Riga Rapid Transport - Riga Tramway

Riga has no public rapid transport as in many other big cities and capitals.
No subway, no metro, jsut tramway, bus, trolleybus and microbuses.
Between some neighbourhoods you can use Elektrichka as well, which is quite fast and cheap.
But in everyday life most fastest transport is tramway. Especially for travelling in Riga center street. the price for one trip is 30 santims, which is equal to 1/2 euro.
You can buy ticket by tramway driver.
during the nights tramways are going every hour.


Riga tramway map. Today and future lines in Riga center.


Riga center tramway map. Today and future lines in Riga borders.

Flats which are located close to tramway lines has always higher price for rent.

Vecriga (Riga Old town)

Riga old town very often called Vecrīga (in latvian prefix vec- means old)
Russian people very often call it Старый город (old town /staryj gorad/), старушка (granny /starooshka/), вецрига (/vetsriga/)
Vecriga located in the heart of Riga. It is historical center of Riga city.
Living here is quite good but not quiet, because of a lot of tourists who sometimes partying everyday and everynight.
Here is one big shopping center - Galerija Centers or simply Centers. Here you can find everything - banks, loundries, clothes shops, etc.. Small shops everywhere, because it is main tourist area in Riga.
In Vecriga prices for renting flats varies from 800 EUR per month. Or from 80 EUR per night.
Here is a lot of small bars, pubs and clubs. Mostly of them are filled up with foreigners and latvian people. Except Roxy club, which is filled with foreigners and russian people. Actually it is the biggest club in Vecriga, working almost everynight. On weekends here you can find up to 5-6 workign stages - Electronic, RnB, Russian music, Chillout, Oldies and Main Stage.
One of notable Latvian clubs is Kaļķu vārti (Kalku street Gate /Kaltju vaarti/) - free, but strict face control and always filled up with nice and good-looking people.

Riga center

Riga Center (latvian: centers; russian: центр /tsentr/)
Riga Center covers middle area of Riga on east bank of river Daugava making almost square area between Daugava on the west, Matisa street on the east, Kr. Valdemara on the north and Chaka street on north. Sometimes as center reffered surroinding territories. Riga center also includes Vecriga (Old town).
Riga center is the best area for living, business and partying in Riga, but prices for real eastate it the highest in Riga, sometimes reaching up to 10 000 Eur per square meter (e.g. Alberta street)
Vecriga is old town part of Riga. Here is a lot of pubs, bars, clubs, etc. But real nightlife is active during weekends only and sometimes on thursdays.
Most biggest clubs located outside of old town, around Brivibas street, like Fashion club, Essential club, La Rocca with Studio 69.
Riga center also famous with very low crime rate in Riga.
Riga center could be covered by food less than for one hour.
Here you can face big problems with car parking.
Huge traffic also makes some problems during rush hours: 8-11 AM and 3-8 PM workingdays.

Riga most important areas

Riga is divided into 2 sides by river Daugava.
West bank is called Pardaugava (Over River Daugava)
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• Airport (Airport area in Riga)
• Kipsala (Very close to center and very quite due placing on island)

On East Bank are located most important neighbourhoods in Riga.
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• Vecriga (Old city, Riga tourist area)
• Center (Riga Buisness area)
• Sarkandaugava (Riga Harbour area)
• Rumbula (Car trading area in Riga)

Other neighbourhoods area quite similar, and there are mostly apartaments buildings.
Next time, read about each Riga area in more details