88 NORTH EASTERN EUROPE
RĪGA
22 /72
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10 /50 10 /50monthApr Jul OctJan-2/286
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36
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mm1 /3412 /544 /39-8/18Practical & Travel Information
Latvia offers a wealth of historic sights and cultural
activities as well as stun ning natural beauty. In recent
years there has been a rapid increase in the number of
European cities directly linked to Rīga, due mainly
to the arrival of low-cost carriers which have raised
the capital’s profile as a destination for weekend
breaks. For those who wish to avoid air travel, there
are several sea routes from Scandinavia and Germany,
besides comfortable trains and coaches. Travelling by
car is also perfectly feasible.
THE CLIMATE OF
LATVIA
Latvia experiences a short
summer, with July and August
being the warmest months
and subject to thunderstorms.
Between May and September
temperatures average
between 14º C (57º F) and
22º C (72º F). Winter, between
November and March, is
extremely cold with tempera-
tures rarely going above 4º C
(39º F) and frequently dipping
to freezing conditions.VISITOR INFORMATIONPractically every town and
city in Latvia has a tourist
office staffed by friendly
English-speaking locals. These
offices provide infor mation
about the major cities and
towns, as well as on accom -
modation, enter tainment
venues, restau rants and
historic sights. The tourist
office in Rīga pro vides helpful
city guides, free maps,
brochures and regional
tourism informa tion.
Most offices are open from
9am to 6pm on weekdays
and for shorter hours onWHEN TO VISIT
The best time to visit Latvia is
from May to October, when
the weather is pleasantly warm
and the days are longer. July
and August are the warmest
months and can also be the
wettest. Winter is cold and
dark with very few daylight
hours, making it diffi cult for
outdoor excursions. March,
when the snow thaws, and
November and December,
when it starts to fall, are
also best avoided.
HEALTH AND SECURITYHospitals in Latvia are in a
rather poor condition, so
although emer gency treatment
is free, it is best to visit
private hospitals even for
general ailments. Pharmacies
are usually open from 8am
to 7 or 8pm on weekdays
and until 3 or 4pm on
Saturdays. Rīga has a few
24-hour pharmacies.
Latvia is a safe country in
which to travel, with very rare
instances of theft and mugging.
However, it is best to remain
vigilant and to avoid carrying
luxury items.FACILITIES FOR
THE DISABLEDIn recent years public
aware ness about the needs
of the dis abled has improved
signif icantly in Latvia. Most
upmarket hotels and rest-
aurants in the country take
such needs into consideration,
although public transport in
Rīga has only a limited
number of buses which
provide wheel chair access.DOCUMENTATION
Citizens of EU member-states,
the US, Canada, Australia and
New Zealand, only need a
valid passport for entry into
Latvia for a period of up to
90 days in a half-year period.
Those wishing to stay beyond
90 days will need to apply for
a national long-term visa or
a residence permit. Visitors
from other countries should
enquire at their local Latvian
embassy or con sulate for
visa require ments before
travelling. The official website
of the Latvian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs offers
information on visa regu-
lations. EU citizens are not
subject to customs regula-
tions, provided they adhere to
EU guidelines. Visitors should
check for any customs duty or
special permission required to
export a cultural object before
buy ing it. For detailed informa-
tion on these guide lines,
entrance regulations and visa
charges, it is advisable to visit
the offi cial website of the
European Commission.BANKING AND CURRENCYIntroduced in 1993, the
monetary unit of Latvia is
the lat or Ls, which is divided
into 100 santīms. Although
most foreign cur rency
can be exchanged at banks,
exchange bureaus and
upmarket hotels, euros
and dollars are preferred.
Traveller’s cheques are
accepted only in upmarket
hotels and major banks.
There is a wide network of
ATMs, mostly in the major
towns and cities. Banks are
generally open from 9am to
6pm on weekdays and
10am to 3pm on Sundays.Saturdays; some are also
open on Sundays. In remote
places, opening hours are
more erratic. The Latvian
Tourism Development Agency
is the official tourism agency;
its website lists all the tourist
offices in the country.
Information on tour ism
offices that represent this
agency abroad can also
be found on the website.0°C
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