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'''Riga''' is the capital of [[Latvia]] and the biggest city of the [[Baltic states|Baltics]].

=== From [[Kaunas]] (LT), [[Vilnius]] (LT) Lithuania direction to Estonia {{European Route NumberE|67}} === 

The first roundabout as you come towards Riga on the E67 has the road into the city going straight and the road signposted tod Tallinn turning right. If your driver is going into Riga, ask him to leave you here, but do not hitch from this roundabout as there is no room to stop a truck. Just walk down the road one kilometer to the next roundabout, which has plenty of room. From there try getting a lift completely around the city and towards the north of Latvia on the E67, because you may lose a couple of hours if you are dropped off in certain places. For example, at the junction after Salaspils where a driver turning onto the E22 will leave you, there is no room to stop a car, and after the junction cars are driving too fast to even notice you, so you will have to walk 6 or 7 kilometers to the next hitchable point. == Hitchhiking out == === South towards [[Bauska]], [[Kaunas]] (LT), [[Vilnius]] (LT), [[Poland]] (PL) {{E|67}} ===  '''Option 1''' By walking Cross Salu bridge direction out of Riga than turn left on road A7. Place next to Hesburger has extra line for stopping  '''Option 2''' The best option is to take a minibus from the centra bus station (The station is now located [https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=56.94433&mlon=24.11169#map=19/56.94433/24.11169 here]) or from [https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=56.94449&mlon=24.12109#map=19/56.94449/24.12109 another bus stop a bit more in the city center]. Platform for this bus is 14. The bus is 6844) to the village of Ķekava (about 20kms south-east of Riga). It costs €1.10 and you can check [http://rtp.lv/pdf/6844.pdf here] for the timetable. The minibus goes as far as Dārznieku iela junction along the A7 before doubling back and going into Ķekava. So, when the minibus does a U-turn on the highway, get off at that bus-stop (it's called ''Ķekava'') on the opposite side of the road from which the minibus came from! From there, you've got about a 2km walk south along the highway A7 to the hitching point 100m past the large roundabout. You can try to hitch as you walk. It is worth the trouble and expense to get here as you will cut out all the local traffic and there will be a lot of long distance traffic at a slow enough speed to safely pull over onto the side road just 100m after the roundabout exit.  '''Option 3''' When you are around central bus station in Riga, you can find a bus stop called 13.janvara iela (It is opposite the Stockman center) where you can take bus 23 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/index.html#bus/23/a-b/map/en see route]) towards Baloži or bus 26 towards Katlakalns. Get out at stop called Pagrieziens uz Baloziem. There is a nice bus stop and a traffic light just before, so the traffic is pretty slow.   '''Option 4''' Take tram 10 and get off at Ziepniekalna iela. There is the very beginning of the road you would get to with the option above. A bit hidden behind a lot of trees there is a petrol station and next to it a bus stop. Better hitch from the bus stop, as the petrol station serves mostly local customers.After you have got ar ride the best thing to do, if you are going to Poland, is get out at roundabout just after Kekava (even if the car can take you to Iecava or Bauska). There you will see a lot of traffic going straight to Poland or even further. Just make sure you have a sign.  '''Option 5''' From airport If you are next to RIX airport, try asking drivers of cars with Lithuanian number plates LT.

== Hitching out =South towards [[Jelgava]], [[Siauliai|Šiauliai]] (LT) {{E|77}} =<map lat='56.95' lng='24.1' zoom='10' view='0' country='Latvia' float='right'/>

=== South towards From just opposite Central station take trolleybus #27 ([[Bauska]http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/index.html#trol/27/a-b/1028/map/en see route)]towards Ziepniekkalna D/P, [[Kaunas]] (LT), [[Vilnius]] (LT) {{European Route Number|67}} ===get out at the Mežkalna iela and walk back on the road to Jelgava. Best place to hitchike will be somewhere after Rimi Aleja supermarket. City ends there

If you want to get === North towards the south[[Pärnu]] or [[Tallinn]] ([[Estonia]]) {{E|67}}, get out of the city center first. There are several possibilities:North East towards [[Cēsis]], [[Valmiera]] {{E|77}} ===

