SHOPPING
Amber is of high quality and a good buy. Other purchases include folk art, wicker work and earthenware.
Shopping hours
Mon-Fri 0900/1000-1800/1900, Sat 0900/1000-1600/1700. Some smaller shops may be closed 1400-1500 for lunch. Food shops open 0800/0900-2000/2100. Some shops are open 24 hours.
Currency Information:
Currency
Latvian Lat (Ls) = 100 santims. Notes are in denominations of Ls500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Ls2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 santims.
Currency exchange
Bureaux de change are found all over main towns, including inside shops, hotels, post offices and train stations. These tend to close at 1900. Currency may also be obtained at ATMs in towns and cities. The most convenient currencies to exchange are German DM and the US Dollar.
Credit & debit cards
American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard, JCB, MasterCard and Visa are accepted by most hotels and petrol stations. Some shops in Riga also accept credit cards. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travelers cheques
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take travelers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
Currency restrictions
There are no restrictions on the import and export of either local or foreign currency.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Lat against Sterling and the US Dollar:
Date |
May '04 |
Aug '04 |
Nov '04 |
Feb '05 |
£1.00= |
0.98 |
0.98 |
0.98 |
1.01 |
$1.00= |
0.55 |
0.53 |
0.53 |
0.54 |
Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Some banks are open Sat 0900-1300.
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