What is the currency in Riga. National currency of Latvia
Latvia is part of the Eurozone, so euros are accepted here as payment. In this review, I will talk about the main banks operating in the territory of this Baltic country and how it is profitable to pay for a trip, as well as where cards are accepted in Latvia, and where only cash is accepted.
Travel expenses
I always recommend, if possible, opening a euro account in addition to your ruble account in order to exchange rubles for euros before the trip and replenish the debit card linked to this account. Then you will definitely not get a commission.
If this is not possible, catch a life hack: book and pay in advance everything you can. On large aggregators, it seems that you can set rubles as the payment currency. Look on these sites for hotels, tickets for excursions, as well as for visits to those attractions that interest you. If you book and pay for everything in advance, you will minimize expenses during the trip.
Be sure to change money before the trip, because no Latvian bank will have such a rate as our exchangers offer. As for the currency exchange in other places, I have never done this and I do not advise you, since the risk of being deceived is too great. If you really want to save on exchange rate differences, look among your friends and acquaintances for those who permanently reside in Latvia and know reliable exchangers.
Banks of Latvia
If you need to go to a bank in this Baltic country, there is not much choice. The largest lenders who specialize in working with individuals are two foreign bank: Swedbank and SEB Banka.
Swedbank, as the name suggests, is of Swedish origin. Change rubles to euros at this bank today's exchange rate will cost 75.73 rubles for 1 euro.
SEB Banka is the Latvian subsidiary of the Swedish bank SEB. This is the only bank operating in Latvia that has an office in Moscow, so before traveling, Muscovites can call or visit SEB and ask about currency exchange operations and fees for using ATMs of this credit institution. To date, the cost of 1 euro in this bank is equal to 84.66 rubles.
It is Swedbank and SEB that serve the vast majority of terminals in Latvia.
We pass to the Latvian banks. After the sad self-liquidation of ABLV, Citadele Bank took its place. They have many branches in Latvia, but most of all in Riga. In many shopping centers, next to Swedbank and SEB ATMs, you will find red Citadele machines. Since this bank works with Russians (residents of Latvia) and Russian companies, its employees often speak Russian. Today's exchange rate in Citadele it is 75.44 rubles for 1 euro.
On April 29, 1992, our compatriot Grigory Guselnikov opened Norvik Banka in Latvia, which is now actively trying to increase its share in the lending market. This credit institution has many branches and ATMs, and you can change money at the rate of 73.88 rubles per 1 euro.
Cash or card?
Before traveling to Latvia, I strongly advise you to change at least a small amount money. After all, even if you plan to visit one of the banks I have listed above, you need to somehow get to Riga from the airport =) It’s not a fact that you can pay for a bus or minibus with a card, but exchangers at the airport are much worse than any bank in terms of rates and commissions .
In addition, unfortunately, in Latvia it is far from possible to pay by card everywhere. All markets and shops at festivals and fairs, as well as many exhibitions and events, especially in small towns, accept only cash, I speak from experience.
There are also some "problems" with terminals in stores and shopping centers. Apparently, for some reason, they need cash. I have come across such situations several times. The only places where cards are accepted by train are chain hyper- and supermarkets, as well as cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops in the Riga Old Town.
Over the past few years, the situation with paying for goods and services with a card in Latvia has improved markedly, but I strongly advise vacationers to have at least a couple of hundred euros in cash with them. If you are going to travel around Latvia by car, you should not rely on credit cards.
When planning your trip, be sure to call or visit your bank. Firstly, to warn them that you are going to pay with a card in Latvia, so that you do not block it, suspecting something was wrong (it happened to me =). Secondly, to clarify the size of the commission for paying for goods and services with a card and for withdrawing money from "foreign" ATMs. Do not forget to ask if your bank has any Latvian partners, perhaps there is a chance to pay without commission.
Before a trip to Latvia, everyone will probably have a few basic questions:
Currency of Latvia, what currency to take with you to Latvia?
Where to exchange currency in Riga (Latvia) and what currency is exchanged in the country?