* From RIX airport, try asking drivers of cars with Lithuanian number plates Take tram #6 or #3 from the city centre ("LT").* When you are around central bus station in Rigafor example, you can find from a bus stop called ''13.janvāra Merķeļa iela'' (It is opposite ) to the Stockman center) where final stop called ''Jugla'' - there you can take bus #23 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/?will find a=p.routes&transport_id=bus&t=xhtml&l=en#2800 road to the north, you will see route]) towards Baloži or bus #26 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/?a=p.routes&transport_id=bus&t=xhtml&l=en#2801 see route]) towards Katlakalns. Get out at stop called "Pagrieziens uz Baložiem". There is petrol station, traffic lights, a nice bus stop (and a traffic light just before, so the traffic is pretty slow. After McD's in case you have got ar ride the best thing want to do, if you are going go to Poland, is the toilet). To get out at roundabout just after Ķekava. Even if to the car can take hitchhiking spot you will have to Iecava or Bauskawalk around 1km North East. There you You will see a spot with a lot of traffic going straight space for a car to Poland or even furtherstop. Just make sure And most probably some other hitchhikers, so you have a sign.* From the central bus station, take a minibus to won''Kekava''; from there find the main road '''E67/A7''' in the direction of Bauska. Just find a good spot - and good luckt miss it!

=== South towards [[Jelgava]], Better option is to take bus #1 ([[Šiauliaihttp://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/index.html#bus/1/a-b/7749b/map/en see route]] (LT) {{European Route Number|77}} ===towards "Berģuciems" and get out at stop "Brīvdabas muzejs" which is first stop after you see lake on the right side. Walk few steps back and you'll be exactly at the same spot as mentioned above.

From just opposite Central station take trolleybus #27 Beware that most of the traffic is going North East so it might happen that you wait some hours ([http://sarakstimight happen.rigassatiksme.lv/?. road there has 3 lanes) to get a=p3km ride to the right road if you are going north.routes&transport_id=trolleybus&t=xhtml&l=en#2877_13_56So it's up to you to decide.92674_24.10074 see route)] towards Ābolu iela, get out Maybe a better option is to walk those few km already after you arrive at the last spot. You can also take bus #1 one stop further than mentioned above (Till stop "Berģi") and there you arewon't have to walk that much. Almost out of the city After you're on the road to JelgavaEstonia walk up to a bus stop (there is one about half a kilometer after the bridge - ''Baltezera sanatorija''). There is also a small restaurant next to the bus stop.

Better option is to take bus #1 ([httpOther options://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/?a=p.routes&transport_id=bus&t=xhtml&l=en#2883_12_56.97281_24.21277 see route]) towards "Pansionāts" and get out at stop "Brīvdabas muzejs" which is first stop after you see lake on the right side. Walk few steps back and you'll be exactly at the same spot as mentioned above.

Beware that most of You can also take regional bus to Baltezers. Those are buses 6821, 6822, 6824. From the traffic is going North East so it might happen that centre, you wait some hours can catch them from the following bus stops: ''Pie Starptautiskās autoostas (International bus station), Merķeļa iela, Brīvības bulvāris (might happenMerķeļa iela), and Matīsa iela''. There are no signs mentioning those buses, so just a keep an eye out for them and flag them down.Price of this bus is 1. road there has 3 lanes) 10 euros to Baltezers - get a 3km ride to off at the bus stop ''Baltezera sanatorija'', which is just after the right road if E67/E77 (A1/A2) intersection. If you are going Norththis is the best option since this allows you to avoid all the struggle mentioned above and get directly on the right way. So itAnd this is also cheaper then using Riga public transport network.You can check this bus operator's up to you to decidewebsite [http://www. Maybe better option is to walk those few km already after you arrive at the spotekspressadazi. To hitchhike on normal, single lane roadlv here].

