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Airport Transportation

Riga International Airport

Also known as: Riga Airport, RIX Airport, Rīgas lidosta.

RIX · EVRA · Riga

Airport facts

Name
Riga International Airport
IATA code
RIX
ICAO code
EVRA
City
Riga
Country
Latvia
Coordinates
56.9236, 23.9711
Time zone
Europe/Riga
Terminals
One passenger terminal with departure Piers B (Schengen) and C (Schengen and non-Schengen), and arrivals Sectors E (Schengen) and C (non-Schengen)

About Riga International Airport

Riga International Airport (RIX) is the main gateway to Riga, the capital of Latvia, and to the wider Baltic region. It is the hub of airBaltic, which carried about 57 percent of the airport's passengers in 2025 and flies from Riga to cities across Europe, the Nordic countries, the Caucasus and the Gulf. Ryanair is the second airline here, alongside Norwegian, Finnair, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, SAS, Turkish Airlines, flydubai and Uzbekistan Airways. In 2025 about one in five passengers was connecting between flights.

Passengers use one terminal building. Departures leave from Pier B, used for Schengen flights, and Pier C, which handles both Schengen and non-Schengen flights. Arriving passengers come out into Sector E after Schengen flights or Sector C after flights from outside the Schengen Area.

The airport sits in Mārupe Municipality, about 10 km west of central Riga. The drive to the city center usually takes 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic, and city bus 22 links the terminal with Old Riga and the central bus station.

From the airport, travelers head to Old Riga and the city center, the Art Nouveau district, the beach resort of Jūrmala to the west, and on to Sigulda and the Gauja valley.

Airport operator, runways and traffic

Operator

Starptautiskā lidosta "Rīga" (Riga International Airport company)

Passengers per year

About 7.1 million in 2025, of which about 1.4 million were connecting

Runway

One runway, 18/36, 3,200 m

Main airline

airBaltic (hub), about 57 percent of passengers in 2025

Opened

1973

Arrival tips for Riga International Airport

Riga is in the Schengen Area, so where you arrive depends on where your flight came from. After a flight from another Schengen country, you normally skip passport control, collect your bags and come out into the Sector E arrivals hall. After a flight from outside the Schengen Area, you go through passport control first, where non-EU travelers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (fingerprints and a photo), then collect your bags and come out into the Sector C arrivals hall. Sector C exits right next to Sector E: turn right outside and walk a few meters.

The Welcome to Riga tourist desk is in Sector E and sells public transport tickets and the Riga Card. Licensed taxis wait outside the arrivals halls, and the stop for bus 22 into the city is opposite the terminal, just past the P1 parking area. Bolt has self-service ride booking screens at the exits of both arrivals halls, and the app shows the pickup point.

Latvia uses the euro and Eastern European Time (UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer).

Ground transportation

Bus 22 suits light travelers heading to Old Riga, while taxis, ride-hailing and pre-booked transfers work at any hour.

  • Taxi from Riga airport

    Licensed airport taxis, including Red Cab and XTaxi, wait outside the arrivals halls. Pre-paid vouchers for a ride to the central Riga zone are accepted by XTaxi, TaxiLV and Red Cab; show the voucher to the driver before the ride starts. The drive to the center usually takes 15 to 25 minutes.

  • Bus 22 to Old Riga

    Rīgas Satiksme bus 22 leaves from the stop opposite the terminal, just past the P1 parking area, and serves Grēcinieku iela next to Old Riga and the international bus station. The ride takes about 40 minutes depending on traffic, and night bus N22 runs hourly after midnight.

  • Bolt and other ride-hailing

    Bolt and Forus operate at the airport. Bolt's TapBox screens at the exits of arrivals Sectors E and C let you book a ride without the app, and pickup points are signposted and shown in the app.

  • Car rental

    Rental companies have desks in the terminal on the arrivals level. Expect paperwork at the desk before you collect the car.

  • Private transfer

    Pre-booked drivers meet passengers in the arrivals halls and drive directly to hotels in Old Riga, the city center or Jūrmala. This suits families and groups with luggage.

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Terminals

Main Terminal

Handles all scheduled passenger flights. Departures use Pier B for Schengen flights and Pier C for both Schengen and non-Schengen flights; arrivals come out into Sector E (Schengen) or Sector C (non-Schengen). airBaltic and all other airlines use this terminal.

Airlines and destinations

The airlines at Riga International Airport, with destinations from Riga.

