Sleeping in Airports

Riga Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Riga Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

Of the many airports I have slept at overnight, this one rates as the best. -Andrew

RIX Airport Overview

To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Riga International Airport.

What to Expect

Housed in a single terminal, Riga Airport (code: RIX) handles European and international traffic from four concourses. You’ll find a variety of shops and eateries, though none are open 24 hours. WiFi is free and power outlets seem plentiful. Economy class passengers can pay to enter two airport lounges, one of which has showers. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.

Sleeping in Riga Airport

Overnight sleepers have no problem staying here. Benches are plentiful on the landside and couches are common on the airside. Couches are also available in retail areas, like at Sweet Delights Cafe or the Pascucci Cafe in Arrivals Sector C. Bring a sleeping bag if you’d prefer to cozy up on the floor. Travellers do mention cold temps and occasional announcements, but nothing that warm clothes and noise-cancelling headphones can’t combat. For uninterrupted sleep, nearby hotels offer shuttle service for a fee. See the Airport Hotels section below for locations or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.  For more airport information continue scrolling down to explore more in our Riga Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.  For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.

airport loungeAirport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and to also find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!

Related Pages: Riga Airport Lounges

airport hotelsAirport Hotels

If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Riga Airport:

  • Sky High Hotel – Two minute walk to the terminal. No airport shuttle.  » Check Rates
  • Hampton by Hilton Riga Airport – No airport shuttle.  » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels in Riga, search deals and read traveller reviews.

wifiAirport WiFi/Internet

Free WiFi is available at the Riga Airport for an unlimited amount of time. Connect to the “RIX-Free-WiFi” network. After surfing for 15 minutes you will be required to watch an advertisement in order to continue. We hear the WiFi is fast enough to stream movies or make video calls!

Additionally, computer stations with internet access are available in Coffee Nation, located Airside.

airport infoMore Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport

Airport Tours – Find out what happens at the airport during a behind-the-scenes airport tour. Tour needs to be pre-booked. Tour Duration: 1 hour. Location: Welcome to Riga office, 1st Floor, Arrivals Area E.

Beauty Salon – Wood Religion Barber Shop. Location: Departures section, 2nd Floor. Hours: Unknown.

Currency Exchange – Eurex offers foreign exchange services in the passenger zone at arrivals and departures of sector “E” and “C”. Hours: vary according to flight times.

Chapel – Location: 3rd Floor. Hours: open 24 hours

Drinking Water – Thirsty? Riga Airport sells bottled water for 1,00€. Once you have cleared security, look for the two stores displaying the signs.

Duty Free & Shopping – Duty Free is available (7 locations) as well as a small variety of shops to choose from including 3 locations of Narvesen (magazines, drinks, newspapers, etc.).

Family Services – Travelling with children? These services are available to help you get through the airport easier:

  • Children’s Play Area – When you want to ensure your kids burn off all their energy before their flight, take them to one of the children’s play areas. Locations: Airside, 1st Floor, Non-Schengen Arrivals, Sector C • Airside, 2nd Floor, Sector B • Airside, 2nd Floor, Sector C, Schengen Area • Airside, 2nd Floor, Sector C, Non-Schengen Area.
  • Nursery – If you need a space to change your baby’s diaper or breast-feed, the airport offers 5 nurseries/baby changing rooms. Locations:
    • Lanside: 2nd Floor, to the right of Check-in Counters.
    • Airside: 1st Floor, Sector B • 1st Floor, Sector C, Gate C9 • 2nd Floor, Sector C, Gates C1/5 • 2nd Floor, Main Hall.
  • Strollers – If you are travelling with an infant, strollers are available to rent while at the airport. Location: Airside, 2nd Floor, after security check.

Food & Drinks – There are no 24 hour food concessions at the Riga Airport; however, you will find options available Airside that operate at least an hour before flight times until the last flight leaves.

Information Desk – Have any questions? Visit one of the airport’s information desks for assistance! Location: Landside, 1st Floor, near Exit • Landside, 2nd Floor, next to Check-in Counters. There are also information points located airside on both floors.

Luggage Storage & Lockers – Location: Arrivals, Sector E, 1st Level. Rates: from 2,50€ for the 1st 12 hours • 3,00€ for 24 hours starting from the 2nd day • 1,00€ starting from the 2nd month. There is also a cloakroom where you can leave winter coats (1,50€ per item) if you are travelling to sunny destination that won’t require them. Small items that were not permitted through security can also be stored for 1,50€ per item. Hours: 24 hours with one hour breaks at 1:00PM, 6:00PM and 1:00AM.

Luggage Wrapping – Protect your bags from theft and damage by having your bags wrapped in plastic. Available on the second floor, landside, in the registration sector “F”.

Medical Services – If you feel unwell or injure yourself, first aid services are available. Location: Landside, Arrivals Hall, 1st Floor.

Mobile Charging – A reader tells us there is one mobile charging point in the Departure Terminal by the Lavazza Coffee machine, opposite check-in counter 38.

Pharmacy – A. Apotheka. Location: Public area, 2nd floor, Departures sector E. Hours: 4:00AM – 11:00PM.

Post Office – Send your last minute postcards to friends and family from airport’s post office. Location: 1st Floor, in arrival sector “E”. Hours: 8:30AM – 1:00PM and 2:00PM – 5:00PM (Mon-Fri).

Printing – if you forgot to print your boarding pass, you can use the internet terminal located at the “Welcome Riga” office. Location: 1st Floor, Arrivals Area E.

Rest Zones – There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Showers – Showers are available in the lounges. [ see Airport Lounges above ]

SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.

Spa – Embassy of Wellness offers spa services. Location: Departures section, 2nd Floor. Hours: Unknown.

airport hoursAirport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.

airlinesAirlines

Riga airport is served by the following airlines: Aer Lingus • Aeroflot • Air Baltic • Belavia • Blue Panorama • Corendon • Enter Air • Finnair • LOT • Lufthansa • Norwegian • Ryanair • Onur Air • SAS • SmartLynx • Tailwind Airlines • Turkish Airlines • Ukraine International Airlines • Utair Aviation • Uzbekistan Airways • Wizz Air.

transportationAirport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Bus

RIX airport is well connected to the public transportation system. Bus No. 22 operates direct services between the Airport and Riga city centre. The airport is also served by minibuses No. 322 and No. 241. Tickets can be purchased at the Welcome to Riga! Bureau in Arrivals Hall E, from a ticket vending machine at the bus stop and in retail outlets at Levels 1 and 2 of the terminal. For rates, fares and schedules, visit the Masruti website. If onward travel is required, the airport provides many options including connections to Vilnius (Lithuania), Tallinn (Estonia), Minsk (Belarus) or Warsaw (Poland) for example. To plan your trip, visit the Riga Airport website.

Car Rentals

The following car rental agencies operate onsite in Arrivals sector E: Avis • Budget • Enterprise • Europcar • Greenmotion • Hertz • Sixt. Hours: vary according to flight times.

Hotel Shuttles

At the time of this update we were unable to find any hotels offering an airport shuttle.  See also Airport Hotels above.

Taxi

Taxis are readily available just outside of the Arrivals Hall. A one-way journey between the airport and city center takes around 20 minutes and rates are displayed on the passenger doors of all licensed taxis.

Last updated: 2024-01-30

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.