Latvia uses euros. Cards work in most hotels, shops and restaurants, but carry a physical card with its PIN and some cash for smaller places and rural stops. Bolt is the practical first taxi app; at RIX use its marked P1 pickup, an official airport taxi with a displayed tariff, or the terminal's Bolt kiosk or prepaid voucher. Riga transport tickets must be bought before travel and registered immediately after boarding. Mobilly is useful, but its current registration accepts only numbers from the EU, UK, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Ukraine, so other visitors should buy a physical yellow ticket. Use Vivi or its website for trains and check the actual operator for regional buses. If driving, keep right, use front lights and buy the current Jūrmala vehicle entry pass when required. Latvian is the official language. Save essential addresses offline, install 112 Latvija for official alerts and location-aware emergency contact, and call 112 for urgent help.
A short-stay traveler does not need a Latvian banking or payment app.
Latvia uses the euro, and the national tourism authority says debit and credit cards are accepted in most restaurants, shops, banks, fuel stations and hotels. Bring a physical Visa or Mastercard with a known PIN, a second payment method and modest euro cash. Cash remains useful at a small market stall, rural business, onboard purchase or during a terminal outage, and the official tourism guidance recommends withdrawing before leaving cities. American Express acceptance is less predictable, so do not make it the only card.
Revolut and Wise can be useful when the traveler already has an eligible account, but neither is a local arrival requirement. Opening one may involve home-country eligibility, identity checks, fees or card delivery. At a terminal or ATM, choose euros and decline conversion into your home currency unless you have independently compared the quoted rate. Prefer an ATM attached to a recognizable bank or in a secure indoor location, inspect it before use and read the operator fee and amount carefully.
Your own issuer may add foreign exchange, cash advance or withdrawal charges even when the Latvian ATM shows none. Keep the card in sight, cover the PIN and verify the amount before approving. For parking and transport, follow the exact operator's payment instructions rather than assuming ordinary contactless card tapping works everywhere. Mobilly is a transport and parking service, not a general Latvian wallet.
These apps need data
Guac eSIM covers Latvia with plans from $0.58 per GB. Install it before you land and activate instantly.
How to Pay in Latvia