How to pay in Latvia, cash or bank cards?
How much money should I take with me to Riga/Latvia?
In this article, we will answer all these important questions!
Currency of Latvia. What currency to take with you to Latvia
On January 1, 2014, Latvia joined the Eurozone and added to the list of European countries where the Euro is the currency. From that moment, the Latvian lats, the former national currency of Latvia and one of the symbols of the country's independence, began to go out of circulation.
All payments in the country, cash and non-cash, take place ONLY in EURO. Therefore, when going on vacation to Latvia, you need to take exactly Euro. Euro official currency, which currently produces the entire turnover in the country.
Latvian lats are still valid in the country and will remain valid until they are completely withdrawn from circulation. In some banks and rare shops or cafes, you can still see the price indicated in both Euro and Lats, but this is more for the local population, tourists should not pay attention to this.
Currency exchange in Latvia (Riga)
Currency exchange in Latvia can be done both at bank settlement centers and at exchange offices. There are many exchange offices on the streets of the country, especially in Riga, they are found literally at every step, the largest concentration of exchange offices is in the center. Exchangers can be found by the sign “Valutas maiņa”. "Perk" - buy and "Pardod" - sell.
In banks and exchangers in Latvia you can exchange for Euro - Dollars, Russian rubles, Pounds Sterling, Japanese Yen, Polish Zloty, Czech crowns, Swiss francs, etc. These are the currencies that can be found for exchange most often.
Exchange offices and bank branches in which you can exchange currency can be found at the airport, train stations and in the center of the old city, but the rate in them is extremely unfavorable. For currency exchange, it is best to go deeper into the city, the left bank of the Daugava River, it was there that we saw the most favorable rates for currency exchange.
It is not profitable to exchange rubles for Euros in Latvia, it is better to exchange them in Euros and come to the country already in Euros. Although, of course, it all depends on the course. For example, let's take one of the days of currency exchange, in Russia the rate was 73.31 rubles for 1 Euro, and in Latvian banks at the same time - 76.95 rubles for 1 Euro. And this is the official rate, in exchangers and (or) the bank sets its own rate, therefore, as in our country, exchange rates in different banks Latvia can differ, sometimes even very much.
Before the trip, for interest, you can compare exchange rates in banks in Russia and Latvia:
See the exact (official) euro exchange rate on the website Central Bank Latvia - Bank of Latvia;
See the exchange rates in Russia on the website of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation - Bank of Russia.
And then compare and draw conclusions. But still, if we are talking about a trip to Latvia from Russia, then it is more profitable to change rubles for euros in Russia.
In addition, when exchanging, no one is immune from the commission, there are such banks and exchangers in Latvia that take a commission. That is, after standing at the exchanger and calculating how much Euros should be given to you for your rubles during the exchange, you can get a completely different amount in your hands. In order not to get caught on this, we recommend that you always first ask “How many Euros will I get for my 1000 rubles?”. In this case, you will be called or written the real amount.
How to pay in Latvia, cash or bank cards?
The country accepts both cash and bank cards. In almost all cafes, restaurants, shops, hotels and other retail outlets, you can make a cashless payment with a bank card, with rare exceptions, which are souvenir shops on the streets, public transport, small shops and eateries, as well as some departments in the markets. So if you prefer cashless payments, we still recommend that you carry some cash with you.
In Latvia, the most common banking Visa cards, MasterCard, Maestro, EuroCard and American Express.
It is best to have a currency card, namely the Euro, then at the time of payment you will not be charged additional funds for the conversion. But you can pay with cards both in rubles and dollars, while taking into account the costs of currency conversion. The conversion depends solely on the bank that services your card, its internal rate and commissions. Sberbank ruble cards are one of the most disadvantageous for paying abroad.
How much money to take with you to Riga/Latvia
But this is already difficult question because everything here is extremely individual. Someone likes to eat from the belly and perfectly, but someone has enough breakfast and dinner, someone needs the first second and compote to eat, and someone has enough fruit and buns.
Despite this, we will try to give some general data. But we recommend that before the trip, nevertheless, proceed from personal needs.
