Information on the Riga Card

The Riga Card is available as a one-, two-, or three-day pass. Prices are as follows: 1-day (10 LVL, about €15.50), 2-day (14 LVL, about €20), 3-day (18 LVL, about €25.50).

Some of the perks of the card include unlimited transportation on trolley buses, trams, and buses, admission to major museums, and discounts on specialized tours. We're also fans of the free guided walking tours of Old Town.

For more information, you can visit the Riga Card’s official site or log on to the Riga Tourism Board’s site. A free PDF guide of all Riga Card benefits is available here.

Free Sights

Before you see or do anything in Riga, we recommend that you visit the tourism office. Locations are open every day of the year at the Riga International Airport, the bus station, train station, and next to the House of the Blackheads in the center of Old Town (6, Ratslaukums). Most offer convenient hours from 9 or 10 AM until 6 or 7 PM, although the airport terminal location remains open until 8 PM.

Why do we love tourism offices so darn much? Besides being a great source for free activities, discount ticket prices, and Cheapo-friendly ideas for exploring the city, they usually offer service with a smile (hey, they’re happy you’re visiting their town!) and provide lots of free literature.

One of the things they'll hand you is a brochure outlining two free walking tours of town. Grab it and take a leisurely jaunt through the streets of Old Town. Along the way, check some of these out:

Ratslaukums: Riga’s Town Hall Square was mostly destroyed during World War II, but today rebuilding efforts prevail, most notably at the House of the Blackheads. Construction on The House, originally used as a guildhouse for area merchants, began in 1995 and was completed in 2001.

An imposing brick monument, the current House of the Blackheads comprises two buildings in Town Hall Square. The conjoined facades, topped with spires, showcase statues and intricately designed windows.

The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia: Latvia was occupied from 1940 to 1991, by the Germans and the Soviets. The museum focuses its exhibits and permanent collection—in remembrance of the victims of occupation—on educating the public about crimes committed by foreign powers. For more information on current exhibits and offerings, visit the museum's website. The museum is open daily from 11 AM to 6 PM (May through September) and 11 AM to 5 PM (October through April). The museum is closed Mondays during this off-season. It is located at Strelnieku laukums, 1.

Swedish Gate: Riga’s only surviving city gate dates from the 17th-century. To find it you’ll need to travel to the corner of Torna Street and Troksnu Street (just west of Gunpowder Tower).

Latvian War Museum (inside Gunpowder Tower): For a quick-hit history of Latvia’s wartime past, or to catch an illuminating exhibit on the Soviet occupation, check out Latvia’s War Museum. Admission is free of charge; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. For more info, visit the museum’s web site.

Student Discounts

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is the most widely accepted form of student ID and provides discounts on sights, accommodations, food, and transportation. Many museums in Riga offer admission discounts of 20-50% to ISIC members. Applicants must be working toward a degree at a secondary or post-secondary school and must be at least 12 years of age. The card costs $22 USD and is valid until the end of the year issued. All cardholders have access to a 24-hour emergency helpline. In the United States call 1-800-223-7986 or click onto ISIC's web site.

For non-students 25 years and younger, the International Youth Travel Card, IYTC, also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC. The card costs US$22 and is valid for one year from the date of issue.

In addition, travelers with student cards, such as ISIC and IYTC, qualify for big discounts from travel agencies. Most flights from budget agencies are on major airlines, though peak season deals might be on less reliable chartered aircraft.

Senior Discounts

Senior travelers will find some discounts in Riga, but not as many as in other cities and countries. For the most part, seniors must be EU citizens in order to receive discounts. Members of the AARP get discounts on hotels, airfares and car rentals. They can be reached in the United States at 1-800-424-3410 and via the AARP web site.

Other Resources

For more tips on keeping your trip to Riga affordable, check out the sites listed on our helpful links page (including the city's official tourism website). You can also find more tips for planning your Riga vacation on TripAdvisor and on Rick Steves' Graffiti Wall.