Where can you park your car for free near Old Riga? General parking rules in Riga How to pay for parking in Riga

The length of the Latvian public road network is 73.592 km. Of these, 20.131 km are paved.

Toll roads

There are no tolls for using roads in Latvia.

Areas with special payment

Only entry into the resort area of ​​Jurmala is subject to payment. Entry fees apply from April 1st to September 30th. The rest of the time - from October 1 to March 31 - entry to Jurmala is free.

Tariffs for entry into the resort area of ​​Jurmala for 2019:

During the validity period of the pass, the number of entries is not limited. Passes are controlled using video cameras. The fine for entering without a pass is €50.

The pass can be purchased online at jurmala.lv.

Parking in Riga

Almost all parking in the center of Riga is paid. Car parks RP SIA Rigas satiksme - car park opening hours are from 08:00 to 20:00, on Saturdays from 09:00 to 17:00. In zone R (Vecriga) opening hours are from 06:00 to 24:00 daily. At other times, as well as on Sundays and holidays, the parking lots can be used free of charge.

The cost of parking in Riga varies depending on the zone in which it is located.

The cost of parking a car in Vecaki is € 2.00 for the entire period from 08:00 to 20:00 (from May 1 to September 30).

Payment for parking

You can pay for parking at parking meters or via SMS.

When paying at parking meters, a receipt for using a paid parking lot must be placed in a visible place - on the left side of the front panel of the vehicle so that the inspector has the opportunity to verify the presence and contents of this document: payment information, validity period and document number must be visible .

The maximum time for free use of a paid parking lot during operation is 5 minutes. The maximum allowed time for free use of a paid parking lot after the end of the payment period is 15 minutes.

More information about using parking lots in Riga - Rigas satiksme

Buy a road map of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia from the Amazon online store with delivery .

Basic traffic rules in Latvia

Speed ​​Limit

Standard speed limits in Latvia (unless otherwise indicated on signs).

Cars and motorcycles:

• in a populated area - 50 km/h
• outside the populated area - 90 km/h
• on highway- 110 km/h

Vehicles with trailer:

• in a populated area - 50 km/h
• outside the populated area - 80 km/h
• on the road - 90 km/h

The maximum speed in a residential area is 20 km/h.

Alcohol

Maximum permissible blood alcohol level 0.5 ‰.

If the blood alcohol level is more than 0.5 ‰ and less than 1.0 ‰, then the fine will be from € 430 to 640 and deprivation of rights for one year.

If the blood alcohol level is more than 1.0 ‰ and less than 1.5 ‰, then the fine will be from € 850 to 1,200, deprivation of rights for two years and administrative arrest from 5 to 10 days.

If the blood alcohol level is more than 1.5 ‰, then the fine will be from € 1,200 to 1,400, deprivation of rights for four years and administrative arrest from 10 to 15 days. The same penalty is imposed in case of refusal to test for the presence of alcohol.

In the case of the presence of narcotic drugs or psychotropic, toxic or other intoxicating substances in the human body, the fine will be from € 1,200 to 1,400, deprivation of rights for four years and administrative arrest from 10 to 15 days.

For drivers whose driving experience does not exceed 2 years, the maximum permissible level 0.2 ‰.

If the blood alcohol level of such drivers is more than 0.2 ‰ and less than 0.5 ‰, then the fine will be from € 210 to 430 and deprivation of rights for up to six months.

Low beam

Dipped beam is required 24 hours a day all year round. The fine for driving without low beams in the daytime is € 7.

For driving without low beams at night or in poor visibility conditions, the fine is € 40.

Transportation of children

When transporting children whose height does not exceed 150 cm, vehicles equipped with seat belts must be equipped with special seats or stands that are appropriate for the age and weight of the child.

Violation of this rule will result in a fine ranging from €30 to €70.

Seat belts

Using seat belts Necessarily for front and rear passengers.

Fine - from € 30 to 70 or warning.

Talking on the phone

Do not use while driving vehicle a phone, tablet or other mobile device not equipped with a technical capability that allows hands-free negotiations.

Fine - from € 25 to 100.

Tinting

The degree of light transmission of the windshield must be at least 75%, and the front side windows must be at least 70%.