Latvia is not one of the cheapest countries in Europe, but not as expensive as, say, or France, not to mention Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and similar countries. So, you are unlikely to be able to relax on a budget and at the same time enjoy yourself in Latvia, especially its capital, Riga.
So, a full dinner for two in an old city restaurant will cost anywhere from 40-50 Euros, outside the old city you can find restaurants cheaper, although not much either. Beer and snacks, again for two (2 glasses of 0.5 liters each) from 20 Euro. Coffee with pastries 8-13 Euro. Parking in the city center is paid, the cost is from 1-1.5 Euro for 15 minutes of parking.
Entrance to many sights and museums in Riga is paid, from 2.5 Euro per person. On average 5-6 Euro. Climb to the best, in our opinion, the observation deck of the city - - 9 Euro per person.
For those who want to save money, you can sometimes eat ready-made meals from shops or from the market, especially good. To do this, we recommend booking hostels or guest houses with a shared kitchen. In general, the opportunity to use the kitchen in the hotel decently saves money in any country in the world.
The cost of a double room in hotels in the center of Riga starts from 1,500 rubles per day. Hotels, especially during the active tourist seasons (summer, Christmas and New Year- from December to February, May holidays, etc.), we recommend booking in advance so as not to stay overnight on the street. In general, Riga, and indeed the whole of Latvia, is popular with tourists at any time of the year, so it’s better to take care of where you will live in advance. We always book hotels, hostels, guest houses and hotels
The Latvian lats is the national currency of the Republic of Latvia from 1993 to 2013, in Latvian - Lats, symbol Ls. The code in the international standard ISO 4217 is LVL. One lat is equal to 100 centimes. In circulation there were coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 centimes and 1 and 2 lats, banknotes - 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 lats.
Banknotes and coins were made at a fairly high level and had many degrees of protection against counterfeiting.
Latvia's transition to the euro
Lat rate
Starting from 2005, the exchange rate of the lats has been rigidly pegged to the euro: 1 lats = 1.41 euros or 1 euro = 0.70 lats. Thus, the exchange rates of all other currencies against the lats directly depended on their exchange rate against the euro. The Latvian lats was one of the heaviest currencies in the world - 1 lats was equal to approximately 1.85 US dollars and 1.14 pounds sterling.
Central Bank of Latvia
Exposition "World of Money"
The peg to the European currency was maintained until Latvia joined the Eurozone on January 1, 2014.
History
On August 3, 1922, the lats became the national currency, the right to issue which was received by the Bank of Latvia, founded on September 7, 1922. From 1922 to 1940, the Bank of Latvia issued banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and 500 lats, coins - 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes and 1, 2 and 5 lats. From 1924 to 1938, all banknotes were printed in Great Britain.
Since 1940, the Bank of Latvia has become a republican branch of the State Bank of the USSR and the Soviet ruble is put into circulation on the territory of Latvia.
On July 31, 1990, the restoration of the monetary system of Latvia as an independent state began. In 1992, the Latvian ruble (repshiki) was introduced, and in 1993, the lat. There were already six people working on the visual solution for our armor.
Commemorative and unusual coins
In addition to ordinary coins, the Bank of Latvia regularly issues commemorative and commemorative coins dedicated to people, cities, events... For the first time in the history of the country, commemorative coins in denominations of 2, 10 and 100 lats were issued in November 1993 in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Latvia. And since 2001, ordinary one-lat coins with an unusual design have also appeared twice a year.
