In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Latvia operates strictly on the euro (€). Cash is rarely needed in central Riga, as contactless debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are accepted by almost every cafe, shop, restaurant, and transit provider. Hotels add a tourist tax per person per night (children under 18 exempt). Tipping is discretionary: around 10% in sit-down restaurants and rounding up the bill at casual bars. When withdrawing cash, stick to mainstream bank ATMs (Swedbank, SEB, Citadele, Luminor) and always decline dynamic currency conversion. Or book a tour: an Old Town walking tour with a local guidead is sold on GetYourGuide.
Hotel prices are in our where to stay in Riga guide, and the rest of the planning is in the Riga travel guide. Latvia adopted the euro on 1 January 2014, and payment terminals are standard everywhere from Quiet Centre cafes to the Central Market’s fish counters.
The Euro in Latvia: Cash and Denominations
Latvia retired its historic national currency, the lats, over a decade ago. All transactions across the country take place exclusively in euros (€).
Banknotes and Coins
- Banknotes: Standard Eurozone denominations are €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, and €500. For everyday travel spending, stick to €5, €10, and €20 notes. Many small bakeries, newsagent kiosks (Narvesen), and taxi drivers struggle to break €50 or €100 notes for small purchases.
- Latvian Euro Coin Designs: Latvian euro coins feature distinctive national motifs:
- 1-cent, 2-cent, and 5-cent coins depict the small coat of arms of the Republic of Latvia.
- 10-cent, 20-cent, and 50-cent coins depict the enhanced greater coat of arms.
- €1 and €2 coins depict the folk maiden (Milda), symbolising Latvian national identity and liberty, inspired by the 1929 five-lats silver coin.
Cards and Cash: How Cashless is Riga?
You can complete a multi-day trip to Riga without holding banknotes.
Card Acceptance Patterns
- Widespread Acceptance: Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro are accepted almost universally. Contactless payments (bezkontakta maksājumi) via cards, smartphones, and smartwatches are standard for transactions of all sizes.
- American Express: Acceptance of American Express and Diners Club remains limited. While international luxury hotel chains like the Grand Hotel Kempinski or Radisson Blu accept Amex, smaller restaurants, cafes, and museum ticket counters rarely support it. Carry a Visa or Mastercard as your primary travel card.
- Where Cash is Still Useful: Having small change or notes is sensible for:
- Older vendors selling seasonal berries, fresh herbs, or wild mushrooms at outdoor Central Market counters.
- Public pay toilets.
- Occasional rural buses if you travel deep into regional Vidzeme or Kurzeme beyond major train routes.
ATMs and Foreign Exchange Guidance
Withdrawing local cash in Riga is safe and convenient, provided you choose the correct automated teller machines.
Established Bank ATMs vs Independent Machines
Always use ATMs attached to official, licensed commercial banks:
- Major Baltic Banks: Look for Swedbank, SEB banka, Citadele banka, or Luminor. Their branches and cash machines are prominently located throughout Old Riga (around Vaļņu iela and Kaļķu iela), inside the Central Railway Station (Centrālā stacija), and in shopping galleries like Galerija Centrs and Stockmann.
- Avoid Euronet and Standalone Tourist ATMs: Brightly coloured commercial cash machines located in convenience store entryways or street corners often levy high fixed transaction fees and use aggressive dynamic currency conversion.
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) Trap
When paying by card at a terminal or withdrawing cash from an ATM with a foreign debit or credit card, the machine may ask whether you want to be billed in your “home currency” (such as British pounds, US dollars, or Swiss francs) or in local currency (EUR).
- Always choose EUR.
- If you select your home currency, the terminal operator applies its own inflated conversion exchange rate (often several per cent worse than interbank rates). Choosing to be billed in euros lets your home bank or digital card provider (such as Monzo, Revolut, or Wise) handle the conversion at competitive interbank rates.
Riga Municipal Tourist Tax
Riga charges a municipal accommodation fee (tūrisma nodeva) per person per night. Children under 18 are exempt.
- Collection: Hotels, guest houses and registered short-term rentals (such as Airbnb or Booking.com properties) collect it at check-in or check-out. It is usually itemised separately on your invoice.
