Page 384 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

382 SUR VIV AL GUIDE

TRAVELLING TO LATVIA

Most visitors arrive in Latvia by air, at Rīga international passenger flights. For those who
International Airport. Since independence wish to avoid air travel and who have more
there has been a rapid growth in the num ber time, there are sea routes from Germany and
of European cities directly linked to Rīga, Scandinavia, as well as comfortable trains and
mainly because of the arrival of low-cost coaches from other parts of the Continent.
carriers that raised the capital’s profile as a Arriving by car is also perfectly feasible,
destination for weekend breaks. In contrast, the provided the driver has the correct documents
country’s regional airports are little used for and is willing to tackle a variable road network.

Arriving by Air
The majority of visitors to Latvia
arrive at Rīga International
Airport, the largest airport in
the Baltic region by passenger
numbers. The airport is
connected to most Western
European cities as well as to
Prague, Moscow, Kiev, Tallinn,
Vilnius and Warsaw. Services
at the airport include a
currency exchange and ATMs,
which remain open until the
last flight arrives. Rīga International Airport
The country’s national
carrier, airBaltic, was estab- From Rīga Airport Other Latvian Airports
lished in 1995 and offers some to the City Centre The other international
very affordable flights. Rīga is Rīga Airport is located about airports are in Ventspils
also served by other major 8 km (5 miles) from the city and Liepāja. Neither is
airlines including LOT, SAS, centre. The cheapest way to much used by sche duled
Lufthansa and Finnair. Several reach the city is by taking a passenger services.
low-cost carriers, such as Wizz bus from outside the airport
Air and Ryanair, also fly to Rīga terminal. Bus 22 runs approxi-
from various European cities. mately every 10 to 20 minutes, Arriving by Sea
There are very few direct from 5:45am to midnight, and Passenger ferries take longer
flights to Latvia from the USA, takes 30 minutes to reach than air travel, though cross ing
New Zealand, Canada or Abrenes iela (street); stops the Baltic Sea has its own
Australia. Visitors often transfer along the way include 11 appeal. Ferries operated by
at another European airport Novembra krastmala and Tallink connect Rīga to
such as Copenhagen or the Central Railway Station. Stockholm (Sweden). Stena
Helsinki. It may be more airBaltic operates the Airport Line connects Liepāja
economical to arrange a long- Express every 30 minutes, to Lübeck (Germany), and
haul flight to a transport hub from 5:30am to 12:30pm; it Ventspils to Nynashamn
such as London, along with a costs €5. Taxis reach the city (Sweden) and Lübeck. Rīga’s
separate onward flight. centre in 15 minutes. main Ferry Terminal can be
reached by trams 5, 7 or 9
from the bus station or
outside the National Opera.
There are mari nas at Rīga,
Jūrmala, Liepāja, Pāvilosta,
Salacgrīva and Ventspils for
those with their own boats.
The Latvian Coast website
offers information.
Arriving by Coach
This is the best way to travel
between the three Baltic
Express bus waiting outside Rīga International Airport capitals. International carriers,