Driving a vehicle with windows installed whose light transmission does not meet legal requirements is punishable by a fine of € 85.

Fines

Fines should not be paid directly to the police officer at the scene of the violation. Fines are paid within 30 days, or an appeal is filed.

The appeal must be filed within 10 working days from the date of notification of the imposition of an administrative penalty.

Table of fines for violating traffic rules in Latvia (Euro): Fines for traffic violations in Latvia

Violation	Fine
Failure to comply with a lawful request of a police officer to stop a vehicle	€ 15
Turning around on bridges and overpasses, overpasses, as well as at pedestrian crossings	€ 30
Driving in a lane reserved for public passenger transport	€ 40
Driving on the side of the road	€ 40
U-turn at railway crossings	€ 55
Driving on bicycle or pedestrian paths or sidewalks	€ 55
Failure to maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front	€ 25 - 140
Stopping on sidewalks, railway crossings or in places where it is prohibited	€ 40
Driver's side windshield wipers do not operate during rain or snow	€ 30
Overtaking at level crossings, footpaths and tunnels	€ 55
Driving to an intersection or crossing a roadway in the event of a traffic jam that has forced the driver to stop, creating an obstacle for the vehicle to move in the transverse direction	€ 30
Driving in the opposite direction on a one-way road	€ 55
Entering the lane intended for oncoming traffic when overtaking	€ 55
Turning left or making a U-turn in violation of the requirements prescribed by road signs or road markings	€ 30
No hazard warning lights during emergency stops or for disembarking passengers during daylight hours	€ 30
No hazard warning lights during emergency stops or for disembarking passengers at night or in poor visibility conditions	€ 40
Aggressive driving	€ 70 - 280

Fines for speeding in Latvia

Fines for speeding in populated areas and outside of them in Latvia differ.

For motorcycles and cars:

In case of speeding up to 20 km/h, a warning may be issued instead of a fine.

In case of speeding over 50 km/h, in addition to the fine, there is also a deprivation of a driver’s license from 3 to 6 months.

For passenger cars with a trailer: Fines for speeding for cars with trailers in Latvia

Over speed
up to 10 km/h	€ 10 or warning	€ 10 or warning
from 11 km/h to 20 km/h	€ 80	€ 40
from 21 km/h to 30 km/h	€ 160	€ 80
from 31 km/h to 40 km/h	€ 320	€ 160
from 41 km/h to 50 km/h	€ 480 - 620	€ 320 - 440
from 51 km/h to 60 km/h	€ 700 - 880	€ 480 - 640
over 60 km/h	€ 1,040 - 1,400	€ 720 - 960

In case of speeding over 50 km/h, in addition to the fine, there is also deprivation of a driver’s license from 6 months to 2 years.

Helpful information

Petrol

1.20 1.25 1.14 0.59 as of 02/14/2020

Unleaded gasoline (95 and 98) and diesel fuel are available in Latvia. Gas filling stations (LPG) are available.

Average prices for all types of fuel according to Statoil data by state as of 02/14/2020 :

Latvia

• Bezsvina 95 - € 1.197
• Bezsvina 98 - € 1.252
• Dizelis - € 1.137
• Autogāze - € 0.591

Emergency numbers

• European emergency number - 112
• Police - 110
• Ambulance - 113
• LAMB roadside assistance and tow truck services – 1888

Required equipment

Equipment that necessary have in your car:

• Warning triangle
• Car first aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Reflective vest- mandatory when exiting a car stopped on the roadway or side of the road at night or in poor visibility conditions

Winter equipment

Winter tires

The use of winter tires in Latvia is mandatory for vehicles with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons from December 1 to March 1. The minimum tread depth is 3 mm. Failure to do so will result in a fine of €30.

Studded tires

Anti-skid chains

Snow chains can be used in case of snow and ice.

If the vehicle does not have an emergency sign, a first aid kit or a fire extinguisher - a warning or a fine of € 7.

The use of radar detectors is prohibited. If discovered, a fine of €55 and confiscation of the device itself.

How to get to Riga from the airport

IN international Airport Riga (RIX, EVRA) hundreds of flights arrive daily, many of which are low cost airlines, for example airBaltic, which means you have either already found cheap ticket on a plane to Riga or you can find it on our website by simply entering your travel dates in the form below.

