Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

LATVIA 89

DIRECTORY

DOCUMENTATION

http://www.am.gov.lv

http://www.ec.europa.eu

VISITOR

INFORMATION

http://www.latviatourism.lv

EMBASSIES AND

CONSULATES

Australia

Lienes iela 28, Rīga.

Tel 6722 4251.

Canada

Baznīcas iela 20/22, Rīga.

Tel 6781 3945.

France

Raina bulvāris 9, Rīga.

Tel 6703 6600.

United Kingdom

J Alunana iela 5, Rīga.

Tel 6777 4700.

United States

Raiņa bulvāris 7, Rīga.

Tel 6703 6200.

EMERGENCY

NUMBERS

Ambulance

Tel 03.

Fire.

Tel 01.

Police

Tel 02.

ARRIVING BY AIR

Aer Lingus

http://www.aerlingus.com

airBaltic

http://www.airbaltic.com.

easyJet

http://www.easyjet.com

Finnair

http://www.finnair.com

KLM

http://www.klm.com

Lufthansa

http://www.lufthansa.com

RyanAir

http://www.ryanair.com

Rīga International

Airport

http://www.riga-airport.com

ARRIVING BY SEA

Ferry Terminal

http://www.freeportofriga.lv

Latvian Coast

http://www.latviancoast.lv

Lisco

http://www.lisco.lt

Scandlines

http://www.scandlines.lt

SSC Ferries

http://www.slkferries.ee

Terrabalt

http://www.terrabalt.lv

Tallink

http://www.tallink.com

RAIL TRAVEL

Central Railway

Station

http://www.ldz.lv

TRAVELLING BY

COACH

Autoosta

http://www.autoosta.lv

Ecolines

http://www.ecolines.ee

Nordeka

http://www.nordeka.lv

TRAVELLING BY CAR

Since 2007, under the

Schengen Agreement, there

are no longer border con trols

between the Baltic States.

Nevertheless, busy border

crossings can take up to 20

minutes to negotiate. It is

essential to carry the vehicle’s

regis tration docu ment, a valid

third-party insurance policy

and either a European driving

licence or an International

Driving Permit. Vehicles must

be in road worthy condition

and it is compulsory to have a

first-aid kit, fire extinguisher

and hazard-warning triangle.

From December to March,

win ter tyres must be used, and

drivers should fit spiked tyres

bet ween September and April.

TRAVELLING BY COACH

One of the best ways to travel

between the three Baltic capi-

tals is by coach. This costs less

than travelling by air, although

the difference is negligible,

except during the peak season.

International carriers such as

Ecolines and Nordeka run

services between Rīga and

several other European cities.

Rīga’s main bus termi nal,

Autoosta, is five minutes

south of the Old Town.

RAIL TRAVEL

The main railway station in

Rīga is Central Railway Station,

located southeast of the Old

Town. From here international

rail routes head east towards

Moscow, Vitebsk, Odessa and

St Petersburg. The most com-

fortable way to travel on most

routes is by kupeja (four-bunk

compart ment). However, there

are more luxurious two-bunk

compartments on the trains

serving Moscow.

ARRIVING BY SEA

Travelling by ferry takes

longer than air travel,

although cross ing the Baltic

Sea has its own appeal.

Ferries oper ated by Lisco link

the German port of Lübeck to

Rīga, while Tallink connects

Rīga to Stockholm (Sweden).

Rīga’s main Ferry Terminal can

be reached by trams 5, 7 or 9

from the main bus termi nal or

outside the National Opera.

Terrabalt connects Liepāja to

Karlshamn (Sweden) and

Rostock (Germany). Ventspils

is served by Scandlines to

Nynashamn (Sweden), Rostock

and Karlshamn, and by SSC

Ferries to Saaremaa Island

(Estonia). The Latvian Coast

website offers information.

ARRIVING BY AIR

The majority of passengers
arrive at Rīga International
Airport, which is now con-
nected to most European cities.
The coun try’s national carrier,
airBaltic, was estab lished in
1995 and offers some very
afford able flights. Rīga is also
served by other major airlines
includ ing KLM, Aer Lingus,
Lufthansa and Finnair. Several
low-cost car riers, such as
easyJet from Berlin and
RyanAir from Ireland and the
UK, have also started services
to the country.
There are few direct flights
to Latvia from the US, New
Zealand, Canada or Australia.
Visitors from outside Europe
usually need to change flights
in London, Stockholm,
Helsinki or Copenhagen.

COMMUNICATIONS

Latvia’s telephone and postal
networks are both reliable and
efficient. Post offices provide a
range of serv ices at competi-
tive postal rates. Payphone
booths accept pre-paid phone
cards, available at kiosks, post
offices and supermarkets.
Internet facilities are excel lent
in Rīga and most cafés and
hotels have Wi-Fi access.