The Bank of Latvia will issue the last anniversary lats - November 2013
Silver 20 lats with salmon – March 2013
Armor with a bell - December 2012
Silver five lats - November 2012
Square lat in honor of the Riga Technical University - October 2012
Coin "Riga Zoo" and lat with a hedgehog - June 2012
Stone Coin - January 2012
Pieparkukas Heart Lat - December 2011
Silver lat - " Railway in Latvia”, September 2011
Coin in honor of the 800th anniversary of the Riga money - August 2011
800 years of the Dome Cathedral - July 2011
Hanseatic cities - "Riga" and armor with a mug of beer, June 2011
Rundale Palace - May 2011
Square armor in honor of the poet Alexander Chak - April 2011
Coin of Time III and Lat with Horseshoe - December 2010
Amber coin - November 2010
Coin “Latvian alphabet” – August 2010
Toad Lat - June 2010
Coin "Declaration of Independence" - April 2010
Duke Jacob - February 2010
Water coin - square, November 2009
Christmas Coins - November 2009
Surveyor Times - September 2009
University of Latvia - August 2009
Lat with the image of the Nameys ring - June 2009
Coin "Pig" - March 2009
Coin of happiness - lat with a chimney sweep, December 2008
Basketball lat - November 2008
Hanseatic cities - Limbazi - July 2008
Lat with water lily - June 2008
Song Festival - May 2008
Coin of Latvia - gold 20 lats, April 2008
Snowman Lat - December 2007
Coin of Life - December 2007
Coin of Time II - November 2007
P ribalt.info, image from Lori photo bank
riga currency
Answer options for your crossword puzzle
LAT
WEF
DAUGAVA
DAUGMALE
DYNAMUNDE
- The official name of the city of Daugavgriva in Latvia (now within the boundaries of Riga) until 1893
KISHESERS
- Lake in the north-eastern part of Riga
KOBE
LATVIA
LATVIANS
LATVIAN
These words were also found by queries:
Currency exchange
05.06.2018 | purchase | sale |
---|---|---|
AUD | 1,573564 | 1,512859 |
BGN | 1,963865 | 1,893939 |
BYN | 2,378121 | 2,136752 |
CAD | 1,545595 | 1,495886 |
CHF | 1,174398 | 1,140251 |
CNY | 7,999360 | 6,944444 |
CZK | 25,856496 | 24,752475 |
DKK | 7,645260 | 7,380074 |
GBP | 0,892857 | 0,866551 |
GEL | 2,924832 | 2,610966 |
HRK | 7,507508 | 6,807352 |
HUF | 320,512821 | 279,329609 |
05.06.2018 | purchase | sale |
---|---|---|
ILS | 4,329004 | 3,891051 |
JPY | 130,718954 | 124,984377 |
NOK | 9,852217 | 9,407338 |
PLN | 4,310345 | 4,115226 |
RON | 4,926108 | 4,444444 |
RUB | 73,529412 | 69,979006 |
SBP | 0,986193 | 0,870322 |
SEK | 10,465725 | 10,111223 |
THB | 39,603960 | 35,714286 |
TRY | 5,517241 | 4,926108 |
USD | 31,545741 | 25,316456 |
USD | 1,190476 | 1,162791 |
ATTENTION! 71. paragraph of the rules of the Bank of Latvia "On the sale and purchase foreign exchange»
The purchase rate shows how much in currency the client must give in order to receive 1 euro. The selling rate shows how much in currency the client will receive for 1 euro. Currency exchange in Riga.
Favorable exchange rates. A currency converter is at your service. Courses change constantly. Some rates in some branches may differ. Valid rates are always indicated on the scoreboard in all branches. If the amount is equivalent to 1,000 EUR or more, it is possible to negotiate a better preferential rate with the dealer at tel. +371 25 455 455 on working days from 10:00 to 18:00.
Commission for foreign currency exchange up to 1000 EUR - 1.00 EUR.
Currency exchange with a client card up to 1000 EUR - 0.60 EUR.
Foreign currency exchange over 1000 EUR - no commission.
In Latvia, money can be exchanged at banks and exchange offices. Some banks offer the opportunity to exchange money in multi-currency ATMs.
Currency exchange rates can vary significantly depending on the location, so it is recommended to compare rates in different locations before exchanging.
There is a network of ATMs available in Latvia, but if you are going outside of big cities, it is better to take cash with you. ATMs accept credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and others).
Prices for goods and services
Prices for food products, soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco are among the lowest in Europe. Prices for services of restaurants and hotels are also below the average for the countries of the European Union.
