Page 388 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

386 SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Getting Around Rīga Minibuses
Rīga’s mikroautobuss (minibus)
Rīga’s compact Old Town is a pleasure to wander around and
network runs along the major
is best explored on foot. The cobbled streets, however, can boulevards and out into the
prove difficult for those with mobility problems. Several suburbs, and usually offers great
hotels are located within the Old Town, while many others are comfort and speed. The main
stops are outside the Central
within easy walking distance. It is also a short walk to the
Railway Station and the
unmissable Art Nouveau district from the city centre.
Orthodox Cathedral. Tickets cost
Attractions further afield, such as the Latvian Ethnographic marginally more than those for
Open-Air Museum, can be reached via the city’s extensive other public transport.
network of buses, mini buses, trolley buses and trams. Tickets
are available on board, while passes valid for various lengths Driving
of time can be purchased from newspaper kiosks. Taxis are
Driving in Rīga is seldom a
readily available outside the Old Town.
pleasant experience, marred by
heavy traffic during peak hours
and aggres sive drivers. Petrol
stations are readily found, and
roads tend to be in good condi-
tion, with just a few potholes.
It is worth noting that you
must not pass a tram that has its
doors open, since this might
endanger passengers, and you
must be careful not to block the
tram lines.
Parking
Parking can be difficult to find
in the city centre. It is also
Passengers boarding a bus at Rīga Bus Station expensive. Rates are €2 for the
first hour and €3 per hour on
Buses, Trolleybuses responsible for public transport, the streets of the Old Town. For
and Trams
SIA Rīgas Satiksme. Until those who really need a car, it is
With several bus, trolleybus and 2009 different payment systems best to choose a hotel with
tram routes, Rīga’s public operated for buses, trams and parking space.
transport system is a cheap and trolleybuses but now they
efficient way of getting around have finally been integrated.
outside the Old Town. It brings There is a single fare of €1.20 Taxis
many museums, hostels and paid to the driver on boarding. Taxis are abundant in Rīga and
hotels within easy reach of the There is no extra charge for are a comfortable, though
town centre and also offers luggage. However, it is better to relatively expensive, way of
access to the zoo, the Song purchase your ticket first from a getting around. They do not
Festival grounds and to several kiosk for €0.60. The etalon smart come in a standard colour,
large parks. card covers five, ten or twenty although all official cabs have
There are timetables at the journeys at a discount. Public yellow licence plates. Fares
various bus stops, but usually transport is free to holders of a vary from €0.35 to €0.70 per
no route maps are shown; Rīga Card (see p366). kilometre depending on the
therefore it is advisable to carry
one when travelling. Public
transport on most routes runs
between 5:30am and 11:30pm,
with some services operating
hourly throughout the night.
Autoosta (see p385) is close to
both the Central Railway
Station and Central Market.
Other transport hubs include
the stretch in front of the
Orthodox Cathedral.
Various organizations merged
in 2005 to form a single body Taxis for hire outside Rīga International Airport