Distances from Riga (km):
·        Berlin – 1300
·        Brussels 2030
·        Helsinki 370
·        London 2370
·        Madrid 3650
·        Moscow 840
·        Oslo 870
·        Paris 2360
·        Prague 1360
·        Rome 2570
·        Stockholm 440
·        Tallinn 320
·        Vilnius 290
·        Vienna 1380

Time Difference:
GMT + 2 hours.

Ethnic Population:
Latvia has the greatest population of Russians of the Baltic States, especially in the capital (55% of Riga's population is Russian).
Latvians  58%,    Russians 30%,
Belarussians 4%,   Ukrainians 3%.

Electricity:
The electricity current is 220V AC 50Hz so if you are coming from the UK bring a European plug adaptor with you.

Taxis:
Taxis are cheap but as in most European cities there are plenty of rip-off merchants out there. Taxis should cost around 50 centimes per kilometre. It pays to agree a fare in advance rather than relying on the often suspect metre.


Emergencies:
In an emergency dial 112.

Genearal costs:
The price of living continues to go up at a startling pace, but most things will still seem very cheap
compared to many other European cities.
Sample prices:
Loaf of bread Ls 0.20-50
Bottle of vodka Ls 4
20 Malboro Ls 0.82
Litre of Petrol Ls 0.60
Cup of coffee Ls 0.50-1.50

Dining in Riga:
Visitors might be surprised to learn that Latvian food has a lot of similarities with British food given the geographical disparity between the two. Potatoes,dairy products, meat and fish are the mainstay. When Latvians eat at home they like to have big, hearty portions that please the stomach rather than the eye. Since joining the EU the prices in restaurants have more than doubled. Don't let this put you off though, as you're still likely on the whole, to pay about half the price for a meal that you do in other major European cities. The restaurant scene has developed at an incredible pace in recent years. Forget your tired and clichéd Soviet stereotypes where Riga is concerned – the city offers everything from Tibetan to Czech food, with Japanese restaurants full of kimono wearing waitresses currently all the rage. The Latvians aren't so keen on fast food, so unless you are a McDonalds aficiendo be prepared to sit down, be patient and treat your dining experience with the respect it deserves. There are a number of establishments which serve food round the clock, while most restaurants don't stop serving until at least 10pm.

Real estate:
Real estate prices in Latvia have increased by anything from 300-800 per cent over the last 5 years. Although the gravy train won't reward you with those sorts of returns in the short-term any more there are still plenty of opportunities available to buy a second home in Latvia or play the real estate game. Most analysts predict that prices in the real estate market will continue to grow by 20 per cent per annum in the coming few years. But be warned! If you are going to invest in real estate in Latvia seek out the services of a legal representative. After all, you wouldn't go into a house purchase at home with your eyes closed. The most sought after areas are Vecriga, Jurmala, Mezaparks and the Art Nouveau Districts around the centre of Riga. Update September 2007: The Latvian real estate market is experiencing some''readjustments' at the current time. New laws have been brought in to discourage pure speculation and prices are expected to fall temporarily.

Transport to Latvia:
Riga International airport is expanding at a breathtaking rate. Last year there were almost 2 million passengers with that number expected to double within two years. Direct connections to the UK include London's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports; as well as Manchester and Liverpool. There are also numerous direct services from Riga to Dublin.

Bus connections are numerous but due to its geographical position expect most international bus journeys from Riga to be long. The central bus station is open from 5am until midnight. The nearby train station offers direct journeys to Russia, Belarus, Lithuania and Estonia. Trains are cheap but journeys tend to take longer than if use buses.

The Latvian port Ventspils has ferry connections to Germany, Sweden and the Estonian island Saaremaa.

Money matters:
Gone are the days when travellers arrived in Riga with a fistful of Dollars ready to exchange for local currency. Although for peace of mind travellers should still consider bringing travellers' cheques with them, it is interesting to note that Riga has one of the highest number of ATM cash machines of all the capital cities in Europe.

Ironically, the Latvian Lat is almost identical in value to the British Pound. (give or take +/-2%) There are 100 centimes in a Lat. So if a coffee costs 80 centimes, you are paying 80 pence. A five Lat taxi ride will cost you 5 Pounds in British money. Note that the highest denomination note is 500 Lats! There are a number of ATM machines as well as a Bureau de change at Riga international airport. Almost every restaurant and shop in the capital accepts credit and debit cards. Bank opening times are 9am-5pm; Monday to Friday. Several exchange bureaus are open 24-7.

Driving regulations:
Latvia's roads differ widely in quality ranging from recently upgraded dual-carriageway to nothing more than dirt tracks in places. Recently the police have begun to crackdown on reckless driving due to the country having one of the highest death toll rates in Europe. The speed limit in towns is generally 50 km/h, with this increasing to 90 kph on the country's open roads. Remember - drink driving is for idiots, and with taxis so cheap in Latvia who needs to risk such a thing anyway?
As is the case on most of the continent Latvians drive on the right-hand side of the road. Comprehensive car insurance is a must. Winter tyres are a legal requirement between December 1 and March 1.

Health and visa regulations:
Citizens of EU countries do not need a visa to enter Latvia. UK visitors are permitted to stay for up to 90
days in any six-month period. For further details on this visit www.am.gov.lv. All visitors are advised to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before they set off for Latvia. British nationals intending to live and work in Latvia will need to obtain a residence permit from the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. No injections are required for visitors although Tick-borne encephalitis is a problem in Latvia, especially in some parts of the countryside during the summer months from May to August.  If in doubt, you should consult your GP about inoculations against Tick-Borne Encephalitis. If you plan to visit the Latvian countryside during the summer months, be sure to bring plenty of mosquito repellant!!  Elderly travellers should be aware that temperatures can drop to as low as minus 30 degrees in winter.