Riga: Fast Facts

Emergency

• 112

Health

• Tap water is safe to drink
• Apteka = pharmacy

Language

• Latvian

• Most are fluent in Russian
• German is a common second language
• Some English is spoken

Electricity

• 220 volts
• 2 round prong

Money

• Euro​
• Many credit cards are accepted

Dining

• Lunch is the main meal
• Menus often come with German or Russian translations
• Cafes are more affordable but usually only accept cash

Food & Beverages

• Beer = Aldaris, Cesis
• Black Basalm liquor
• Caraway cheese
• Caviar (red)
• Cepelinai or zeppelins = meat stuffed potatoe dumplings in sour cream, onion, and bacon sauce
• Kartupeju pankukas = potato pancakes
• Kefir - fermented milk
• Kvas = soft drink, mildly alcoholic 1%, made from rye bread flavored with fruit or herbs,
• Pannkoogid = pancakes served with berry sauce
• Pelezkie zirni = grey peas with bacon
• Piragi = small leavened pastry with bacon or cabbage filling
• Putra = pork fat with meat or smoked fish
• Ruguspiens = curdled milk
• Sparkling wine = Rigas Sampanietis

Shopping

• Many shops close on Sunday

Value Addded Tax

• 21%
• Minimum purchase of 44 euro

Souvenirs

• Amber
• Black basalm liquor
• Emihls gustavs chocolate
• Knitwear
• Laima chocolate
• Linens
• Woodwork

Safety

• Car theft is a common problem
• Pickpockets
• Avoid using ATMs in quiet spots at night
• Avoid using the tunnels around the Central Station at night, use the traffic light crossings instead​

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