The Latvian Academy of Culture does not have its own student dormitory, however, there are several other options that we recommend:

SPOTAHOME

Visit: https://www.spotahome.com/s/riga

 

SHED CO-LIVING (8/12 JELGAVAS STREET, RIGA)

Looking for a modern-but-homey place to stay? 

Visit: https://shedcoliving.com/riga/

DUCK REPUBLIC STUDENT HOTEL (1 LAUVAS STREET, RIGA)

At just a 10 minute walking distance from the Latvian Academy of Culture, the Duck Republik student hotel is a revolutionary student accommodation provider with modern, smart facilities where students can meet other students all over the world, experience student life in full – study, work, eat, play, love, sleep.

Each room in Duck Republik is equipped with bathroom and a fridge. The price includes water, electricity, heating and Wi-Fi, as well as weekly room cleaning. 4 spacious kitchens are shared in the hall. Duck Republik also offers studio rooms with a small kitchen and air conditioner.

Prices: https://hotelwebsitebooking.com/ducklong/rooms 

VILLA RENT RIGA (22 VIĻĀNU STREET, RIGA)

Villa Rent Riga is located in a 10 minute walking distance from the Latvian Academy of Culture. During the study period, the students who stay with the Villa Rent Riga use the guesthouse on their own, which means, there will be no reception, you live in a house with other students, and the main rule is to respect each other and keep the place clean. Villa Rent Riga offers equipped kitchen, free Wi-Fi, garden area, electricity, water, heating, etc. included in monthly rate.

To rent a room please visit: https://www.rigastudenthome.com/

RENT A ROOM OR A SHARED FLAT AROUND RIGA

It is possible to rent a shared flat or a room somewhere in town with the help of a rental agency or on your own.

We recommend using:

• 1Home Rooms: https://1home.eu/rooms/; 1Home provides more than 70 high-quality bed places in freshly renovated student apartments all around the city of Riga. Most of the flats have 4 – 6 rooms and come with a shared kitchen and bathrooms. The majority of our tenants are international students; however, also local students are welcome to stay with 1Home.
• Riga Apartments: https://rigaapartment.com/;
• ESN (Erasmus Student Network) housing platform: https://housinganywhere.com/;
• Global Home rental agency: http://www.globalhome.lv.

It is also possible to look for a room in one of the many Facebook groups. The optional price for a room in a shared flat or a studio apartment is from 250-400 EUR. The average price for a 2 bedroom apartment should not be higher than 700 EUR.

• Student Accommodation Riga: https://www.facebook.com/groups/285147841923014/
• Riga Student’s Apartment Market: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216085778535871/
• Riga Apartments for Students: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1570902403154704

The official student card of the Latvian Academy of Culture is joined into one with the International Student Identity card (ISIC), thus allowing the student to enjoy all the benefits of an ISIC card. ISIC (International Student Identity Card) is the only internationally recognized full- and part-time student identity card, every year used by 5 million students from 130 countries.

Use your ISIC

• Prove your student status worldwide
• Get discounts in 42 000 locations around the world;
• Get discounts in more than 750 locations in Latvia.

More information

• The card is valid for up to 16 months (from the beginning of an academic year - September);
• The card costs 7,10 €;
• To apply you need a proof of your student status, your personal ID and a photo.

 

Contacts

24/26 Kr. Barona Street, 3rd floor, Riga, LV-1050

+371 67223000, info@isic.lv

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN RIGA   In Riga, public transport services are provided by buses, trams, trolley-buses, and minibuses. Riga public transportation works from around 5 a.m. every morning and up until shortly before midnight. Night buses ply some routes during the nighttime hours on weekends. Rigas satiksme website offers public transport timetables, a map, and a route planner. Buying tickets, ticket prices The most convenient way to buy public transport tickets is at Narvesen outlets or at stops equipped with ticket machines (then it will cost you EUR 1,15) – although such machines are not available at all stops. Tickets can also be bought from the driver, but tickets bought this way cost more – EUR 2. We therefore recommend buying your ticket before the trip. There are several ticket types to choose from.

BUSES

Latvia has very good and very regular bus connections, making it is one of the most convenient means of transport for anyone who wants to get to know Latvia’s cities, towns and its vast countryside.

Information about buses in Latvia, including timetables, journey times, routes, ticket fares and other information, is available on information boards at the bus station, as well as online in Latvian, Russian, and English, on websites such as Autoosta.lv and 1188.