You can take the tram #3=== Southeast towards [[Daugavpils]], #7 or #9 to the end ''Dole''. Cross the street and find a bus stop near a parking space. Hitchhike from the parking space or if its full[[Rēzekne]], stand before the bus stop. The problem with this spot might be that it is still in the city so a lot of traffic is local.[[Russia]], [[Belarus]] {{E|22}} ===

You can take the tram #3, #7 or #9 to the end stop ''Dole''. Cross the street and find a bus stop near a parking place. Hitchhike from the parking place or, if it's full, stand before the bus stop. The problem with this spot might be that it is still in the city so a lot of traffic is local. Better option is to take bus #18 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/?a=pindex.routes&transport_id=html#bus&t=xhtml&l=/18/a-b/7749b/map/en#2887_12_56.90372_24.20855 see route]) towards "Dārziņi" and get out at stop ''Pagrieziens uz Darziniem''. You'll be at ''Maskavas Iela'' near traffic lights where cars drive slowly and you can easily get a rideat that bus stop. You should aim to get to Koknese because that's the place where two highways meet ant become one, in Koknese there is a wide roundabout with great visibility. If you're going to Russia and have been dropped near the border, you can cross it on foot without any problems. After the border the road is not busy and most of traffic is local, but if you spend some time you can catch cars going far away. Consider using a big sign.

From city center centre (for example "13. janvāra iela" which is the big bus stop opposite Stockman centercentre and the train station) take bus #4 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/?a=pindex.routes&transport_id=html#bus&t=xhtml&l=/4/a-b/7749b/map/en#2905_12_56.94757_24.02026 see route]) or bus #32 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/?a=pindex.routes&transport_id=html#bus&t=xhtml&l=/32/a-b/7749b/map/en#2802_12_56.94163_24.02040 see route]) towards "Pinķi" and get out at stop "Pagrieziens uz Pinķiem". You can start hitchhiking already there, because all the traffic that goes to [[Liepāja]] will pass here, but the road is big and fast so it might be better to you may just walk 3km south back to get on the exact main road , there are traffic lights so cars have to Liepāja. Away from Riga ring road. Cars there really slow down , and you can get a ride pretty quickjust after the traffic lights there is plenty of space for cars to pull over.

Bus #43 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/index.html#bus/43/a-b/7749b/map/en see route]) towards Skulte from the same "13. janvāra iela" stop and get out at stop "Beberbeķi" (Don't get confused with stop "Beberbeķu iela", there are still 3 stops to go). There you just walk few hundred meters down the road and here you are!  === Northwest towards [[Ventspils]], [[Talsi]], [[Tukums]] ===

== Language ==''Darba diena'' means weekdayIn the same point as mentioned above, you can get little cheaper by using train. Go to train station, ''Sestdiena'' means Saturday buy ticket (~1 euro) till Priedaine (and ''Svētdiena'' means Sundaytake train going towards Sloka, Tukums or Dubulti)."sveiki" Get out in Priedaine station which looks kinda deserted and walk ~150m as railroad stays on your left and then turn left -> hicross the railroad and walk through forest (there is good asphalted bicycle path and road going)for about 1km. On crosroads turn right and there you'll see road going under bridge, "paldies" -> thank go through and there is ideal spot for you. This way you, "lūdzu" can get from Riga centre to hitchhiking point in 20-> please30 minutes == Hitching by ferry ==

You can check [[Eastern Europe phrasebook]] Getting onto the ferries for more words to catchfree is not possible. Both cars and trucks pay per person.

In Riga you can get around by bus, tram and trolleybus. There are a lot of controls, so better buy a ticket! If you dare to blackride, your best bet is to empty your wallet. If there are no police around, inspectors are likely to just let you go if you can't pay. Ticket costs 0Besides, in summer time there are controls at random points between the stops which you can hardly avoid.50ls (0During winter however, ticket inspectors are waiting only at stops and usually are easy to spot, so if you are careful you can avoid them by just leaving when they enter.70euro)  Tickets cost 1,15 EUR if you don't buy it from driver. If you buy it from the driver it's 0.70ls (1euro)2 EUR. You can buy ticket tickets at Narvesen, PlusPunkts ticket vending machines, supermarkets "Rimi", "Maxima" and some other places.