Tipping Etiquette in Latvia
Tipping in Latvia is considered an expression of appreciation for good service rather than an obligatory wage subsidy. Service staff receive standard contracted wages under Latvian employment law.
Restaurants and Dining
- Sit-Down Table Service: In traditional sit-down restaurants and gastropubs, tipping 10% for attentive service is customary among international visitors and locals alike. If service was exceptional, 10% to 15% is generous.
- Checking the Bill: Examine your printed receipt (čeks) carefully. A few high-end Old Town restaurants automatically include a 10% service charge (apkalpošanas maksa) for large parties (typically groups of 6 or more). If a service charge is already included, no additional tip is expected.
- Tipping by Card: Most modern payment terminals allow you to enter a custom gratuity amount before tapping your card. If the terminal does not offer a tip prompt, you can leave small euro coins on the bill presenter.
Cafes, Bakeries, and Casual Counter Service
At counter-service coffee shops, casual bakeries (maiznīcas), and market stalls, tipping is not expected. Most counters display a small glass tip jar (tējas naudai — “for tea money”) where you can drop spare 10, 20, or 50-cent coins, or simply round up your total.
Bars and Nightlife
In casual craft beer bars and cocktail lounges, rounding up the bill to the nearest euro per drink or round is standard. At high-end cocktail lounges with table service, 10% on the final bill is appropriate.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
- Bolt Rides: Tipping taxi drivers is not mandatory. If your driver assists with heavy luggage or provides an exceptionally smooth journey, you can add a €1.00 or €2.00 gratuity directly within the Bolt app after the ride ends.
- Metered Street Taxis: Rounding up the metered fare to the nearest euro is common courtesy.
Hotel Staff
- Luggage Porters: €1.00 to €2.00 per bag in four-star and five-star establishments.
- Housekeeping: Leaving a small tip on the desk at departure is appreciated.
Sightseeing and Travel Cost Benchmarks
Prices for the main attractions and for public transport:
Sightseeing and Attraction Entry Prices
- St. Peter’s Church Tower Lift: one ticket covers the church and the tower lift, sold at the church desk.
- House of the Black Heads: €10.00 adult ticket (concession €6.00; audio guide €4.00).
- Riga Dome Cathedral: Midday organ concert (Concerto Piccolo): €15.00.
- Museum of the Occupation of Latvia: €8.00 adult ticket (students €5.00, children up to 18 free outside groups; audio guide €4.00).
- KGB Corner House Guided Cell Tour: €15.00 adult ticket (students and schoolchildren from age 12 €9.00; ground floor exhibition free).
- Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMM): €7.00 adult ticket for permanent collection (pupils, students and seniors €3.50).
- Rundāle Palace (Palace + French Garden): €17.00 combined adult ticket (students €10.50, pupils €5.50, per rundale.net).
Public Transport and Transfers
- Rīgas Satiksme 90-Minute Single Fare: €1.50 (valid for unlimited transfers within 90 minutes).
- 24-Hour Transit Pass: €5.00.
- 3-Day (72-Hour) Transit Pass: €8.00.
- 5-Day Transit Pass: €10.00.
- Airport Bus 22 Fare: €1.50 (pre-purchased ticket or app) or €1.81 (contactless card payment at the driver’s console).
- Train to Jūrmala (Majori): €1.50 each way.
- Train to Sigulda: €2.50 each way.
Common questions
What currency does Riga use?
Latvia uses the euro (€). Latvia joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2014, replacing the Latvian lats (LVL).
Can I pay by card everywhere in Riga?
Yes. Contactless Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are accepted virtually everywhere, from boutique hotels to market food stalls.
How much is the tourist tax in Riga?
Riga charges a municipal accommodation tax per person per night. Children under 18 are exempt, and the hotel collects it at check-in or check-out.
How much should I tip in restaurants in Riga?
Tipping is not legally mandatory, but leaving around 10% for attentive sit-down restaurant service is standard practice. In casual cafes and bars, rounding up to the nearest euro is common.
Which bank ATMs should I use in Riga?
Use ATMs operated by established Baltic retail banks such as Swedbank, SEB, Citadele, or Luminor. Avoid standalone commercial ATMs (like Euronet) that charge inflated foreign transaction fees and unfavourable dynamic currency conversion rates.