Buying Bus Tickets

Tickets for domestic and international routes may be bought at the following places:

• At ticket desks at the bus station during office hours between 6:00am and 10:00pm;
• Last minute from the bus driver, although you may find that there are no seats available;
• At the ticket sales terminal or ticket machine at Riga International Bus Station which operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week;
• On the website Bezrindas.lv or on international routes - Buseurope.eu.

The ticket will display the journey number, time and place of departure and seat number. A paper or SMS ticket should be presented to the driver or inspector, if any, and so it should be kept until the end of the trip!

Useful

Large luggage and pet transportation will cost extra. The ticket desk employee or the bus driver should be informed of these items beforehand.

Buses do not have toilets, but long routes include a stopover at a bus station with public toilets. New buses on long routes have free wi-fi.

In Riga passengers with reduced mobility are guaranteed specially-equipped buses and even companions who should be booked 36hrs before the journey. Outside Riga, the availability of these services should be enquired about at the bus station or with the bus company.

RAIL

Latvia’s rail network system connects the Latvian capital with lines to seven different directions – terminating in Tukums, Liepāja, Daugavpils, Zilupe, Gulbene, Valga and Skulte.

The only rail-line which does not go through Riga is the one which connects the towns of Gulbene and Alūksne – the historical narrow-gauge rail-line.

Timetables can be found at each station, as well as on-line at Pv.lv and 1188.lv .

Rail tickets

It is possible to purchase rail tickets at station ticket-offices. If the station ticket office is closed, or the certain station does not have a ticket office, tickets can be purchased inside the train from the onboard conductor. However, if purchasing a ticket onboard, only cash is accepted.

Available ticket-types:

• One-way ticket
• Return ticket (5% discount on return trip)
• Extra baggage ticket (necessary for baggage weighing between 20 to 30 kg or oversized baggage between 1.2 to 2 meters, as well as for transporting pets (except dogs) and persons accompanying the visually impaired)
• Group ticket (available only at ticket offices).

Tickets must be presented to onboard conductors and also ticket-inspectors in case of an inspection. This is why tickets must be kept until the end of the journey!

Information source: http://www.latvia.travel/en

EMERGENCY HOTLINE     The single emergency Hotline number 112 will provide information on what to do in certain situations, or connect you to the appropriate service – emergency medical, fire department, natural gas emergency, or the police. The number 112 is toll-free and reachable from land lines as well as from mobile phones.    INFORMATION HOTLINE     The Hotline 1188 provides information about business addresses, hours, service providers, state institutions, public transport timetables, concerts and events, the location of the nearest service provider, as well as all vital tourism information – about accommodations, museums, attractions, restaurants and cafes, and medical centers. The Hotline is reachable 24 hours per day. Information is provided in Latvian, Russian, and English.

TOURIST POLICE IN RIGA

Riga Municipal Police has a specialised Tourist Unit, which ensures public order, as well as provides information to foreign visitors about the opportunity for assistance in case of incidents like theft, lost property and fraud.

A 24-hour information Hotline +371 67181818 has been introduced for foreign nationals. Information is provided in Latvian, Russian, and English.

MEDICAL HELP

If you are an EU citizen who requires medical attention while in Latvia, make sure that the medical centre accepts the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC confirms the right to receive the necessary and/or emergency medical treatment to the same extent as would be received by a local resident.

If you are not an EU citizen and do not have an EHIC card, but require emergency medical assistance, you will have to pay the full cost of the services. Acquiring a travel insurance policy is recommended.

Twenty-four hour emergency assistance is provided by any regional hospital:

• Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, Pilsoņu iela 13, Rīga;
• Rīga East University Hospital, Gaiļezers Clinic, Hipokrāta iela 2, Rīga;
• Daugavpils Regional Hospital, Vasarnīcu iela 20, Daugavpils;
• Liepāja Regional Hospital, Slimnīcas iela 25, Liepāja;
• Northern Kurzeme Regional Hospital , Inženieru iela 60, Ventspils;
• Vidzeme Hospital, Jumaras iela 195, Valmiera;
• Jelgava City Hospital, Brīvības bulvāris 6, Jelgava.

EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES

Tourists can turn to the embassy of their country whenever they find themselves in an extreme situation, for example, losing a passport, being left with no means of subsistence, or the occurrence of a serious illness or death. Depending on each country's legal and financial capabilities, those dealing with mishaps will be assisted. For contact information about foreign missions in Latvia, visit the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.

Information source: http://www.latvia.travel/en