Welcome to Latvia! Useful Basic Information
Airport (Lidosta Riga) arrival and departure
How to get to conference Venue?
Lielupe by Semarah Hotels
Bulduri prospect 64/68,
Jurmala, LV-2010, Latvia
Order private transfer by e-mail:
(orders should be done min. 48 hours before arrival)
Car (3 pers.) – EUR 50,00
Minivan (5 pers.) – EUR 65,00
TAXI from airport:
Two main advisable taxi companies at the Airport:
RedCab
http://redcab.lv/redcab-taxi/?lang=en
BalticTaxi
Public transport:
Bus 22: Going to the Riga city center: use the stop across the parking lot It takes about 30 minutes from the city center to the airport, stops directly at the departure hall.
A useful video about the bus 22 route in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXv9vEMdc-s
(There is a ticket inspection going on at the bus with blinking lights at 3:09)
The Riga Airport (RIX) page:
http://www.riga-airport.com/ has the information about where to buy e-talons at the airport.
Stop on Riga: “Autoosta” in front of Stockmann
Then walking distance to Riga Central Station, Stacijas laukums 2, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050 (~450 m from Bus station “Autoosta”)
Taking train to Jurmala from Riga Central Station
By train
The train line runs through the entire length of Jūrmala, Your Railway Station is “Bulduri”. From there ~ 1 km walking distance to Lielupe by Semarah Hotel.
Passenger trains to Jūrmala leave Riga Central Station (Stacijas laukums 1). Look for trains going in the direction of Tukums, Ķemeri or Sloka. The ride from Riga to Bulduri takes between 30 to 40 minutes and costs between EUR 1.43. Buy a ticket at the counters in the main ticket hall.
Find train schedules and other information at
Useful sites about Jūrmala
https://www.visitjurmala.lv/en/
What to do in Jūrmala?
https://www.visitjurmala.lv/en/see-and-do/
Eat and Drink in Jūrmala
https://www.visitjurmala.lv/en/eat-and-drink/
Events in Jūrmala
https://www.visitjurmala.lv/en/events/
Tourist information
The emergency number in Latvia is 112.
There is plenty of information available at:
https://www.liveriga.com/en/ http://wikitravel.org/en/Riga https://www.lonelyplanet.com/latvia/riga
You can get a courtesy free printed version at the stand outside of the tourism information bureau “Welcome to Riga” at the Airport Schengen Arrival Hall, lots of maps and cultural guides available in several languages too).
Electricity
The standard voltage/ frequency are 220 V / 50 Hz. The plugs standards are the C and F Remember to bring your own adaptor and/or frequency converter if needed!
Weather
You can check the local weather at: https://www.meteo.lv/en/ or the popular meteorological pages.
Internet and WiFi access
According to many metrics, Riga is one of the places with the highest mean internet connecting speed and WiFi spots density (the highest, according to some metrics).
WiFi access is widely available in Cafes, Restaurants, Hotels and similar places. Many taxis advertise Free WiFi on board. Starting with a new batch of recently ordered trams, free WiFi will be gradually introduced on the public transport fleet.
You can see this sign in many public open places. If you use the “Lattelecom-Free” hotspots you’ll have to wait 15 seconds and watch ad in a browser until you get the full access.
Cellphone services, SIM’s and tariffs
Latvia code is +371; if you have an EU SIM, remember that the Intra European Union roaming tariff was abolished this year.
If you want to buy a local SIM, in particular for mobile internet access, one example of the several options available is the ZZ (Zelta Zivtiņa), check at
https://www.zeltazivtina.lv/en/
Where to buy it: https://www.zeltazivtina.lv/en/help/zz-customer-centres/
Try at the Narvesen kiosks.
Public Transport in Riga
As a short term visitor, you will use the public transportation disposable e-ticket (e-talon, 1.15€ per trip) with 5-10-20 trips per e-talon. 3 and 5 days and 1 day group options are available. The e-talons are validated using the readers on board. e-talons are available at automatic vending machines (instructions in Latvian, Russian, English and German), Narvesen kiosks or at Riga Satikmes or Tourist information centers, ask at your hotel desk. You can buy a single trip paper ticket directly from the driver (2.00€ in cash and better have the exact change!), if you change the vehicle for your trip, then you need to buy a new ticket.
Full information, including the uses and types of e-ticket (e-talons), transport routes, timetables, etc at:
https://www.rigassatiksme.lv/en/