Riga airport is located just 13 km from the city center, which significantly saves travelers money. You can get to the city by taxi or public transport.

By bus

Every day from half past five in the morning until midnight, bus number 22 runs between the airport and the city center.
Price a one-time ticket costs 2 euros (if purchased from the driver or at the airport information center) or 1.15 euros (if purchased from a machine at the bus stop or a Narvesen newsstand).
Price reusable ticket valid for 24 hours - 5 euros.
Travel time 30 minutes.
The bus runs approximately every 20 minutes. Bus schedule at this link.

By minibuses “Rīgas mikroautobusu satiksme”

Minibus No. 222 runs between the central bus station and the airport, and minibus No. 241 runs between the city center (Centrs stop) and the airport (Lidos stop). Travel time is half an hour.

Both buses are waiting for passengers at parking lot P1 next to the terminal.

Tickets can be purchased at the airport information center and Narvesen newsstands for 1.15 euros and from the driver for 2 euros.

See this link for the minibus schedule.

By taxi

Taxis are easy to find at the entrance to the terminal. Fare to the center of Riga 11-15 euros.

Cheap hotels in Riga

Comfortable accommodation with a comfortable bed, good breakfast and polite staff is the key to a good trip. Choosing a hotel pay attention on his location, Availability parking(if you are driving), opportunities for breakfast, Availability transfer.

We offer you a small list of verified budget hotels , guest houses and hostels in Riga for every taste and budget.

Mosaic Hotel Hostel

Address, location: Elizabetes iela 31a, Riga; city ​​center
Price: from 25 euros for a double room with shared bathroom

• very convenient location;
• availability of free parking;
• availability of a 24-hour reception;
• delicious breakfast included;
• comfortable room with a good bed.

Read more about the hostel at this link.

Riverside Hotel

Address, location: Natana Barkana iela 5 (formerly Mazā Lāčplēša iela), Riga; 2 km from the center
Price

• excellent location;
• parking opposite for 2 euros per day;
• delicious and varied breakfast for 6 euros;
• comfortable rooms with comfortable beds.

Three-star hotel Park Inn by Radisson Riga Valdemara

Address, location: Krogus iela 1, Riga; 2 km from the Old Town.
Price: from 50 euros for a double room

• good location;
• free parking;
• 24-hour front desk;
• varied and tasty breakfast;
• spacious room with very comfortable beds;
• original room design;
• Children under 2 years old stay free of charge with the provision of a child's bed.

Three-star Primo Hotel

Address, location: Nometņu iela 62, Riga; 2.5 km from the city center
Price: from 35 euros for a double room

• free parking;
• 24-hour front desk;
• There is a grocery store and pharmacy nearby;
• public transport stop nearby;
• breakfast is included in the price.

Four-star hotel St. Peter's Boutique Hotel

Address, location: Peldu iela 23, Riga; city ​​center
Price: from 70 euros for a double room

• ideal location;
• the hotel is located in historical building;
• unique design of each room;
• spacious rooms with comfortable beds;
• delicious breakfast included;
• parking cost 5 euros per day;
• 24-hour front desk.

More hotel offers in Riga on Booking.com

Parking in Riga: how much it costs, how to pay, parking zones

There are parking lots in Riga paid and free. All parking in the center is paid.
Paid parking in the city usually becomes free V weekdays from 20.00 to 8.00, on Saturdays from 17.00 to 9.00, and also on weekends and holidays.

Parking zones

Parking in Riga expensive: the first hour costs less, and the second and all subsequent hours are more expensive.
The city is divided into zones, the most expensive is zone R - Old Town. Therefore, it is more profitable to either leave the car in the hotel parking lot, or leave it in a paid parking lot near the Old Town, or drive to the nearest residential area and leave the car there, and then walk or use public transport.

How to pay for parking in Riga

• through a parking meter;
• via SMS with the data indicated on the parking meter, which must be sent to number 1859.

Receipt about paying for parking under the windshield so that it can be seen from the outside.

Please note that parking meters do not give change.

If you want to use guarded paid parking, you can pay via special terminals at the entrance and exit of the parking lot.

