Latvia is wet year-round, with cold, snowy winters and short, rainy summers. Tourism peaks in July and August; if you’d prefer not to experience central Rīga amid throngs of people, late spring or early fall is the best time to visit. Head to the beaches in summer, as much of the coast remains untouristed.
Embassies And Consulates. Foreign embassies and consulates to Latvia are in Rīga . Latvian embassies and consulates abroad include: Australia, Honorary Consul, 2 Mackennel St., East Ivanhoe, VIC 3079 (☎613 94 99 69 20; latcon@ozemail.com.au); Canada, 350 Sparks St., Ste. 1200, Ottawa, ON K1R 7S8 (☎613-238-6014; www.am.gov.lv/en/ottawa); Ireland, 92 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, 2 (☎353 14 28 33 20; www.am.gov.lv/en/ireland); New Zealand, Honorary Consul, 162 Kilmore St., Amsterdam House, Level 3, Christchurch (☎640 33 65 35 05); UK, 45 Nottingham Place, London, W1U 5LY (☎442 073 120 040; www.london.am.gov.lv); US, 2306 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20008 (☎202 328 2840; www.latvia-usa.org).
Visa And Entry Information. Those wishing to stay for a longer period must submit an Aim of Residence form to the Foreigner’s Service Center, Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Alunāna iela 1, Rīga, LV-1050 (☎67 21 96 50; www.pmlp.gov.lv/en) to receive a visa for temporary or permanent residence. All travelers must display a passport valid for three months beyond the duration of their planned stay in Latvia, and must also be able to give proof of a valid insurance policy to cover potential health service needs while in Latvia.
Tourist Offices. Offices of the state-run tourist bureau, distinguished by a green “i” are scattered throughout the country. In Rīga, employees of such establishments speak fluent English, but elsewhere, they may not. Private tourist offices are more helpful outside the capital.
Money. The Latvian unit of currency is the lat (Ls), plural latu, each of which is divided into 100 santimu. Although Latvia has been a member of the EU since 2004, persistent inflation has rendered it unlikely that it will switch to the euro until 2012 at the earliest. Inflation is around 10%. Most banks exchange currency for 1% commission, except for Hansabanka, which does not charge fees. ATMs are common in Rīga and may also be found in larger towns. Some restaurants and hotels accept MasterCard and Visa. Traveler’s checks are harder to use, but both AmEx and Thomas Cook checks can be converted in Rīga. It’s often difficult to exchange non-Baltic currencies other than US dollars or euro.
Although some private clinics provide adequate medical supplies and services, Latvian medical facilities generally fall below Western standards. Latvia has been hot-listed by the World Health Organization for periodic outbreaks of incurable strains of tuberculosis. As a precaution, drink bottled water (available at grocery stores and kiosks, and often carbonated) or boil tap water before drinking. Pharmacies (aptieka) in Latvia are generally privately owned and fairly well-stocked with antibiotics and prescription medication produced in Latvia or other Eastern European countries. Although violent crime in Latvia is rare, travelers should be on their guard for pickpockets and scam artists. A common scam is to dupe foreigners into ordering outrageously expensive drinks in bars; travelers should always verify the price of drinks in advance. Both men and women should avoid walking alone at night. If you feel threatened, say “Ej prom” (EY prawm), which means “go away”; “Liec man miera” (LEEtz mahn MEE-rah; “leave me alone”) says it more forcefully, and “Ej bekot” (EY bek-oht; “go pick mushrooms”), is even ruder. Women travelers may be verbally hassled at any hour, especially if traveling alone, but usually such harassment does not escalate to physical action. Minorities in Latvia are rare; incidents of harassment have been known to occur, although generally there is little discrimination. Although homosexuality is legal in Latvia, public displays of affection may result in violence. Women walk down the street holding hands, but this is strictly an indication of friendship and does not mean that Latvia is gay-friendly. Safe options for GLBT travelers include gay and lesbian clubs, which advertise themselves freely in Rīga. Expect less tolerance outside the capital.
