The official language is English, but many people also speak Russian, German and Lithuanian.
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The official currency is the Lat. One lat equals 100 santims. Outside of Riga, the capital, credit cards are rarely accepted. Money can be exchanged at banks, some hotels and at money change kiosks. The larger cities usually have ATMs.
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The international country code is 371. To call out to another country from Latvia, dial 00 followed by the appropriate country code (0044 for the UK, for example). The number of Internet cafes in Riga is steadily increasing.
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Restaurants will sometimes include a service charge in their bill. If not, it’s customary to round up the bill to 10 per cent if the service was good. Taxi drivers and hotel staff should be tipped small change.
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Most tourists don’t have any trouble in Latvia, but you should use common sense to guard yourself against street crime. Muggings are a possibility, especially if walking alone or at night.
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There are no vaccination requirements for Latvia. It’s a good idea to get vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis if you’re hiking in the countryside, especially between March and October. Outbreaks of rabies and meningitis also occur. Ensure you have an EHIC card and adequate travel insurance.
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Latvia’s electrical current is 220 volts AC, 50Hz and uses two-pinned plugs.
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