Where to find free parking in Riga

If you want to park your car for free, go to sleeping areas or just drop by to the courtyards, but watch the signs. The punishing finger will strike everyone who parks in the wrong place, and the fine will not be long in coming.

Free parking can be found in the parking lot Shopping center "Olympia"(first two hours free) and along Exporta street(but pay attention to signs and plates).

Find more addresses of free and paid parking in the city on the map using this link.

If you want to travel to Riga by car, choose a hotel, hostel or guest house with parking. If you book a hotel through Booking.com, you can check the “parking” box in the advanced search on the right and the system will find suitable hotels for you.
The second option is to use paid guarded parking.

Where to find guarded 24-hour parking in Riga

Europark is the largest network of guarded parking lots in Latvia. For a list of addresses of all guarded parking lots in Riga, see the official website.
Prices in such parking lots they are almost the same as in regular paid parking lots, but there your car will be under supervision around the clock.

Public transport in Riga: how much does it cost, where to buy a ticket, how to save money

Public transport of the capital of Latvia is presented buses, minibuses, trolleybuses and trams who travel on strictly defined routes and schedules, which can be found at this link.

Tickets can be purchased:

• at the box office;
• from the driver (without change);
• in vending machines at bus stops and inside the car.

IN vending machines There is menu in Russian, so you can deal with them without any problems.

Please note that on public transport you can carry free:

• bicycle;
• animals (if they are transported as hand baggage);
• hand baggage.

Tickets There are different types and differ from each other in terms of validity. Let's briefly talk about each of them.

Single ticket for one trip

You can buy it from the driver without change. Price 2 euros.

Reference

An e-ticket is a card onto which you can load e-tickets payment for travel on public transport. E-tickets come in blue and yellow. Different types of tickets can be loaded onto different tickets. Read more about the e-ticket and prices at this link.

If you want to save on travel in Riga, it will be more profitable for you to purchase an e-ticket and use it, because travel with such a coupon cheaper almost twice.

Temporary ticket

This ticket is valid for a certain time on different types transport. That is, you can change from a tram to a bus, and then again to a tram. For each new boarding you need a ticket compost at the entrance there is a bus. The last landing can be made at the last minute of use and go to the final stop. After this, the ticket becomes invalid.

1 hour ticket costs 2.30 euros
24 hour ticket for all routes costs 5 euros
3-day ticket for all routes costs 10 euros
5 day ticket for all routes costs 15 euros

Please note that to purchase this ticket, you must first buy the blue e-ticket, which we wrote about above, and download tickets onto it. Only one person can use one ticket.

Electric trains

Where in Riga you can eat inexpensively: prices for food in cafes, inexpensive cafes, prices for food in supermarkets

In Riga you can easily find a cafe or restaurant to suit every taste and budget. The most stylish and expensive ones, of course, are located in the city center and the more central, the more expensive. Therefore, if you don’t want to overpay, move at least a kilometer away from the center of the old city.

Soups 3-5 euros
French fries 2-3 euros
Beef steak 9-15 euros
Pasta with sauce 6-8 euros
Meat fillet with garnish 10-13 euros
Pizza 30 cm 4-5 euros
Caesar salad" 5-7 euros
Cake 3-5 euros
Tea 1.5-3 euros
Coffee 1.5-3 euros

Pay attention to the self-service cafe chain Lido(Elizabetes iela 65, Riga, there are other cafes of this chain) - you can eat there quickly, tasty and inexpensively. Average bill for two 13 euros (for first, second and drink).

Pizza lovers will love the budget pizzeria Cili Pizza (in the Olimpia shopping center, Riga Plaza shopping center, etc.). average price for a 20 cm pizza from 3.5 euros.

In the Riga Plaza shopping center and on Audeju iela 15, look for an inexpensive self-service cafe Pipars Riga, where you can have a very filling meal for 4-6 euros per person.

Cost of food in Riga stores, Riga supermarkets

To the very popular supermarkets Riga and Latvia as a whole are Maxima, Iki And Rimi. Their prices are moderate and the quality of the products is very high. Usually the most low prices at the Maxima supermarket.

