Money at Riga International (RIX)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Riga, Latvia.
Riga uses the EUR (€). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly EUR 2 (bus) / EUR 10–15 (Bolt). Card widely accepted; cash still works.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Riga International (RIX)?
Latvia uses the EUR (€). Airport ATMs dispense EUR directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from RIX to the city cost?
Expected fare on the RIX → Old Town route is roughly EUR 2 (bus) / EUR 10–15 (Bolt). Around EUR 30+ is already high, and EUR 50 taxi rank quote is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at RIX?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in Latvia don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at RIX?
Card widely accepted; cash still works. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of EUR notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at RIX?
Only if you need $10–20 of EUR to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.