Banks: 10.00 to 18.00, Mondays to Thursday
Post Offices: 08.00 to 19.00, Monday to Friday; 08.00 to 16.00, Saturday
Government Offices: 08.30 to 17.30, Mondays to Friday
Business Centres: 08.30 to 17.30, Mondays to Friday
Shops: 090 to 180, Mondays to Saturday

Riga is a safe city to travel in but visitors should take the usual precautions, such as keeping a close eye on belongings when at tourist attractions and on public transportation. While Riga has a fun night scene, it is best to experience the city’s bars and clubs in groups. Drinks shouldn’t be left unattended as there have been reported instances of drink spiking. Be wary of overfriendly locals that ask you to buy them a drink; you could end up paying a large bar tab for them and their friends.

220 Volts AC, 50 Hertz; European two-pin plugs.

There are few health issues to consider when travelling to Riga. Standards of hygiene in restaurants are good and medical facilities are on hand to cater to most emergencies. Should you get ill during your stay, there are pharmacies across the city to deal with minor ailments while three major hospitals are on hand to deal with more serious complaints.

All visitors to Riga are advised to take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy with medical cover prior to their trip. This will safeguard against any hefty medical bills should an emergency arise.

P Stradiņs University Hospital: +371 7 213663

The official language of Latvia is Latvian. You will also hear English, Russian and German spoken in Riga.

Latvia used the Latvian lats as its currency, with Ls1 equal to 100 santimi. Coins come in one, two, five, 10, 20, and 50 santimi, as well as Ls1 and 2 while banknotes are available in denominations of five, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500.

Visitors 17 years and above from within the EU can bring with them: 800 cigarettes and 10 litres of spirits over 22 per cent or 20 litres of alcoholic beverages less than 22 per cent. Those arriving from non-EU countries can only bring in: 200 cigarettes and a litre of spirits over 22 per cent volume or two litres still wine.

Latvia has a few customs that may seem peculiar to visitors from other countries. In general, the nationals are kind and polite. It is recommended to dress conservatively, especially when visiting Riga’s churches. A normal greeting is a handshake and punctuality is appreciated. If you wish to give flowers to a local, ensure you give them in odd numbers and don’t give roses, which are given at funerals.

When dining, your napkin should be left on the table, not placed in your lap. It is considered polite to finish all the food you are served and it is common for the locals to sing a song after a meal. Tipping is common, not just in restaurants but also in taxis.

Citizens of the EU can enter Latvia without a visa for stays of up to 90 days during a six-month period, but they need to show a passport or an identity card to gain entry. Longer stays are possible but a resident permit must be applied for. Latvia also has visa waiver agreements with Canada, Australia, and the US, among other countries. Non-EU citizens need to apply for a Latvian tourist visa from a Latvian embassy before arrival.

The Riga Tourism Coordination and Information Centre can be found at Ratslaukums 6. 
Phone: +371 67037900