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| Airport Parking | Airport Hotels & Parking | Airport Lounges | Car Hire | Cheap Travel Insurance |
 Car Hire & Driving in Riga, LatviaWelcome to Riga Car Hire, Latvia; available at Riga International AirportLatvia Car HireLatvia and particularly Latvia’s capital Riga, is fiercely distinct from the other two Baltic states of Estonia and Lithuania. German influence was stronger than elsewhere, because the 14th century Knights of the Sword used Latvia as their base; the influence can still be seen today from Latvia while touring Latvia. When the Soviets forcibly incorporated Latvia into the Soviet Union in 1944, the effects of Russification were more devastating and will be even more apparent while touring Latvia. Today 45% of Latvia is Russian speaking; in Riga, Russians, Ukrainians, and Belorussians are the majority. This has created a palpable tension that is evident in your hire car: Latvians are angered because their culture has been suppressed for 50 years, whereas Russians are frustrated with the fact that most of them have yet to be granted citizenship. While driving Latvia an international or national driver’s licence bearing a photograph is acceptable. In Latvia you drive Latvia on the right. While touring Latvia your will find that the roads are not up to Western standards. Latvia’s official language is Latvian, although the unofficial language is Russian. As you tour Latvia you will find that most Latvians will answer you if addressed in Russian, but more and more Latvians speak perfect English, which makes navigating Latvia a little easier. About one hour east of Riga in your hire car you will find the Guaja National Park, which is populated by friendly people and a helpful forestry staff. Latvia’s deepest river valley can be found here and although at 280 feet it is little more than a dip, the gentle flowing Gauja and the 13th century ruins of Turaida Castle, which you will find near Sigulda, provide amusement, ancient graffiti and a bobsled track that you should investigate while. For more information of what to expect on a visit to Gauja National Park, you can visit the Sigulda visitor centre, which you will find at Pils 6, 53km (33 miles) east of Riga. 40 minutes from Riga will take your to Jurmala. The Latvian name for this string of four small towns means ‘seaside’ and for a 20km (12 mile) stretch you will find that is exactly what you will get. While here you will find that the beach is clean and the Soviet-era main street has been renovated. Riga Car HireRiga has an upscale, big city feel which you find is unmatched in the region as you tour Latvia in your Riga hire car. Riga, the capital of Latvia, is almost as large as Tallinn and Vilnius combined and is the business centre of the area, with plenty for you to see and do in your Riga hire car. Original, high-quality restaurants and hotel have given Riga something to brag about and plenty of places for a stop off in your Riga hire car. Although Riga’s Old Town is its calling card and a place that you really must experience in your Riga hire car, Riga is also the city of art nouveau with many museums for you to visit in your Riga hire car. The open-air Ethnographic Museum, which your will find at Brivihas 440 in Riga in your Riga hire car, includes farmsteads and villages crafted to look like thise in 18th and 19th century Latvia in an open air setting. The Latvian Occupation Museum, which you will find at Strelnieku laukums 1 in Riga in your Riga hire car, includes details of the devastation of Latvia at the hands of the Nazis and Soviets during World War II, as well as the Latvian’s struggle for independence in September 1991. The Riga Motor Museum, which you will find at Strelnieku laukums 1 in Riga in your Riga hire car, includes many Western cars on display, as well as Soviet models, including Stalin’s iron plated limo and a Rolls Royce totalled by Brezhnev himself. The National Opera House, which you will find at Aspazijas 3 in Riga is another place to visit in your Riga hire car and was where Richard Wagner once conducted. Riga International AirportRiga International Airport lies 13km (8 miles) from Riga, Latvia in your hire car. Riga International Airport has just one passenger terminal with an annual capacity of 2 million through 16 check-in desks. Riga International Airport operates 24 hours a day. At Riga International Airport there are 400 short term and 600 long term parking spaces, should you need to leave your hire car at Riga International Airport. Riga International Airport has all the facilities you would expect, including a post office, bank, bureau de change, restaurants, cafeterias, bars, VIP lounge, duty free shop, newsagent/tobacconist, chemist, gift shop, first aid, disabled access/facilities, a business centre, car rental services and a tourist help desk, which can provide advice on what to see and do in your hire car while in Riga, Latvia.
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