Aegean Airlines Main Terminal

Athens (seasonal)

Air Montenegro Main Terminal

Tivat (seasonal charter)

airBaltic Main Terminal

Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dubai, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Istanbul, London (Gatwick), Oslo, Paris (Charles de Gaulle), Stockholm (Arlanda), Tallinn, Tbilisi, Vilnius, and more

Airline guide

Finnair Main Terminal

Helsinki

flydubai Main Terminal

Dubai

FlyOne Main Terminal

Tashkent

Freebird Airlines Main Terminal

Antalya (seasonal charter)

Heston Airlines Main Terminal

Bergamo, Burgas, Enfidha, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Tivat (seasonal charter)

LOT Polish Airlines Main Terminal

Warsaw (Chopin)

Lufthansa Main Terminal

Frankfurt

Mavi Gök Airlines Main Terminal

Antalya (seasonal charter)

Norwegian Main Terminal

Alicante, Bergen, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm (Arlanda), Trondheim, Burgas (seasonal), Gothenburg (seasonal), Tivat (seasonal)

Ryanair Main Terminal

Barcelona, Bergamo, Brussels (Charleroi), Dublin, Edinburgh, Kraków, London (Stansted), Málaga, Malta, Manchester, Memmingen, Paphos, Prague, Rome (Fiumicino), Vienna, and more

SAS Main Terminal

Copenhagen

Skyline Express Main Terminal

Hurghada (seasonal charter)

SkyUp Airlines Main Terminal

Sharm El Sheikh (seasonal charter)

Turkish Airlines Main Terminal

Istanbul

Uzbekistan Airways Main Terminal

Tashkent

Facilities

  • Tourist information

    The Welcome to Riga desk in arrivals Sector E sells public transport tickets and the Riga Card and helps with city information.

  • Currency exchange and ATMs

    Currency exchange counters and ATMs are in the terminal building.

  • Left luggage

    Left luggage is on the ground floor, next to lost and found.

  • Wi-Fi

    Free Wi-Fi is available in the terminal.

  • Car rental desks

    Rental companies have desks landside on the arrivals level.

  • Shops and duty free

    Shops are spread through the terminal, with duty free in the departure area for passengers leaving the EU.

  • Food and drink

    Cafes, bars and restaurants operate both before and after security.

  • Chapel

    The airport has a chapel for quiet reflection and prayer.

Airport lounges

  • Primeclass Business Lounge

    After security, on the way to the C gates, next to the transfer center. Open 05:00 to 23:00 to all departing and transit passengers, with pay-per-entry on site or through the airport's e-shop; non-Schengen transit passengers need a valid Schengen visa to enter.

Accessibility and passenger assistance

  • Requesting assistance

    Assistance for passengers with reduced mobility is free. Book it at least 48 hours before departure through your airline's website or the travel agency where you bought your ticket.

  • Reduced mobility

    For departures, staff help from your arrival at the airport until you board. For arrivals, help covers the arrivals hall, baggage claim and getting to a vehicle on the airport grounds.

  • Assistance on the day

    Without a booking, you can ask for help at the information office by the check-in desks or from the call points in the parking area, though you may wait longer.

  • Low-floor city bus

    Bus 22 between the airport and the city center has a low floor, which makes boarding with a wheelchair easier.

Parking

P1 Short-term

The parking area closest to the terminal, about 50 m or a one-minute walk.

P2 Long-term

About 350 m from the terminal, around a four-minute walk.

P3 Long-term

About 500 m from the terminal, around a five-minute walk.

P4 Long-term

About 600 m from the terminal, around a seven-minute walk.

P5 Long-term

About 800 m from the terminal, around a ten-minute walk.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Riga Airport from the city center?

Riga International Airport is about 10 km west of central Riga, in Mārupe Municipality. By taxi or private car the drive usually takes 15 to 25 minutes, depending on traffic. City bus 22 takes about 40 minutes to Grēcinieku iela, next to Old Riga, and continues to the international bus station near Riga Central Station.

How many terminals does Riga Airport have?

Riga Airport has one passenger terminal. Departures leave from Pier B, used for Schengen flights, and Pier C, which handles both Schengen and non-Schengen flights. Arriving passengers come out into one of two neighboring halls on the ground floor: Sector E after Schengen flights and Sector C after flights from outside the Schengen Area.

Which airlines fly to Riga Airport?

airBaltic is the main airline at Riga and carried about 57 percent of its passengers in 2025, followed by Ryanair with about 23 percent. Norwegian, Finnair, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, SAS, Turkish Airlines, flydubai, FlyOne and Uzbekistan Airways also fly here, and charter airlines add seasonal holiday flights in summer. All of them use the same terminal.

