Tourist’s First Impression of Riga Begins on the Airport Bus, and It Is Confusing

A tourist’s first trip from Riga Airport to the city center ended with an awkward attempt to buy a ticket on the No. 22 bus. According to a Latvian woman who witnessed the exchange, the passenger asked in English how to pay but did not receive a helpful explanation.

Instead, she said, the driver, who also worked as a ticket inspector, loudly repeated: “I don’t speak! I don’t speak!” The response left the woman unpleasantly surprised, particularly because the route is the only public transport connection between Riga Airport and the city center and is used regularly by foreign visitors.

The incident also prompted questions about whether ticket information is clear enough for people arriving in Riga for the first time. The woman said the passenger could not easily determine where to find English-language instructions on buying a ticket, a problem she considered especially important on the airport route.

A discussion followed on social media, with users debating the clarity of ticket information for foreigners. Public transport company Rīgas satiksme said English instructions are available at the airport stop and next to ticket machines, where passengers can select English and purchase a ticket. Bilingual information is also displayed inside the No. 22 bus near the driver’s cab.

The company said it would assess the specific incident and check how the inspector and passenger communicated. It also announced plans to enable passengers to pay for rides by bank card in the future.

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I don’t speak! I don’t speak!