Riga airport transfer 2026: Bus 22 vs Bolt vs private — which to choose
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The single most important practical question
How you get from Riga International Airport (RIX) to the city centre is the first transport decision of your trip — and the one where visitors most often either overpay or end up in an unlicensed taxi. This guide covers all the legitimate options with current 2026 prices and honest recommendations for different situations.
The airport is 14 kilometres from the Old Town. That’s not far, but it’s far enough that the difference between a €1.50 bus and a €35 tourist taxi matters.
| Distance | 14km, airport to Old Town |
| Cheapest option | Bus 22, around €1.15-1.50 |
| Fastest predictable option | Pre-booked private transfer, ~25-30 min |
| Journey time | 20-35 minutes depending on option and traffic |
| Avoid | Unmetered street taxis at arrivals |
For the fuller step-by-step version of this route, including terminal maps and where each option’s pickup point actually is, see getting from RIX airport to Riga city.
Option 1: Bus 22 — the default recommendation
Cost: €1.15-1.50 per person each way (contactless card or cash) Journey time: 25-35 minutes (depending on traffic) Frequency: Every 10-15 minutes during the day, every 20-30 minutes at night Operating hours: Approximately 05:30-23:30 (last bus from airport around 23:30)
Bus 22 departs from directly outside the arrivals hall — turn right as you exit, follow the bus signs. You’ll find it. The bus stops at several points along the route including the Central Station (Centrālā stacija), which is the main interchange point.
How to pay on Bus 22 in 2026: The simplest method is to tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard on the validator as you board. Apple Pay and Google Pay work on most validators. Cash is accepted (€1.50, driver will change small notes). No pre-purchased ticket required.
What it’s like: It’s a city bus. It’s clean, functional, and runs on time. The seats are normal. During rush hours (7-9am, 5-7pm) it can be full. With a large rolling suitcase you’ll be standing if the bus is busy. Fellow passengers are regular Riga commuters.
When Bus 22 is the right choice:
- Travelling solo or as a couple with manageable luggage
- Arrival during normal hours (not late night)
- Not in a hurry
- Want the cheapest possible option
Option 2: Bolt — the flexible middle ground
Cost: €9-15 per person/trip (price shown in app before you confirm) Journey time: 20-30 minutes (faster at off-peak times, similar to bus at rush hour) Availability: Excellent during day and evening, slightly reduced at 2-4am Surge pricing: Yes, during bad weather and peak demand
Download the Bolt app before arrival and link a payment card. When you land, open the app, set destination, and a driver will arrive within 5-10 minutes at the designated pickup zone outside arrivals.
Important: Bolt’s pickup point at RIX is the marked ride-share zone, slightly separate from the main taxi rank. The app shows you the exact location and the driver’s plate number.
When Bolt is the right choice:
- Travelling with significant luggage
- Group of 3-4 people (per-person cost drops to €3-4)
- Late night arrival (after Bus 22 stops)
- Prefer door-to-hotel experience
- Specific hotel address not easily reached by Bus 22 on foot
At roughly €10 per trip for a group of 2, the cost-per-person is barely more than the bus and the convenience is meaningfully better. For groups of 3-4, Bolt is better value than individual bus fares.
Option 3: Pre-booked private transfer
Cost: €28-35 per trip (fixed price, regardless of passengers up to the vehicle limit) Journey time: 25-30 minutes Includes: Meet and greet in arrivals hall (driver holds a sign), name-confirmed booking, luggage assistance, no app required
The private RIX airport transfer is booked in advance online, confirmed before you travel, and eliminates any day-of uncertainty. The driver is in the arrivals hall before you exit.
For the return journey, the private transfer from Riga city to RIX offers the same fixed-price model and eliminates the stress of timing a Bolt for an early morning flight.
When a private transfer makes sense:
- First trip to Riga, want zero stress
- Very early or very late flights outside Bus 22 hours
- Business travel (receipt/invoice needed)
- Group with lots of luggage
- Travelling with elderly family members or young children
- You simply prefer the predictability
The price difference between Bolt (€10-15) and private transfer (€28-32) is about €15-20. Whether that’s worth it depends on your situation and comfort level with apps.
Option 4: Street taxis — do not use
This is the option to avoid. Street taxis at RIX — the ones with drivers standing near the exit holding phones or offering rides — are frequently unlicensed, operate without meters, and charge €30-50 for a journey that should cost €15. This is a well-documented tourist trap at Riga Airport and has been for years. The honest guide to taxis in Riga covers this in detail.
If someone approaches you in arrivals offering a taxi, decline. All legitimate options involve either the Bus 22 stop (signed from arrivals), the Bolt pickup zone, or a pre-booked driver holding a sign with your name.