Potato 0.30 euro
Carrot 0.40 euro
Tomatoes 1.5-3 euros
Cheese 7-11 euros
Sausages 4-7 euros
Sausage 4-10 euros
Whole chicken 3.50 euros
Chicken fillet 5.20 euros
Dumplings 1 kg 2 euros
Bread 0.70 euro
Chips 2.50 euro
Sugar 1 euro
Milk 1 euro
Tea 1-3 euros
Juice 1.5-3 euros
Coca-Cola 1 l 1 euro
Apples 0.5-1.5 euro
Oranges 0.80 euro

Fast food in Riga

Average menu price in McDonalds 5 euros
Average price in Burger King 5 euros
Average price in Hesburger 4.5 euros
Average menu price in KFC 7 euros

Inexpensive coffee shops in Riga

The same rule applies to Riga cafes as to other establishments - the farther from the old center, the cheaper. At the same time, the most original and cozy places are located in the old town. Fortunately, Riga is a city with more than affordable prices, which means you can find cozy cafe won't be difficult.

We offer several cafe with guaranteed low prices:

Coffee Inn(Vaļņu iela 18 and Brīvības iela 76, Riga) is a chain of inexpensive coffee shops with a wide selection of aromatic coffee and delicious desserts. Delicious coffee and cake will cost you 4-6 euros.
Martina Bekeraja(Brivibas iela 80, Riga) - an inexpensive and very cozy cafe in the city center with delicious and very cheap, and at the same time very tasty, coffee and a huge selection of sweets. For coffee and cake you will pay from 2 to 6 euros.

Shopping in Riga: shopping centers, addresses, descriptions

We tell you about the most popular shopping centers Riga, where you can have fun and usefully spend time.

Galerija Centers
Address, website:
Audeju 16, Riga
http://www.galerijacentrs.lv/ru/
A fairly large and very cozy shopping center located in the very heart of Riga. This place is also known for being the oldest shopping gallery in the city, opened back in 1938.
There is everything a buyer needs here: fashionable clothing, footwear and accessories stores, perfume and cosmetics stores, a grocery supermarket, bank branches, information Center, beauty salon, entertainment for children.

Riga Plaza
Address, website:
Mukusalas iela 71, Riga
http://www.rigaplaza.lv/ru/
Clothes, shoes, accessories, sporting goods, bank branches and currency exchange, beauty salon, cafes and restaurants, children's playground and cinema - all this awaits you in this new spacious and stylish shopping center.

Spice and Spice Home
Address, website:
Lielirbes iela 29, Riga
https://www.spice.lv/ru
Two large Spice line shopping centers are located just outside the city. Fashion stores, perfumes and cosmetics, bars, cafes and restaurants, best entertainment for children and adults, a supermarket and parking await you in the largest shopping center in Riga “Spice”.
At Spice Home you will find household goods, household appliances and electronics, furniture and home decoration. Constant discounts and special offers, an atmosphere of constant celebration, a wide selection of goods and stylish design make these shopping centers the most popular among residents and guests of the city.
The shopping center has free covered parking.

Alfa
Address, website:
Brivibas iela 372, Riga
http://www.alfaparks.lv/ru/
One of the largest shopping centers in Riga with a huge selection of goods for every budget and taste. In addition to fashionable European shops, here you will find a grocery hypermarket, farm shops, a cinema, bank branches, beauty salons, numerous cafes and restaurants and a lot of entertainment for children.

Origo
Address, website:
Stacijas laukums 2, Riga
http://www.origo.lv/ru
A large shopping center located in the building of the Central Riga Station. There are not many famous shops here, but nevertheless it is always crowded. This mall is attractive because it houses many inexpensive eateries, canteens and cafes. One of the cafes is located right in the clock tower. In addition, you can have a good time here while waiting for the bus.
Taking into account the proximity of the station - beware of pickpockets.

Some owners of cars with foreign registration numbers have been fined dozens and hundreds of times in Riga for violating parking rules, most of them do not even think about paying the fines issued, the Delfi portal writes, citing representatives of the municipal police.

In total, last year the Riga police issued 3,624 protocols for cars with non-Latvian license plates for violations of parking rules, which is 7.5% of the total number. However, in reality there are much fewer violators than there are protocols.

According to municipal police, they already know many of the violators well by sight, and, although there are no exact statistics, it seems that in Riga there are cars with foreign license plates, the owners of which have been fined 100-250 times. At the same time, the Riga municipal police note that they, unlike the police of other countries, never ignore cars with foreign license plates and in any case issue a fine.

