Riga Public Transport: Tram, Bus, Trolleybus and Ticket Guide

💡 The Short Version: Rīgas Satiksme runs the trams, trolleybuses and buses on one ticket system. A 90-minute ticket costs €1.50 and permits unlimited transfers across lines. A 24-hour pass costs €5.00 and a 3-day pass €8.00. You must scan your ticket on every vehicle you board, even when changing lines within the 90-minute window. Tickets are sold at blue automated machines, Narvesen kiosks, and via the Mobilly app. Drivers do not sell paper tickets (except on airport bus 22 via contactless card for €1.81). Or book a tour: a hop-on hop-off city sightseeing bus tourad is sold on GetYourGuide.

The rest of the planning is in the Riga travel guide, and neighbourhoods are in where to stay in Riga. Old Riga (Vecrīga) is pedestrianised, so you cover its squares and alleys on foot. You need public transport for Alberta iela, the parkland and zoo in Mežaparks, the wooden houses of Āgenskalns across the Daugava River, and the airport.

Ticket Types and Fares

One set of time-based fares covers all municipal trams, trolleybuses and buses.

How to Buy Tickets

Drivers do not sell tickets on ordinary trams, trolleybuses or buses, so buy before boarding:

1. Narvesen Kiosks

Yellow paper smart cards containing an embedded microchip (known locally as the e-talons) are sold at every Narvesen convenience kiosk. You will find Narvesen kiosks inside Riga Central Train Station, at the International Bus Terminal, outside the arrivals terminal at Riga Airport, and on street corners across central Riga. Simply ask the cashier for a “90-minute ticket” (deviņdesmit minūšu biļete) or a “three-day pass” (trīs dienu biļete). You can pay with cash or contactless bank cards.

2. Automated Ticket Vending Machines

Touchscreen ticket vending machines are situated at major transport hubs, including:

• Riga Airport bus stop (outside Arrivals E).
• Stacijas laukums (Central Station square).
• 13. janvāra iela (major tram and bus interchange along the Old Town perimeter).
• National Opera (Nacionālā opera) tram stop. The machines operate in Latvian, English, and German, accepting contactless and chip-and-PIN bank cards.

3. Digital Smartphone Apps (Mobilly)

The Mobilly app (iOS and Android) works for visitors with a foreign card.

• Download the app and link a Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card.
• Navigate to the “Transport” tab and select “Rīgas Satiksme”.
• Choose your desired ticket (e.g. €1.50 90-minute fare or €8.00 3-day pass).
• When boarding, open the app and tap “Scan QR code” to scan the square QR code sticker posted near the vehicle doors, or enter the vehicle’s four-digit identification number displayed beside the door.
• The app generates a dynamic green electronic ticket that you present if checked by fare inspectors.

Boarding and Ticket Validation Rules

A ticket you have not scanned counts as no ticket.

The Mandatory Every-Board Rule

• Yellow Paper E-talons: Hold your paper card against the electronic sensor located on the validation pillars near each door until the screen turns blue or green and emits a clear audible beep. A red light and buzzer indicate an expired or invalid card.
• Transferring Between Vehicles: Even if you are within your 90-minute validity window or hold an active 3-day pass, you must tap your card or scan the QR code on every single vehicle you enter. Your 90-minute ticket allows your final transfer tap up to the 89th minute; once validated on that final vehicle, you may ride until that particular route reaches its terminus.

Fare Enforcement and Penalty Fines

Roving teams of ticket inspectors (kontrolieri), dressed in high-visibility blue vests and frequently escorted by uniformed officers from the Riga Municipal Police (Rīgas pašvaldības policija), conduct unscheduled checks.

• When inspectors board, they electronically lock all onboard ticket validators.
• Passengers must present their physical e-talons or phone screen for scanning by the inspector’s handheld terminal.
• If your ticket is unvalidated, expired, or registered to an incorrect tariff, you will be escorted off the vehicle and issued a fine. A penalty fare is charged on the spot.

Key Transit Modes and Lines for Visitors

The Rīgas Satiksme fleet mixes modern low-floor vehicles with older models and runs daily from about 05:30 to 23:30.

1. The Tram Network (Tramvajs)

Trams run on dedicated tracks, so traffic does not slow them in the centre.

• Tram 1 (Imanta – Jugla): Runs through the heart of the city along 11. novembra krastmala (bordering Old Town), past the Central Station, and up Krišjāņa Barona iela. It links the Old Town and the Central District.
• Tram 11 (Ausekļa iela – Mežaparks): The line to Mežaparks. Departs from the Quiet Centre near the Art Nouveau district, passes the Latvian National Museum of Art and Central Station, and heads northeast to Mežaparks (home to Riga Zoo, lakeside pine forests, and Soviet-era villa quarters).
• Tram 7 (Ausekļa iela – Ķengarags): Runs from the Quiet Centre along the Daugava River embankment past Central Market, connecting directly with the Spīķeri creative quarter and the Lido Recreation Centre on Krasta iela.

2. The Trolleybus Network (Trolejbuss)

Trolleybuses run on overhead wires and connect the outer residential districts with the centre.

• Trolleybus 3 (Centrāltirgus – Kundziņsala): Convenient for travelling north from Central Market past the Art Nouveau boulevards.
• Trolleybus 15 (Latvijas Universitāte – Višķu iela): Runs through the historic Moscow Suburb (Maskavas Forštate).
• Trolleybus 9 and 27: Connect the city centre across the Akmens Bridge (Akmens tilts) to the National Library of Latvia (Gaismas pils) and the Pārdaugava district on the west bank of the Daugava.

3. The Bus Network (Autobuss)

Standard municipal buses cover outlying districts, regional medical centres, and airport links.

• Bus 22 (Lidosta Rīga – Abrenes iela): Connects Riga International Airport (RIX) to Old Town and the city centre every 10 to 15 minutes, in 25 to 35 minutes.
• Night Bus N22: Runs hourly from 00:30 to 04:30, after the daytime service stops, between the airport and the railway terminal.

Essential Practical Tips for Navigating Transit

• Timetables and Live Tracking: Real-time departures and route planning are integrated into Google Maps and the Rīgas Satiksme official mobile portal. Every bus and tram stop features a printed timetable displaying weekday (darba dienas) and weekend/holiday (brīvdienas) schedules.
• Boarding Etiquette: Enter through any door on multi-car low-floor trams and articulated buses. On smaller single-door vehicles in outer suburbs late at night, passengers board via the front door and validate beside the driver.
• Crossing Bridges on Foot vs Tram: Walking across the Akmens Bridge from Old Town to the National Library takes 10 to 12 minutes on foot, with views of the Old Town spires. If carrying heavy bags, hop on tram lines 1, 5, or 10 for a three-minute ride across the Daugava.