LANGUAGE
The state language in Latvia is Latvian. Many people also speak Russian
CLIMATE
Average air temperature:
January - 6 C
July + 17 C
Information:
www.meteo.lv
NATIONAL CURRENCY
Latvian lats 1 armor = 100 santims
To exchange any currency is possible in the banks, the exchange points in the hotels, the post offices and on the stations.
Information:
Latvian Bank
SHOPS
Stores on the workdays are opened from 10.00 to 19.00, and on Saturdays - from 10.00 to 16.00.
Product stores and department stores are usually opened from 8.00 to 22.00.
There are also the product stores, which work twenty-four hour.
The biggest shops in Riga:
Galactico
CONNECTION
Code of Latvia - 371.
Telephone calls through the operator: beyond the limits of Latvia - 115, on Latvia - 116.
In the coin-operated telephones "lattelekom" the connection is achieved with the aid of the special telephone cards, by cost 2,5 and 10 lats.
Cards can be acquired in the kiosks, the post offices and in some stores.
International telephone conversations can be accomplished from the hotel, the coin-operated telephones on the street or from the departments of telegraph.
For the telephone calls the following tariffs in the minute adapt: local (2 santims), on Latvia (6,5 santims), on the Baltic region (23 santims), into Belarus' and Russia (55 santims), into the Scandinavian countries (60 santims), into Europe (93 santims), into North America and Israel (1,70 lats).
More info:
Lattelecom
TIPS
In the restaurants percentage for the maintenance usually is already included in. Otherwise to waiter it is possible to leave 5-10% "to the tea". It is also accepted to give tip to taxi drivers and employees of hotel.
TIME
GMT +2, from April to November GMT +3
HOLIDAYS
1 January - New year
1 May - Labor day
23-24 June – Ligo
18 November - Proclamation of republic
24-25 December – Christmas
31 December - Eve Of new Year
