Riga – Saif’s New Job, My Content and an Underrated City
When @saif-ul-wahab got the news about his job offer in Riga, we were super excited but honestly, a bit curious too. What would Riga be like? Latvia is one of those corners of Europe where not a lot of people go and even fewer content creators. For me? It was the perfect excuse to travel and create content. As a content creator, new places are everything and underrated cities like Riga are even better.
Flying from Stockholm to Riga – AirBaltic Experience
We started our journey from Stockholm with AirBaltic.
The flight was short and pretty smooth. Even though it’s a budget airline, the seats were comfy and the staff was nice. Just a heads-up: their check-in rules are strict. If you check in at the airport, they’ll charge you extra. So make sure to check in online.
[//]:# (!worldmappin 56.92050 lat 23.97929 long Riga airport d3scr) Our trip started with good vibes. Apart from us, there was a group of girls on their friend’s last single trip before her wedding. The bride-to-be, dressed in white, turned the whole flight into a mini party doing seatbelt demos, serving coffee and making everyone laugh. Even the real crew were having fun!
Our Riga Airport Adventure – Getting Lost Before Even Entering the City!
When we landed at Riga Airport, instead of heading towards the exit, we accidentally followed the signs for "Transfers" and ended up in the immigration line for connecting flights!
The immigration officer checked our passports and then asked for our boarding passes. I was confused why was he asking for boarding passes when we were supposed to exit?
He looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t. And before we realized, we had already crossed immigration... and found ourselves on the other side where people were waiting at boarding gates for their next flights.
That's when I spotted one of the staff members from our Stockholm flight. I went up to him and asked, "Where's the exit?"
He gave me a weird look and said, "You want to roam around Riga?"
(Haha he probably thought we had changed our minds last minute and decided to leave the airport!)
I explained that maybe we had taken the wrong way. Thankfully, he understood and with the help of airport staff, we were taken down to the basement and led to another immigration counter.
After clearing the immigration, we finally exited. But the next drama was waiting for us – where was our luggage?
There was no information about our flight on the baggage belts.
So I went straight to the Lost and Found counter and asked where we could find our bags.
The lady at the counter looked at me like I had come from another planet.
She asked, "How did you even get here?"
I said, "We came from Stockholm!" (laughing a little).
She said, "That’s impossible. Only Schengen flights passengers are supposed to come here."
She came out from behind the counter and asked if we had entered the city already.
I pointed back towards the doors and said, "No, we crossed immigration from inside." (Hahaha)
Luckily, she was super helpful and spoke good English. She explained that we had ended up in the wrong area – we should have exited through Section E, but instead, we had landed in Section C.
She told us we'd need to go outside, call AirBaltic and ask them to open the doors for us so we could get back inside and pick up our luggage.
I asked if she could come with us and thankfully she agreed.
We finally entered the E section from outside – Saif was waiting to pick us up.
He was so confused when he saw us coming from outside instead of the normal arrival exit!
When we told him the whole story, he couldn’t stop laughing.
Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how smart you are or how much you’ve traveled – silly mistakes can happen to anyone!
Arriving in Riga – Taxi, Bolt or Public Transport?
The moment you step out of the airport, the first thing you need to figure out is transport.
Private taxi drivers come running to you, but we wanted to explore the real city life – so we chose public transport.
Riga’s tram and bus system feels super old-school – some trams literally look like they’re from Soviet times. But honestly, that’s part of the charm.
The ticket system is modern but can be a bit confusing in the beginning.
Tickets – Don’t Make a Mistake
Here’s the deal: you must buy a ticket or tap your card.
If you don’t and an inspector catches you, you could get fined €15 to €30. And trust me, inspectors can pop up anywhere, anytime. So it’s better to be safe and get your ticket sorted.
Accessibility – Not All Trams Are Easy
One thing we noticed: old trams are not great if you have a stroller or a wheelchair. The newer ones are better but overall, Riga’s transport isn’t very accessible yet.
From Airport to Youthment Hostel – Bus 22 Ride
Instead of taking a taxi or Bolt, we hopped on Bus 22, which goes straight from the airport to the city center.
It wasn’t just cheap – it felt like a real local experience.
Bus 22 is basically the lifeline between the airport and the city. If you're on a budget trip, it's the best option.
Tickets and Prices – What’s Cheap, What’s Not
Public transport in Latvia is easy once you figure it out, but the fine system is no joke.
| Ticket Type | Price | Valif for |
|---|---|---|
| Single ride (via app or machine) | €1.50 | 90 minutes |
| 24-hour ticket | €5.00 | Unlimited rides |
| 3-day ticket | €8.00 | Unlimited rides |
| 5-day ticket | €10.00 | Unlimited rides |
| 1-month ticket | €30.00 | Perfect for long stays |
Pro tips:
Download the RigaSatiksme app or buy your ticket at any Narvesen kiosk.
Buying onboard costs more and if you don’t tap your card or ticket – you risk getting fined.
Accessibility & Experience
Bus 22 was modern, ramps and digital screens and all.
But once we switched to the tram, it felt like going back in time. One thing we noticed: older trams are not very friendly for wheelchairs or strollers. The newer ones are slightly better, but overall, Riga’s transport system still lags behind in terms of accessibility.
Riga’s Streets – Full of Stories and Flags
One thing we noticed all around Riga was the Ukrainian flag flown alongside the Latvian flag at cafes, tram stops, shops even official buildings.
It was everywhere.
For some, it might feel like a powerful statement of solidarity.
But honestly, I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. It made me think why is it everywhere? What message is being sent?
Whether you agree with it or not, it definitely adds a strong emotional layer to the city’s atmosphere.
That’s it for today’s chapter. See you soon in the next post straight from the heart of Riga.