Option 5: Rental car from the airport
Several rental companies operate at RIX (Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt). If you’re planning day trips by car or a wider Latvian road trip, this makes sense. For a city-only stay, we’d recommend against it: Riga’s Old Town area has limited parking and the streets were not designed for modern traffic patterns. The car rental guide for Riga gives honest advice on when a car adds value.
The decision matrix
| Your situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Solo, daytime, light luggage | Bus 22 |
| Couple, normal luggage | Bus 22 or Bolt |
| Group of 3-4 | Bolt (cost splits well) |
| Late night after 23:30 | Bolt or pre-booked private |
| Very early departure | Pre-booked private |
| Lots of luggage | Bolt or private |
| Zero stress, first visit | Private transfer |
| Business travel | Private transfer |
Current prices (April 2026)
| Option | Cost per trip | Per person (2 pax) | Per person (4 pax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 22 | €1.15-1.50/person | €1.50 | €1.50 |
| Bolt | €9-15 | €5-8 | €3-4 |
| Private transfer | €28-32 | €14-16 | €7-8 |
| Street taxi (avoid) | €30-50 | — | — |
The return journey
For returning to the airport, the same logic applies. Bus 22 runs from Central Station and stops at several city-centre points en route to the airport. Check the Rīgas Satiksme app for the exact departure time from your nearest stop. For a 6am flight, if Bus 22’s first airport service is at 5:30am from Central Station, it’s tight — the private transfer is a better choice for very early departures.
For groups: the maths
With a group, the per-person calculus shifts significantly:
| Option | Solo | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 22 | €1.50 | €3.00 | €4.50 | €6.00 |
| Bolt | €12 | €6 each | €4 each | €3 each |
| Private transfer | €30 | €15 each | €10 each | €7.50 each |
At 4 people, the price gap between Bus 22 and Bolt narrows to €3 per person. Add the convenience factor and Bolt becomes the obvious choice for groups. The private transfer at 4 people (€7.50 per person) is barely more expensive than Bolt.
The transit area at RIX
Riga Airport is compact. The arrivals hall exits to a short terminal forecourt where you’ll find:
- The Bus 22 stop: to the right as you exit, clearly signed “Autobus 22”
- Taxi rank: straight ahead, dominated by the unofficial touts
- Bolt pickup zone: signed, slightly further from the main exit
- Pre-booked transfer meetup area: inside the arrivals hall, in the meeting area by the exit
If you’re arriving and feel disoriented, look for the Bus 22 sign first — it’s the most prominent public transport signage — and make your decision from there.
Outbound: getting back to the airport
For departing flights, the same logic applies in reverse. Bus 22 departs from Central Station (Centrālā stacija) and several intermediate stops including the main tram corridor. Check the schedule via the Rīgas Satiksme app or Google Maps for your departure time — the last bus from the city to the airport is around 23:30.
For early morning departures (6am flights need arrival by ~4:30am), Bus 22’s first service from Central Station is around 5:30am — potentially too late. In this case, Bolt or a pre-booked departure transfer is the right tool.
The private transfer from Riga to RIX can be booked for any departure time, including 4am pickups, at a fixed price.
Where this leaves us now
April 2026: nothing has changed structurally from the previous year. Bus 22 remains the sensible default for most visitors. The Bolt pickup zone at RIX is well-signposted. The private transfer market has several reliable operators at consistent prices. Street taxi touts remain present and remain worth ignoring.
Once you’re in the city
Getting from the airport is only the first leg. Once you’re in central Riga, the same logic largely repeats: Bolt in Riga and the Baltics covers using the app for city trips and day-trip transfers, and the public transport tickets and rules guide explains how the same contactless-tap system that works on Bus 22 also covers every tram and trolleybus in the city, so there’s no separate ticket to learn.
Frequently asked questions about Riga
Does Bus 22 run all night? No — service runs roughly 05:30 to 23:30. For arrivals or departures outside that window, Bolt or a pre-booked private transfer are the only realistic options.
Can you pay for Bus 22 with a foreign contactless card? Yes. Any contactless Visa or Mastercard works on the validator, along with Apple Pay and Google Pay on most machines — no Latvian SIM or local card required.
Is it worth booking a private transfer just for the meet-and-greet, even if the price gap bothers you? For a first trip to an unfamiliar city, arriving after a long flight, having someone holding a sign with your name removes a genuine source of stress for a relatively small premium over Bolt. It’s less about the €15-20 difference and more about not having to think at all on landing — worth it for some travellers, unnecessary for others who are comfortable navigating apps.