every 15 minutes.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Bus Line No.22 is available daily from 05:30 to 00:00.

Where do I get the bus from?

The bus stop at Riga International Airport is located 300 metres from the arrival terminal’s exit, just beyond the car park. Once in Riga city centre, you can alight at the Old Town stop, 11. Novembra Krastmala and 13. Janvāra Iela, or at Riga’s Central Train Station.

Convenience

Taking the bus is an excellent travel alternative for those on a budget. Buses are frequent, direct and take you straight into Riga’s city centre.

Nonetheless, you will have to make your way to your hotel after alighting at the bus stop, which can be difficult if you travel with children or heavy luggage. Moreover, if you arrive late at night or early in the morning, you will have to find another way to get Downtown or wait a long time for the bus.

Timetables

Editor’s Note

Various tickets are available, such as 24-hour tickets (€5), 3-day tickets (€10), and 5-day tickets (€15).

Useful Tips

The bus can get quite full during peak hours, so it is best to arrive 5-10 minutes before the bus leaves the airport.
There is no allocated storage space on the bus No. 22; you will have to keep your luggage by your side.
Please note that bus No.22 is wheelchair accessible; notify the bus driver if this is your case, and they will assist you.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Riga. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more

Prices

DAYTIME
€23.0
NIGHTTIME
€28.0
Same price as a regular taxi from the line

PRICES FOR

Sedan Car

4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage

Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

How far is Riga airport from the city centre?

Riga International Airport is located a short 10 km away from the city centre; it takes around 20 minutes to reach by car or taxi, or 35 minutes if you choose to take Bus Line 22 (not including wait times).

How much is a taxi from Riga airport to Old Town?

Taxis in Riga calculate their fares using a taximeter. The 20-minute taxi ride from Riga airport to Downtown costs around €22, traffic dependant. If you love the peace of mind a fixed fare offers and want to budget properly for your trip, you can pre-book your competitive set-fare personalised ride with Welcome Pickups and avoid surprises.

How do I get from Riga airport to the city centre?

There are two transportation options from Riga airport to Downtown Riga; you can take a taxi or private transfer, taking just 20 minutes, or take Bus Line 22, which takes 35 minutes.

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