The fine for violating parking rules in Riga is 30-40 euros (55 for parking in a space for disabled people without having the right to do so). According to Delfi calculations, this means that in total “foreigners” had to pay the city last year from 108 to 150 thousand euros. However, the Riga municipal police do not know whether they paid. And they can only rely on the conscience of car owners, because there is no mechanism yet that would force owners of cars with foreign registration numbers to pay fines for improper parking.

The State Police confirmed this to Delfi, but noted that right now they are developing a mechanism that would allow such fines to be “delivered” at the place of registration to everyone, even the owners of “foreign cars.” For several years, there was a similar problem with fines for speeding, which were detected by radar. It was resolved long ago and today the European owner is fined in any case, regardless of the country of registration of his car’s license plates.

In the meantime, the only effective mechanism for “working” with violators with foreign license plates is to evacuate the vehicle. This is possible in three cases:

• If the intruder is standing where it is not allowed and is impeding traffic, he can be evacuated immediately;
• If a fine is issued for illegal parking and eight hours later the car is still parked, it can also be towed;
• If a violator has already been caught once in a parking lot in spaces for the disabled and is caught again within a year, he can be immediately evacuated.

During evacuation, the car is taken to an impound lot, from where it can only be picked up after paying all associated fines and expenses - regardless of which country’s registration numbers are installed on it.

Traveling around different countries Europe, many tourists choose their own or rented car. And this is not surprising. After all, having an “iron horse”, you can reduce the cost of travel, take your family, fellow travelers, and friends with you. And traveling with a pet by car is easier than by plane, train or bus. Not to mention the fact that your own vehicle gives you an incomparable feeling of freedom. You are not dependent on public transport schedules and stop wherever you want. But this one, it would seem, perfect way movement has its own nuances, even if you are an experienced driver. The main problem here is the parking rules. In many European cities, especially ancient ones, they differ and depend on the decisions of local authorities. In this article we will tell you how to choose the right parking in Riga and not pay extra money.

Can I park my car for free?

Latvia, like many other European countries, has very strict rules in this area. Therefore, do not be surprised if you decide to leave the car “just for a second”, jumping out, for example, to the store, and when you return, you find a fine ticket on the windshield. To prevent such troubles from happening to you, you need to follow the parking rules in Riga. The most important thing to pay attention to in advance is the cost of leaving a car, which varies depending on the zone. This system may seem confusing to some, but it is actually quite simple. The closer you want to park to the center, the more it will cost. You cannot leave your car for free near Old Riga at all. But somewhere in residential areas you will have a choice. You can place your car in a paid parking lot, or leave it without any money at all.

Basic Rules

All parking spaces in Riga are marked with the letter “P”. There is also information about the hours and other operating conditions of such parking lots. Most often, street parking is open from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays, and on Saturday from 9 to 5. At other times, municipal parking lots can be used for free. The only exception is parking in the old town. They are almost always paid, regardless of the time of day. Without money, you can leave your car there only from 12 at night to 6 in the morning, and also in holidays. In addition, additional information is located under the main sign. For example, a parking lot may indicate exactly how you should park your car there. Sometimes you can drive onto the side of the road or the indicated place completely, but sometimes you should only stop with one side or two wheels. You shouldn't ignore these rules, even if they seem funny or useless to you. note that local residents they are strictly observed. The fine for violating them is too high, and the extra money would be better spent on museums, restaurants or entertainment.

Zones

All municipal parking lots are divided into five regions. They are also called zones. They are designated by Latin letters. If you see the letter R, then in front of you are parking lots in Old Riga. They are the most expensive. After them in price come parking lots under the letter A. They are located closest to the center. The remaining letters - B, C and D - indicate parking lots that are located farthest from the old city. The most budget-friendly municipal parking lots are marked D. But there are also free parking lots near the center. One of them is located on the right bank. From there it takes no more than five minutes to walk to the old town. However, the chances of leaving the car there are slim. Many Riga residents who work in the center are already busy with their cars early in the morning. You can only be lucky if you are an early bird and park your car there while the city residents are still having breakfast. But on the left bank of the Daugava there are more such parking lots. True, they are quite small. There are also special zones extending to the sea coast - the Vetsaki region.

