Riga cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: These directions start at Riga Passenger Port and head towards Dome Square in Old Town; KS Terminal is a separate, remote berth.

• Distance: 1.5 km on foot, Riga Passenger Port to Dome Square.
• Walk: about 20 minutes one way. It's a realistic walk along the waterfront route shown in the port brochure, then into Old Town.
• Public transport: take Rīgas satiksme tram 7 from nearby Ausekļa iela towards Ķengarags for the city centre. It costs €1.50 one way with a 90-minute ticket; validate it every time you board. Walk through Old Town to reach Dome Square.
• Step-free: the port-supplied Cruise Baltic sheet lists the Passenger Port berths as wheelchair accessible and the exit as clearly signed. Arrange any ship gangway assistance with your ship.

Prices checked 2026-09-08. Sources: Freeport walking map, Freeport passenger guidance, Port facilities, Tourism map, Tram 7, Tickets.

Orientation, not a walking route

Most cruise ships use Riga Passenger Port, according to the Freeport authority, which describes Old Town as a short walk away. Use the designated exit and follow the authority's pedestrian directions towards Old Town and Dome Square. The authority says you'll need to book taxis at this terminal in advance, and that there's no terminal ATM.

KS Terminal is a separate cargo and passenger facility at Zilā iela 22, Krievu Island. The Freeport's 2024 presentation estimates a 30–40-minute drive from KS Terminal to the city centre. The central terminal's walking directions don't apply here.

About this port

Riga's medieval Old Town and the Art Nouveau streets around Alberta iela give you two starting points for your time ashore. Choose one, or combine them if your call allows. First, check your berth: from the central Passenger Port you can walk to the historic centre, while KS Terminal needs a separate transport plan.

UNESCO's Historic Centre of Riga listing reaches beyond Old Town. It recognises both Riga's medieval development and its later architecture across a wider historic urban area.

Getting Around

If you're at a central berth and have a short call, walking saves you a second transport connection. Choose one area to explore.

Alberta iela is in the Quiet Centre outside Old Town. The port brochure gives a separate walk of 1.2 km, about 15 minutes, from Riga Passenger Port to Alberta Street. Make it a separate extension for architecture, rather than expecting to see Riga's Art Nouveau streets on a walk around the medieval core.

Things to Do

• Architecture first: walk along Alberta iela for its decorated early-20th-century façades. The Riga Art Nouveau Museum is on the same street if you'd like to go inside; check its admission arrangements before deciding how it fits around your return.
• Old Town first: make the medieval street network the focus of your walk, and leave time to stop in the squares. It's the simpler plan if a remote berth has cut your time ashore.

These are alternative starting points, not a timed tour. On a longer call, add the second area only after checking the walk back to your terminal or shuttle stop.

Getting back to your ship

Getting back: from a central berth on a short call, leave time to retrace your walk. For a KS Terminal call, check where your transfer drops you, where you rejoin it and when the last return leaves before arranging anything in town. Count your sightseeing time from arrival at the town drop-off and allow for the return transfer too. Keep your ship's return instructions accessible offline.

Practical Information

• Currency: euro; get any cash you need before relying on the Passenger Port facilities.
• Language: Latvian.
• Emergencies: call 112.
• Check individual venues for admission and opening arrangements.
• Getting back: from a central berth on a short call, leave time to retrace your walk. For a KS Terminal call, check where your transfer drops you, where you rejoin it and when the last return leaves before arranging anything in town. Count your sightseeing time from arrival at the town drop-off and allow for the return transfer too. Keep your ship's return instructions accessible offline.

Frequently asked

Can you walk into Riga from the cruise port? Yes. From Riga Passenger Port it is 1.5 km and about 20 minutes on foot to Dome Square, following the port brochure’s waterfront route. KS Terminal needs a separate transport plan.

How much is public transport near Riga cruise port? €1.50 one way using a 90-minute ticket. Tram 7 starts at nearby Ausekļa iela; validate the ticket whenever you board.

Do cruise ships dock or tender in Riga? They normally dock. The Freeport authority says most cruise ships berth at Riga Passenger Port.

How long is the drive into Riga from KS Terminal? About 30–40 minutes to the city centre, according to the Freeport's published estimate. Allow for the return transfer when planning sightseeing.