Practical Information

Tourist information: http://www.latviatourism.lv

 

Travelling to Latvia

By Air

Air Baltic: Stockholm/Arlanda - Riga, several daily flights. http://www.airbaltic.com/

RyanAir: Stockholm/Skavsta - Riga, daily. http://www.ryanair.com

By Sea

Tallink Silja: Stockholm - Riga, daily. http://www.tallinksilja.com  

Phone: 08 - 666 60 01

 

Van Ommeren Sweden AB: Nynäshamn-Ventspils, 5 times/week

Phone: 08-520 60 290

Fax: 08-520 20 330

Amber Line: Ferry Karlshamn-Liepaja (Tue, Thur, Sat)  Phone: 0454-190 80

 

Hotels in Riga

Hotels can be booked through Latvian Hotel Association: www.hotelsinlatvia.lv

Phone: +371 67014131

 

The Riga tourist information centre is situated at Rātslaukums 6, Riga. www.rigatourism.com

Phone: +371 6704 43 77

The city guide Riga in your pocket is found at the following website:

http://www.inyourpocket.com/latvia/riga/en/

  

Reservations for "Bed and breakfast" in the country may be booked through Lauku ceļotājs, Kuģu iela 11, Riga. Phone +371 6761 76 00, fax. +371 6783 00 41, www.celotajs.lv

Visas

EU citizens may visit Latvia as tourists 90 days per six months without a visa.

Visas are issued at the Embassy of Latvia

Information on visa application and application forms:

Visting address: Odengatan 5 (Subway station Tekniska Högskolan)

Opening hours: weekdays 10.00-12.00.

Tel: 08-700 63 02.

Postal address: Embassy of Latvia, Box 19167, 104 32 Stockholm

When applying for a visa, make sure you have a valid passport, an invitation issued by the Migration office in Latvia, a valid travel health insurance policy, a passport size photograph together with the application form. The cost of a visa for one trip is 325 SEK.

Handling time, with certain exceptions, is around 1 week.

Currency

The Latvian currency is Lats (LVL). 1 lats = 100 santimi and the value of 1 LVL is approximately 14 SEK. Banks and exchange offices in Sweden change to lats, subject to availability. There are many exchange offices in Riga. Most major credit cards are accepted by Latvian banks (the most common credit cards in Latvia are Visa and MasterCard).

Traffic rules

Right side traffic. International road signs. Seatbelts must be used. The original document of the registration of the vehicle must be produced on demand. Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on motorways, unless otherwise stated. Lights must be on at all times. Blood alcohol limit: 0.5 promille.

The Green Card is required for driving a car in Latvia. Further enquiries about insurance are answered at the following telephone number (in Latvia). + 371 - 6722 43 18

Petrol: High octane and unleaded petrol can be purchased at nearly all petrol stations.

Useful information

Electricity, 220 volts as in Sweden. Most electrical equipment can be used in all sockets.

Tap water should be boiled before drinking.

Time – Latvia is one hour ahead of Swedish time (GMT +2).

 

The Embassy of Sweden in Riga

A Pumpura iela 8, LV-1010 Riga, tel. +371 - 6768 66 00, consular section tel. +371 - 6768 66 08,

fax +371 - 6768 66 01.

Information about Latvia on the Internet

Latvian Institute

Ministry of Foreign Affairs