Money
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.
Travellers cheques
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers 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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