Types of parking

We have already mentioned that parking lots in the city of Riga are divided into zones. But the cost of parking a car in the capital of Latvia depends not only on proximity to the center. In addition to street parking, there are also guarded parking lots. They are usually located near business centers or offices. Such parking lots are called “Europarks”. The price there is higher than in a regular parking lot. There are also parking spaces in shopping centers. But they are paid only when they are in the center of Riga, and also for a certain time. One of the most popular parking lots is the underground parking lot in the Olympia shopping center, which can accommodate quite a lot of cars. From there, you can walk to the city's attractions in a quarter of an hour, and you can leave your car even for the whole day. There are also private parking lots. There are also small shops with their own parking lots. Some of them are free if you buy something from that establishment.

Old city

In some European capitals, even entry into the center is paid. This is not the case in Riga. But moving by car through the narrow streets of the old city is extremely difficult. There is so little space that two cars may not pass each other at all. Most streets are in the center so you'll have to drive around for a long time to get to Right place. Moreover, there are plenty of pedestrians and all sorts of onlookers everywhere. After all, the capital of Latvia is a tourist place, and travelers walk through it in crowds, looking mainly at the sights, and not at the cars. The prices for parking in Riga in the old town are simply fabulous. It is not for nothing that most tourists on wheels prefer to leave their cars away from the center and come to see the local attractions by bus, and move around the streets on foot. There is also the option of renting a hotel in the old city itself, and parking is usually included in the room price.

Airport

Sometimes tourists prefer to leave their car at the international hub and travel around Riga by public transport. This method has its pros and cons. There are three parking lots at Riga Airport. On one of them - P1 - you can park your car short term. The minimum payment - no more than 30 minutes - is 100 rubles. You will pay 2000 rubles per day. Two more parking lots - P2 and P3 - are long-term. They are approximately the same in price - the first one costs 277 rubles. per calendar day, and the second - 240 rubles. Payment is made in euros. These parking lots are guarded, and if you forget to turn off the headlights and the battery is dead, they will help you start your car. This is a free service.

If you suddenly get caught for violating parking rules, it is unlikely that your car will be picked up by a tow truck. This is not accepted in Riga. Rather, a special blocker will be hung on the wheel - behind or in front - which will prevent your car from moving. There are other ways to keep your car in the parking lot. The cost of the fine is usually two or three times the price of the parking itself. However, if you didn't pay for parking at all, you'll end up shelling out more money than if you were just late. For example, in zone A, parking without payment will cost more than 20 euros. Overdue - at 14. But even if you were not given a blocker, and you just received a receipt for payment on the windshield, do not think that you are lucky. The fine must be paid within 30 days. All violators are included in electronic database data. Information from it is passed on to various authorities, including border guards. And they monitor such things very carefully. So you are unlikely to be able to leave Latvia without paying a fine. In the case when you rented a car, the company will withdraw the sanctioned amount from the credit card you presented, even if you leave for Russia.

Remember that all parking fees in Latvia are charged in euros. Therefore, further we will provide information in this currency, but you can convert the amounts for yourself at the exchange rate (1 euro - 69.44 rubles at the beginning of 2018).

So, if you park closer to the center, in zone A, then you will have to pay 2.5 € for the first hour, and 3 for every next 60 minutes. That is, the longer you leave the car, the more you pay. The most budget parking will cost 1 euro for the first hour and 1.5 for the next. Therefore, experienced tourists are advised to choose guarded parking lots. The price there is fixed, and for a few hours of parking you will pay 3 euros if you leave your car there during working hours. A whole working day in Europarks costs from 8 euros. But it’s more convenient than running to the terminal every hour. And parking in the center of Riga ( Old city) will cost 5 euros for the first hour and 8 for each subsequent one. This was done in order to protect ancient buildings from excess gas pollution. Keep in mind that the center of Riga does not coincide with the concept of “old town”. It's much wider. Although in historical center there are inclusions of zone A. The cost of parking near the sea in the summer is 2 euros for any time.

