How much does it cost to travel to Riga?
You should plan to spend around $112 (€104) per day on your vacation in Riga. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $36 (€33) on meals
- $16 (€15) on local transportation
- $114 (€105) on hotels
A one week trip to Riga for two people costs, on average, $1,571 (€1,450). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Riga has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Riga expensive to visit?
Prices in Riga are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Riga is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Coimbra or Hvar.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Riga Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Riga?
The average Riga trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Riga travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
€105
($114)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
€15
($16)
|
|
Food 2
|
€33
($36)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
€21
($23)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
€10 -
30
($11 - 32)
|
Accommodation Budget in Riga
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Riga is $57 (€53). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Riga is $114 (€105). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Riga? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Riga
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Riga is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $16 (€15) per person, per day, on local transportation in Riga.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$16
€15
How much does it cost to go to Riga? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Riga will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Riga
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Riga can vary, the average cost of food in Riga is $36 (€33) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Riga should cost around $14 (€13) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Riga is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$36
€33
Typical prices for Food in Riga are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Riga, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Riga
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Riga typically cost an average of $23 (€21) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$23
€21
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Riga
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Riga is $14 (€12), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$14
€12
Alcohol Budget in Riga
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $21 (€20) on alcoholic beverages in Riga per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$21
€20
Water Budget in Riga
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $2.60 (€2.40) on bottled water in Riga per day. The public water in Riga is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$2.60
€2.40
Last Updated: Nov 27, 2023
Riga On a Budget
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
Riga is also a very affordable destination. It's popular with young travelers because it has a vibrant nightlife and there are many unique and interesting bars and clubs that offer low cost drinks and entertainment. The city's old town also has a lot to offer in the form of interesting architecture, museums, restaurants and tours. There's a very large market near the old town that sells anything and everything from meats, to smoked salmon, to clothes and flowers. It's a great place to people watch or you can pick up some food for a picnic lunch. It's definitely worth a visit while you're in the area.
Riga's climate is humid continental and the coldest months are January and February when the average temperature is around -5 degrees Celsius. During the coldest days it is not uncommon for temperatures to drop as low as -20 or -25 degrees Celsius. Because the city is so close to the ocean it is often damp and foggy during the fall months. Snow is usually on the ground during the winter months and summers are mild and humid. On average the summer temperature is around 18 degrees Celsius, but it sometimes reaches more than 30 degrees Celsius.
Sights
Most visitors to Riga spend their time in the city's Old Town. Popular sights include Triangula Bastion, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, St. Peter's Church, St. John's Church, the Big Guild, The House of the Black Cat, Riga Cathedral, the Museum of the Barricades of 1991, and Freedom Monument, among many other things.
Neighborhoods
Riga is split into two areas by the River Daugava. The Old Town is at the center of the city on the east side of the river. Outside of the Old Town is a ring of 19th and 20th century architecture and then further out there are private houses and apartments. As a tourist you'll probably spend most of your time in the Old Town and in the area around the Freedom Monument, which is close by. There are some interesting area's outside of this district though that are often overlooked by tourists. These include Agenskalns and Tornakalns which are just over the Stone Bridge.
Activities
As a large, cosmopolitan city, there are many activities you can enjoy during your time in Riga. You can see either the opera or ballet at the Latvian National Opera. This is a nice building that is worth checking out. The Latvian National Symphonic Orchestra also has shows occasionally. Another unique experience in the city is to try your hand at bobsledding. You can ride in a professional winter bobsled between the months of November and March. It's a rare experience and one worth trying if you're in the area.
Food and Dining
Riga has a diverse range of restaurants that offer everything from international cuisine to local Latvian specialties. Latvian cuisine is usually quite hearty and makes use of ingredients such as potatoes, cabbage, beef, pork and fish. The cheapest restaurants in town are the cafeteria style options. You can choose from any number of dishes, most frequently dumplings, and then pay by the weight of your food selection. If you're interested in trying an international restaurant then your options include sushi, Chinese and Indian among others.
Transportation
The old town area in Riga is easy to walk around. Most of the streets are asphalt and where they are cobblestoned it is usually flat and even. Taxis are reasonably priced but you must be diligent to make sure they take the shortest route to your destination.
If you're hoping to venture outside of the old town, Riga has a wonderful network of trams, buses and trolleybuses. It's generally thorough and comprehensive and is usually your best option for traveling around the city. Trams are usually your fastest option with the exception of trains. Trams operate on street level and are not separated from the rest of the traffic, but they usually have the right of way. During rush hour, however, congestion may slow the trip down significantly so plan accordingly. Minibuses are usually your second best option as they are smaller and more maneuverable than the larger buses and trolley buses.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.