By Plane. Airlines flying to Latvia use Rīga International Airport ( RIX; ☎6720 7009; www.riga-airport.com). Air Baltic, Finnair, Lufthansa, SAS, and others make the hop to Rīga from their hubs. Budget airlines easyJet (☎0871 244 2366; www.easyjet.com) and Ryanair (☎353 12 49 77 91; www.ryanair.com) offer inexpensive fares from a limited number of cities.
By Train And Bus. Trains link Latvia to Berlin, GER; Lviv, UKR; Odessa, UKR; Moscow, RUS; St. Petersburg, RUS; Tallinn, EST; and Vilnius, LTU. Trains are cheap and efficient, and stations are clearly marked. Latvia is not covered by Eurail. The Rīga commuter rail is very good and provides extensive service. For daytrips from Rīga, it’s best to take the electric train. The Latvian word for “departures” is atiet; “arrivals” is pienāk. Buses are faster, cheaper, and more comfortable than trains for travel within Latvia. The major bus company servicing Latvia is Eurolines (www.eurolines.lv). Some crowded trips may leave you standing for long hours without a seat.
By Car. Road conditions in Latvia are improving after years of deterioration. For more info, consult the Latvian State Roads (www.lad.lv). Taxi stands in front of hotels charge higher rates. Hitchhiking is common, but drivers may ask for a fee comparable to bus fares. Let’s Go does not recommend hitchhiking.
Email And Internet. Internet is readily available in Rīga but rarer elsewhere. Internet cafes typically offer a range of services including printing, laminating, and CD burning. Fees average 1Ls per hour; outside of Rīga service is somewhat cheaper. Many libraries and cafes offer free service.
Telephone. To make local or international calls, you must purchase a phone card, which are come in 3, 5, and 10Ls denominations from post offices, telephone offices, kiosks, and state stores and have instructions in English. To operate a phone, dial 0, then press 1 or 2 for English and follow the instructions. For international calls, Tele2 has the best rates. International direct dial numbers include: AT&T Direct (☎80 00 22 88); MCI (☎800 8888); Telecom New Zealand (☎800 2100). For domestic calls, if a number is six digits, dial a 2 before it.
Mail. Latvia’s postal system is reliable; it generally takes mail 10-12 days to reach the US or Canada from Latvia. All post offices have infodesks where English is spoken. Mail can be received through Poste Restante, though this is not widely available. Envelopes should be addressed as follows: First name LAST NAME, POSTE RESTANTE, post office address, Postal Code, city, LATVIA.
Language. Influenced by German, Russian, Estonian, and Swedish, Latvian is one of two languages (the other is Lithuanian) in the Baltic language group. Russian is widely spoken, and many young Latvians study English.
Hostels are common in Latvia, as are hotel chains, bed and breakfasts, and family-run guesthouses. Hostels are often overrun, especially on summer weekends. The Latvian Youth Hostel Association, 17-2 Siguldas Pr., Rīga LV-1014 (☎921 8560; www.hostellinglatvia.com), is a useful resource for info on hostels in Rīga and elsewhere. College dormitories are often the cheapest option, but are open to travelers only in the summer. The majority of small towns outside the capital have at most one hotel in the budget range; expect to pay 3-15Ls per night. Campgrounds are in the countryside. Camping outside marked areas is illegal.
Latvian food is heavy and starchy—and therefore, delicious. Dark rye bread is a staple. Try speķa rauši, a warm pastry, or biezpienmaize, bread with sweet curds. Dark-colored kaņepju sviests (hemp butter) is good but too diluted for “medicinal” purposes. A particularly good Latvian beer is Porteris, from the Aldaris brewery. Cities offer foreign, kosher, and vegetarian cuisine.
 |
 |
 |
 |
For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
Facebook
Twitter
You Tube
Foursquare
Newsletter
RSS Feed
Overview