Approximate prices for goods and services:
- Three-course meal in a restaurant - 20-25 euros;
- Lunch - 3-5 euros;
- A glass of wine 15 cl - 5 euros;
- A mug of beer 0.5 l - 3 euros;
- One trip in public transport - 1.15 euros;
- One-day ticket for public transport - 5 euros;
- A taxi ride from the airport to the city center - 11-14 euros;
- Getting into a taxi / calling a taxi - 1.70 euros; fare for 1 km - 0.50 euros.
Note:
- When buying drinks at a bar, pay attention to the price of the drink and the amount at that price, and check if the amount served matches the price listed;
- Before taking a taxi, agree on approximate price before the trip and always check if the meter is turned on;
- When using public transport, buy tickets before traveling at the bus station, railway station or other ticket offices, as a ticket on public transport can be more expensive.
- In the capital, especially in the Old Town, prices for services may be higher than for the same services outside of Riga.
Payment by bank cards
In Latvia, you can pay with smart cards or chip cards that comply with international standards. Information about whether the respective institution accepts cards of a certain type can be found on the front door or at the cash desk in the form of a sticker.
Credit or debit card you can pay at most restaurants, shops, banks, gas stations and hotels. Bank cards some taxis are also accepted.
In public transport, a ticket can be bought from the driver for money. Or pay by card in Riga at one of the ticket machines, which are located at public transport stops in many places in the city.
The national currency of Latvia is the lats. World designation currency LVL, symbol Ls. One lat contains 100 santims. Lat can be freely exchanged at banks that are open from 9:00-17:00 (many of them are open even on weekends) or at ValutasMaina exchange offices. Modern banknotes have a high degree of protection against counterfeiting. Today, banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 lats and coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 centimes and 1, 2 lats are in circulation. In addition to ordinary coins, commemorative and commemorative coins are issued, as well as one-lat coins with an unusual design.
History of occurrence
With the coming to the leadership of the Soviet power, on November 18, 1918, Latvia was proclaimed independent. Naturally, there was a need to issue their own currency. In February 1919, banknotes in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10 rubles entered circulation. Them total amount amounted to 20 million rubles. 1 ruble = 100 Latvian kopecks. For the period 1919-1922, the following banknotes were issued: 5, 10, 25, 50 kopecks (instead of coins) and 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 rubles.
pennies
Rubles
On the obverse of all denominations against the background of the rays of the sun, a red star, a hammer, a scythe and a cogwheel are depicted (except for the denomination of 1 ruble). All these elements symbolize the work of the people. On the reverse, in Latvian, it is written: "Forgery of a token, as well as the distribution of a counterfeit banknote, bears responsibility before the revolutionary tribunal and bringing to capital punishment."
Latvian lats
On August 3, 1922, a new national currency, the Latvian lats, was introduced. 1 lats = 50 Latvian rubles.
Due to a shortage of cash, in May 1992, it was decided to issue temporary monetary units, as a measure of a gradual transition to the main currency. Latvian rubles were unofficially called "repshik" (the surname of Einars Repshe, the president of the bank). Monetary units were issued in the printing house of Riga in denominations of 1, 5, 20, 50, 200, 500, later - in 2 and 10 rubles. The currency was designed by K. Shmelkov. The Latvian ruble (“latvijas rublis”) was used as a means of payment along with the Russian ruble. On the obverse of all banknotes there was an inscription: “Temporary banknote of the Bank of Latvia”.
Modern Latvian lat
In March 1993, a permanent currency unit- lat. The currency was printed by the German company Giesecke & Devrient. Valdis Oshinsh and Imants Zhodzhik were engaged in currency registration. The coat of arms of the republic is displayed on the new banknotes (author Richard Zarin). The three stars on the coat of arms symbolize the regions of Vidzeme, Kurzeme and Latgale, while the lion and the vulture symbolize the ethnic regions of Kurzeme and Zemgale, Vidzeme and Latgale.
