Riga Airport to City Centre: Bus 22, Night Bus N22 and Taxi Guide

💡 The Short Version: Riga International Airport (Starptautiskā lidosta Rīga — RIX) is about 10 kilometres south-west of the historic city centre. Bus 22 runs every 10 to 15 minutes, takes 25 to 35 minutes to reach Old Riga, and costs €1.50 in advance (or €1.81 onboard with a contactless payment card). After midnight, night bus N22 runs hourly between 00:30 and 04:30. A Bolt app ride takes 15 to 20 minutes, and official airport taxis (Baltic Taxi, Red Cab) run on the meter. There is no railway connection to the airport. Or book a tour: a private transfer from Riga Airport to Riga cityad is sold on GetYourGuide.

Hotels are in our where to stay in Riga guide, and the rest of the planning is in the Riga travel guide. The airport is in Mārupe municipality, across the Daugava River from the Old Town, and the bus reaches Old Riga in about half an hour.

Comparison of Airport Transfer Options

Bus 22

Bus line 22 is run by Rīgas Satiksme, the city’s public transport operator.

Where to Board at the Airport

After clearing customs and collecting your luggage, exit through the glass sliding doors of the ground-floor arrivals terminal (Hall E). Cross the pedestrian forecourt and past the first roadway; the covered bus shelter for route 22 is located approximately 50 metres straight ahead, clearly marked with blue Rīgas Satiksme signage.

Ticket Pricing and How to Purchase

1. Pre-Purchased 90-Minute Ticket (€1.50):
   • Narvesen Kiosk: There is a Narvesen convenience store inside the terminal arrivals area and another right beside the bus stop. Ask the clerk for a standard yellow e-talons single ticket.
   • Ticket Vending Machine: A blue automated touchscreen machine stands on the pavement beside the bus stop. It accepts contactless and chip-and-PIN credit or debit cards.
   • Mobilly Smartphone App: If you have mobile roaming or airport Wi-Fi, open the Mobilly app, select “Transport” -> “Rīgas Satiksme”, purchase a €1.50 90-minute fare, and scan the QR code posted inside the bus upon boarding.
2. Onboard Purchase from Driver (€1.81):
   • Bus 22 is the only public transport vehicle in Riga where you can purchase a ticket directly on board.
   • You must tap a contactless debit or credit card (or phone with Apple/Google Pay) against the driver’s electronic console at the front entrance. Cash is strictly not accepted. The fare is €1.81.

Key Stops in Central Riga

As bus 22 crosses the wide Akmens Bridge (Akmens tilts) over the Daugava River, it enters central Riga. Depending on where your hotel is located, get off at one of these key stops:

• Grēcinieku iela: Located on 11. novembra krastmala directly beneath the southern wall of Old Riga. This is the stop for hotels in Vecrīga, including properties near Town Hall Square, St. Peter’s Church, and the House of the Black Heads.
• Autoosta: Located on 13. janvāra iela adjacent to the Riga International Bus Terminal (Rīgas Starptautiskā autoosta) and the railway underpass. This is ideal for travellers transferring to intercity coaches to Bauska or Tallinn.
• Centrālā stacija / Merķeļa iela: Steps from Riga Central Railway Station and Vērmanes Garden, convenient for hotels in Centrs.
• Abrenes iela: The final terminus of route 22, located east of the rail lines.

Night Bus N22

For flights landing after 23:30, Rīgas Satiksme runs night bus route N22.

• Schedule: Departures from the airport terminal run at approximately 00:30, 01:30, 02:30, 03:30, and 04:30.
• Fares and Boarding: Operates under the identical ticketing tariff as daytime bus 22 (€1.50 pre-purchased or €1.81 via driver contactless payment). Boarding takes place at the same covered shelter outside Arrivals E.
• Route: Mirrors the daytime route into the city centre, stopping at Grēcinieku iela and Central Station.

Ride-Hailing Apps: Bolt

Ride-hailing is door to door, which helps with heavy luggage, small children or a hotel outside the Old Town.

Using Bolt at Riga Airport

Bolt, an Estonian app, works like Uber.

• Pricing: Bolt shows the price before you confirm; it rises in bad weather and at peak times.
• Designated Pickup Areas: Because airport regulations restrict commercial apps from lingering at the main arrivals curb, Bolt drivers typically collect passengers at one of two designated spots:
  1. Upper Level Departures Forecourt: Take the escalator or lift up to the second floor (Departures) and exit onto the elevated roadway curb.
  2. Short-Term Car Park P1: Located directly opposite the arrivals exit, accessible via the pedestrian walkway. Check your app screen for the exact assigned stall or lane.

Traditional Airport Taxis

If you prefer taking a traditional street cab without using a smartphone application, official taxi ranks are situated directly outside the arrivals terminal exit.

Regulated Operators and Tariffs

• Approved Fleets: The operators with ranks at the airport are Baltic Taxi (lime-green vehicles) and Red Cab (white cars with red-and-white checkered roof beacons).
• Yellow Licence Plates: All legal commercial taxis in Latvia carry distinctive yellow registration plates. Never accept an offer of a ride from an individual lingering inside the arrivals hall whispering “taxi?” who walks you toward an unbranded car with white private plates.
• Metered Rates and Vouchers: Official airport cabs run on the meter. Riga Airport also sells pre-paid fixed-price taxi vouchers at the visitor information desk in Arrivals Hall E.

Returning to Riga Airport from the City Centre

Catching bus 22 back to the airport requires attention to the direction of travel to avoid boarding the wrong vehicle:

• Boarding Stops for the Airport: When returning to RIX, catch bus 22 at Centrālā stacija (stop on 13. janvāra iela) or 11. novembra krastmala (river embankment side). Look for the digital route display on the bus windshield reading “22 Lidosta” (Lidosta means Airport in Latvian).
• Trolleybus 22: Do not confuse municipal bus line 22 with trolleybus line 22, which runs on overhead electric wires to residential suburbs in eastern Riga. Always verify that you are boarding a motor bus marked Lidosta.
• Journey Buffer: During afternoon weekday rush hours (16:30 to 18:30), heavy vehicular congestion across the Akmens Bridge and along Kārļa Ulmaņa gatve can extend travel times to 40 or 45 minutes. Allow at least 45 minutes for the bus ride when travelling during peak traffic windows.