Is Riga Airport the hub of airBaltic?

Yes. Riga International Airport is the home base and hub of airBaltic, Latvia's airline, which flies from Riga to cities across Europe, the Nordic countries, the Caucasus and the Gulf. In 2025 airBaltic carried about 57 percent of the airport's passengers, and many travelers use Riga to connect between airBaltic flights, often with short walking transfers inside the single terminal.

How do I get from Riga Airport to Old Riga by bus?

Take Rīgas Satiksme bus 22 from the stop opposite the terminal, just past the P1 parking area. Get off at Grēcinieku iela, next to Old Riga, or stay on to the international bus station. The ride takes about 40 minutes depending on traffic. After midnight, night bus N22 runs hourly. Tickets are sold by the driver, at ticket machines and in the Mobilly app.

How do taxis work at Riga Airport?

Licensed airport taxis, including Red Cab and XTaxi, wait outside the arrivals halls. You can also buy a pre-paid voucher for one ride to the central Riga zone, accepted by XTaxi, TaxiLV and Red Cab. Show the voucher to the driver before the ride starts. A voucher cannot be split or reused and expires three months after purchase.

Can I use Bolt at Riga Airport?

Yes. Bolt and Forus both pick up at Riga International Airport, and the pickup points are signposted and shown in the app. Since December 2025, Bolt TapBox screens at the exits of arrivals Sectors E and C let you book and pay for a ride without the app or a mobile data connection, then walk to the designated pickup point.

Is there a lounge at Riga Airport?

Yes. The Primeclass Business Lounge is airside after security, on the way to the C gates and next to the transfer center. It is open from 05:00 to 23:00 to all departing and transit passengers, with entry paid on site or through the airport's e-shop. Transit passengers arriving from outside Schengen need a valid Schengen visa to use it.

Do I go through passport control when I land in Riga?

It depends on where you fly from. Latvia is in the Schengen Area, so passengers from other Schengen countries normally arrive without passport control in Sector E. Passengers from outside the Schengen Area clear passport control, where non-EU travelers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System with fingerprints and a photo, and arrive in Sector C.

How busy is Riga Airport?

Riga International Airport handled slightly more than 7.1 million passengers in 2025, about the same as in 2024. Around 5.7 million started or ended their trip in Riga and about 1.4 million were connecting between flights. London was the most popular destination, followed by Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm, Vilnius and Tallinn. Cargo rose 7 percent to about 20,100 tonnes.

What time zone and currency does Riga use?

Riga uses Eastern European Time, UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer, when Latvia switches to daylight saving time with the rest of the EU. That puts Riga one hour ahead of Berlin and Paris all year. The currency is the euro, and cards are widely accepted, including by licensed airport taxis and ride-hailing apps.

How far is Jūrmala from Riga Airport?

Jūrmala, Latvia's seaside resort town, starts about a 15-minute drive west of Riga Airport along the A10 highway, according to Visit Jūrmala. The town stretches along the coast about 20 km west of Riga, so central areas such as Majori take a little longer to reach. Trains to Jūrmala leave from Riga Central Station, not from the airport.

Is there parking at Riga Airport?

Yes. Riga Airport has five parking areas. P1 is the short-term parking area, about 50 m or a one-minute walk from the terminal. The long-term parking areas P2, P3, P4 and P5 lie between 350 m and 800 m away, a walk of about four to ten minutes. Check current rates on the airport's website before you travel.

How do I request special assistance at Riga Airport?

Book free assistance for passengers with reduced mobility at least 48 hours before your flight through your airline's website or your travel agency. Staff help from your arrival at the airport until boarding, and on arrival through the arrivals hall, baggage claim and to a vehicle. Without a booking, ask at the information office by check-in or a parking area call point.

Why book with Airport Transportation?

We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.

Is the transportation private or shared?

Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.

Are prices per person or per vehicle?

Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.

How many people can a van carry?

Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.

How do I find you at the airport?

Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.

What kind of vehicles do you use?

Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.

Do you have insurance?

Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.

Do you provide baby seats?

Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.

How far in advance should I book?

You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.

What payment methods are accepted?

PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.

Do vehicles have air conditioning?

Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.

What if my flight is delayed?

During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.

Can I make stops during my ride?

Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.

Do children pay differently than adults?

No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.

Is my reservation refundable?

Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.

Do drivers speak English?

Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.

Are tips mandatory?

Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.

What currencies are accepted?

All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.

Are pets allowed?

We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.

Is there room for luggage?

Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.

What is included in the price?

Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.

Book a transfer from RIX