5 lats - century-old oak (on the obverse), an ornament in the form of the sun. (on the reverse);
Oak is one of the ancient symbols of Latvia. This tree dominates the Latvian landscape, and medicinal products are made from its oak bark. Oak in Latvia personifies the masculine principle, and in pagan times oak (“ozols”) was considered a sacred tree and often even replaced a temple.
10 lats - a landscape with a view of the Daugava (on the obverse);
Since ancient times, the Daugava has been considered a fateful river that influences the history of the people. For centuries, the river has been a source of livelihood and transport artery of Latvia.
20 lats - Latvian court (on the obverse);
Later, 50 and 100 lats were issued.
50 lats - an old sailboat (on the obverse), the old symbol of Riga - a plan of the ancient city with keys (on the reverse);
The sailboat is a symbol of the fact that the ancient city was one of the influential cities of the Hanseatic Trade Union.
100 lats - Krishjan Baron (on the obverse);
Krishjan Baron is an outstanding public figure, writer, editor of the first newspaper in Latvia “Petersburgasavizes”, author of the collection “Latvian Folk Songs”.
500 lats - a girl in the national dress "Milda" (on the obverse);
This banknote is the third in value banknote worldwide after SGD 10,000 CHF 1000!!
Modern coins
Coins are made in different countries(Germany, Norway, England, Finland) and are produced from copper, copper-nickel alloy, bimetal, aluminum bronze.
Commemorative and commemorative coins
The first collectible coins were issued in 1993. Such coins act both as a means of payment at face value and as a souvenir. For example, a rectangular armor costs 28 lats, and its purchasing power- only 1 lat.
In 2007, with a circulation of 1 million. A 1 lat coin was issued, which depicts a water lily. The minting was done at a mint known as Rahapaja Oy. The coin was designed by Alexander Chkhaidze.
The “Coin of Life” was issued in a circulation of 5,000 pieces and is dedicated to motherly love. The coin is made of 925 sterling silver and trimmed with gilding. Her weight is 31.47 grams. Two leaves in the form of hearts, connected with a thread of silver, symbolize mother and child.
Coin with the image of a chimney sweep - "Coin of happiness". Circulation is 5000 copies.
The 1 lats basketball silver coin weighing 31.47 is dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the Latvian Basketball Society and the clubs TTT Riga and VEF Riga. Designed by Francesca Kirke.
The coin "Latvia-90" was made by Aigar Bikše. On the obverse - the first coat of arms of the state (author Burkard Dzenis), triple bordered by the rays of the sun. It was the badge of the shooters of Latvia. On the reverse - children holding hands as a symbol of the future. The red and white flag represents the Daugava River, and the red banks represent those who fell in battles and exiles.
The “time coin” is made of niobium and silver. Laimonis Šenbergs designed the coin. On the reverse of the coin, the signs of the zodiac are depicted, and on the obverse, a rose with the initials of Heinrich Rose (the first to discover niobium). The coins were minted in Austria, on the Münze Österreich.
In another version of the coin, it was minted in 2010. Its reverse depicts the phases of the moon, as a symbol of the ancient countdown of time, and various elements landscape.
An interesting coin is "Windows are crying, fog" (Miglā asaro logs) - this is the first line of the famous song "Confession" to the words of Chuck. “The window is tearing in the fog. I don’t deny it, it’s not worth it, I only loved you ... "
Another interesting coin is "Foreign Powers". The obverse depicts the coat of arms of the country, split into three parts and scattered letters Latvijas Republika. On the reverse - "DIEVS, TAVA ZEME DEG!". This is a quote from a poem by the author Andris Eglitis and translated means "Lord, your land is on fire!".
The most popular coin is “Fate”. It is made of two metals - the silver side symbolizes the Moon, and the gold side symbolizes the Sun. It is also customary to guess on this coin.
The Millennium coin (or as it is also called the button coin) received the main prize for innovation at the international World Coins coin competition. The design was made by Maya Barzdina, a math teacher.
On June 15, 2011, a coin from the “Hanseatic Cities” series was issued. It depicts the seal of Riga and a panorama of the Hanseatic era. Its author is Gunnar Kollis.