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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''' Take a minibus from the Central Bus Station. Platform for this bus is 14. The bus is 6844 to the village of Ķekava about 20kms south-east out of Riga. When the minibus does a u-turn off the highway '''get off''' at that bus-stop called Ķekava on the opposite side of the road from which the minibus came from! From there, you've got about a 2 km walk south along the highway A7 to the hitching point 100 m 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 100 m 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''' From airport If you are next to RIX airport, try asking drivers of cars with Lithuanian number plates LT. === South towards [[Jelgava]], [[Siauliai|Šiauliai]] (LT) {{E|77}} === From just opposite Central station take trolleybus #27 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/index.html#trol/27/a-b/1028/map/en see route)] towards Ziepniekkalna D/P, 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 === North towards [[Pärnu]] or [[Tallinn]] ([[Estonia]]) {{E|67}} Cēsis, [[Valmiera]] {{E|77}}=== '''Option 1''' Take tram #6 or #3 from the city centre (for example, from a stop called Merķeļa iela) to the final stop called Jugla - there you will find a road to the north, you will see a petrol station, traffic lights, a bus stop (and McD's in case you want to go to the toilet). To get to the hitchhiking spot you will have to walk around 1 km North East next to lake. You will see a spot with a lot of space for a car to stop. And most probably some other hitchhikers, so you won't miss it!  '''Option 2''' Better option is to take bus #1 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.  Beware that most of the traffic is going North East so it might happen that you wait some time to get a 3 km ride to the right road if you are going north. So it's up to you to decide. Maybe a better option is to walk those few km already after you arrive at the spot. You can also take bus #1 one stop further than mentioned above (Till stop Berģi) and you won't have to walk that much. After you're on the road to Estonia walk up to a bus stops on Option 3

If you want to get towards the south, get out Out of the city center firstfor Parnu, Tallin. Take regional bus to Baltezers. Catch a bus Riga - Adazi from Central Bus Station till final stop Adazi and walk to E67/A1 highway. Price is 1. There are several possibilities:15 euros

=== South towards [[Jelgava]]Out of city for Cesis, [[Šiauliai]] (LT) {{European Route Number|77}} ===Valmiera. Catch a bus Riga - Vangazi nr 6826 from bus stop Merķeļa Iela till Langstiņu Pagrieziens and you are on perfect place on E77 highway. Price is 1.15 euros

From just opposite Central station take trolleybus #27 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/?a=p.frameset&direction_id=17294&stop_id=15487&tSoutheast towards [[Daugavpils]], [[Rēzekne]], [[Russia]], [[Belarus]] {{E|22}} ==xhtml&l=en see route)] towards Ābolu iela, get out at the last stop and you are on the road.

=== North towards [[Pärnu]] or [[Tallinn]] ([[Estonia]]) {{European Route Number|67}}, North East towards [[Cēsis]]You can take the tram #3, [[Valmiera]] {{European Route Number|77}} ===Take a tram #1 7 or #3 from 9 to the city center (for example, from a end stop called ''Merķeļa ielaDole'') to . Cross the final street and find a bus stop called ''Jugla'' - there you will find near a road to parking place. Hitchhike from the northparking place or, you will see there a petrol stationif it's full, traffic lights, a stand before the bus stop (and "McDonald's" . The problem with this spot might be that it is still in case you want" to go to the toilet). To get to the hitchhiking spot you will have to walk around 2km North East. You will see a spot with city so a lot of space for a car to stoptraffic is local. And most probably some other hitchhikers, so you won't miss it!

Better option is to take bus #1 18 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/?a=pindex.routes&transport_id=html#bus&t=xhtml&l=/18/a-b/7749b/map/en#2720 see route]) towards "PansionātsDārziņi" and get out at stop "Brīvdabas muzejs" which is first stop after you see lake on the right side''Pagrieziens uz Darziniem''. Walk few steps back and youYou'll be exactly at the same spot as mentioned above''Maskavas Iela'' near traffic lights where cars drive slowly and you can easily get a ride at that bus stop.

Beware that most of the traffic is going North East so it might happen that you wait some hours (might happen... road there has 3 lanes) You should aim to get a 3km ride to the right road if you are going North. So itKoknese because that's up to you to decide. Maybe better option is to walk those few km already after you arrive at the spot. To hitchhike on normalplace where two highways meet ant become one, single lane roadin Koknese there is a wide roundabout with great visibility.

=== South East towards [[Daugavpils]], [[Rēzekne]], [[If you're going to Russia]]and have been dropped near the border, [[Belarus]] {{European Route Number|22}} ===You you can take the tram #3, #7 or #9 to the end ''Dole''cross it on foot without any problems. Cross After the street and find a bus stop near parking place. HH from border the parking place or if its full, stand before bus stop. Problem for this spot might be that it road is still in the city so a lot 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.

Better option is to take bus #18 (=== Southwest towards [[http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/?aLiepāja]] =p.routes&transport_id=bus&t=xhtml&l=en#2699_12_56.90366_24.20863 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 easily get a ride.

=== South West From city centre (for example "13. janvāra iela" which is the big bus stop opposite Stockman centre and the train station) take bus #4 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/index.html#bus/4/a-b/7749b/map/en see route]) or bus #32 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/index.html#bus/32/a-b/7749b/map/en 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 you may just walk back to the main road, there are traffic lights so cars have to slow down, and just after the traffic lights there is plenty of space for cars to pull over.

Or if you don't feel like walking you can take bus Bus #43 ([http://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/?a=pindex.routes&transport_id=html#bus&t=xhtml&l=/43/a-b/7749b/map/en#2803 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!

You can try to get to the same bus stop (Pagrieziens uz Pinķiem) as mentioned above. Only from there walk back North=== Northwest towards Ventspils, get on the big road and try to hitch. Make sure you have a good sign thereTalsi, because most of the traffic is going only to [[Jūrmala]].Tukums ===

BetterYou can try to get to the same bus stop Pagrieziens Uz Pinķiem as mentioned above. Only from there walk back North, but more expensive (1get on the big road and try to hitch.10lsMake sure you have a good sign there, thats around 1.60 euro) option might be because most of the traffic is going only to take minibus from city center towards [[Jūrmala]]. Stop is near central station  In the same point as mentioned above, just ask for the big minibus station if you can't find itget little cheaper by using train. Beware that probably the minibus won't say JūrmalaGo to train station, but Jaunķemeribuy ticket (~1 euro) till Priedaine (and take train going towards Sloka, Tukums or Dubulti or Sloka). These are districts of Jūrmala. Go till péage, whitch Get out in Priedaine station which looks kinda deserted and walk ~150m as railroad stays on your left and then turn left - cross the railroad and walk through forest (there is just before Jūrmalagood asphalted bicycle path and road going)for about 1km. You have to go left On crosroads turn right and thereyou'll see road going under bridge, but go right through and go under bridge to get on the roadthere is ideal spot for you. There This way you will find a place can get from Riga centre to lift your thumb.hitchhiking point in 20-30 minutes == Language Hitching by ferry ==''Darba diena'' means weekday, ''Sestdiena'' means Saturday Getting onto the ferries for free is not possible. Both cars and ''Svētdiena'' means Sundaytrucks pay per person.

In Riga you can get around by bus, tram and troleybustrolleybus. 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 is are no police around they , 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 at store. You can get it at Narvessen, PlusPunkts and few other placesfrom driver. If you buy it from the driver it will be 0's 2 EUR.70ls (1euro)You can buy tickets at Narvesen, ticket vending machines, supermarkets "Rimi", "Maxima" and other places.