Payment Methods

The municipal enterprise Rigas Saktisme collects money for parking in Riga. You can pay for his services in two ways. Via mobile communications (SMS) or traditionally, using the terminal located next to the parking lot. In private parking lots, you can pay directly to the guard upon entry if the place is guarded. You can put money into a special machine in front of the barrier. He will give you a receipt indicating the time it is valid for your tariff. This piece of paper should be left under the windshield so that it can be seen that you are in the parking lot legally. How to pay for parking in Riga using a mobile phone? Send an SMS to the number that can be found on the parking machine. The message must contain the following information:

• the word "start" in Latin letters. This means that the time for payment has started;
• your car number;
• area where parking is located.

When you pick up the car, you send a similar SMS to the same number. Just instead of “start” you write “stop”. But you need to take into account that with this payment method, the number must be Latvian.

In connection with the transition to the Euro, some of the machines for paying for municipal parking were converted to payment by credit card. Everything would be fine, but how can we not remember the classic - we wanted the best, it turned out as always.

Editorial site on own experience I had to make sure that the payment procedure is very non-trivial and at some points even complicated.

How to pay for parking in Riga with a credit card?

The file attached at the end of the article describes the payment process, and we strongly recommend downloading and printing it (or taking it with you on your phone - PDF format)

We present the algorithm for paying for parking in Riga step by step, indicating the key features:

1. Insert the card into slot “1” in the diagram. Visa, Maestro, MasterCard are accepted.

2. On terminal “2” an invitation to select a language appears. To select the Russian language, you need to press the number “2” (“1” - Latvian, “3” - English).

3. The language is selected, now we dial the PIN code. So far everything is clear and even logical.

4. The Pin code has been entered, it will take some time to connect to the server, wait patiently.

5. Information about the approval of the transaction appears on the screen of the remote control “2”.

ATTENTION - remove the card from the slot.

6. Now all attention is on remote control "3" with display. Please note that despite the fact that Russian is selected, all information on display “3” is presented in Latvian. We are interested in the word “LAIKS” - “Time” - next to it it is shown until what time the parking payment has been selected.

ATTENTION - the buttons on the remote control “3” are touch sensitive, completely uninformative, you can only understand whether the operation was triggered by the display located above the buttons (the buttons beep quietly when triggered, but if there is busy traffic nearby, you may not hear the signal) that’s just it usability, that is, the convenience of presenting information, is below any criticism. (Who could explain why it was impossible to carry out all the manipulations through the remote control "2"?? All the necessary buttons are there, as is the display, and the buttons on it are much more convenient..).

We try to operate only with the right button (in the top row with the triangle) - it adds several minutes of parking for each press. We look carefully at the display of the remote control “3” - we are interested in the time (remember, indicated by the word LAKS) until which we paid for parking.

After paying for the required time, touch the green button with a circle (located below). The button is again a touchscreen, so it’s not easy to immediately understand whether it worked or not. Therefore, we just wait a few seconds (no need to press the other buttons right away). If everything is in order, then the desired receipt confirming payment should appear in slot 4.

It should be left in a visible place under the windshield of the car.

Let us note once again that for some reason the remote control buttons “3” are made to be touch sensitive, so it is possible to understand whether the operation was only possible on the equally indistinct display. Therefore, take your time, even with known skills, the payment procedure took us about thirty seconds.

However, we are sure that everything will work out for you. Finally, general information about the key points of parking in Riga.

How much does parking cost in Riga?

Street parking in the city center is paid, there are five zones with different tariffs.

Zone tariffs:
zone A* first hour – 1.99 Eur, each next – 2.85 Eur
zone B first hour – 1.42 Eur, each next – 1.2.28 Eur
zone C first hour – 1.14 Eur, each next – 1.71 Eur
zone D first hour – 0.85 Eur, each next – 1.14 Eur
zone R** first hour – 4.27 Eur, each next – 7.11 Eur

The cost of parking a car in Vecaki from January 1, 2014 will be 1.40 euros for the entire period from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

* The cost of zones decreases in alphabetical order (A - more expensive, located closer to the center, and so on).

** Zone R – Old Town only.

When do you not have to pay for parking in paid parking lots in Riga?

Zone R (Old Riga) – parking must always be paid.

For other zones, parking is paid -
On weekdays - from 8:00 to 20:00

On Saturdays - from 9:00 to 17:00

At other times (including Sundays) you do not need to pay for parking