Helsinki to Riga is one of the Baltic region’s most convenient short hops — a non-stop of well under an hour and a half, flown year-round by both airBaltic and Finnair. It is an easy city break or the first leg of a wider Baltic trip. This guide covers who flies HEL → RIX, what a fair return fare looks like in euros, and how to keep it cheap.
Route: Helsinki (HEL) → Riga International (RIX)
Distance: approximately 400 km (250 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 55m – 1h 10m
Direct flights: Yes — Finnair and airBaltic both fly non-stop, with dozens of departures a week. One-stop routings exist but make little sense on a hop this short: every one of the hundred cheapest fares we found is direct, at €104 on Finnair or €110 on airBaltic.
Fares from Helsinki to Riga (EUR)
This is a short intra-Baltic route with strong competition, so fares stay low most of the year. The summer months and the Christmas market season around December carry the highest demand, while the quiet late-autumn and midwinter weeks tend to be cheapest. Because Riga is airBaltic’s home hub, seat supply is generous and last-minute prices are usually reasonable. The figures below are typical economy return fares in euros.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | low |
| February | — | low |
| March | — | medium |
| April | — | medium |
| May | — | medium-high |
| June | — | high |
| July | — | high |
| August | — | high |
| September | — | medium |
| October | — | medium |
| November | — | low |
| December | — | medium-high (Christmas) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, a typical fair price is roughly €90–€110 — and the top of that band is exactly it. A hundred itineraries spanned just €104 to €110: Finnair at €104 for nine in ten of them and airBaltic at €110. There is effectively one price on this route, so a fare at €104 is neither a bargain nor a mistake — it is the fare, and what you are really choosing between is an hour on Finnair or 55 minutes on airBaltic. Fares that include a checked bag sit above that.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 55m – 1h 10m):
- Finnair — non-stop from its Helsinki base, handy for onward connections across Finnair’s network; full-service, with a checked bag on most fare types. It held the cheapest fares in our check, €104–€106, on nine tenths of the low seats.
- airBaltic — Riga is its home hub, so it flies this route frequently; hand baggage is included and checked bags cost extra on the cheapest fares. It was €110 when we checked, slightly dearer than Finnair but the quicker flight at about 55 minutes.
One-stop:
- Connections via a third city exist on paper but add hours to a route you can fly non-stop in barely an hour — there is rarely any reason to choose one on price alone.
With two carriers competing head-to-head and airBaltic based at the Riga end, this is a route where you can almost always find a cheap non-stop — but the competition shows up as a very narrow band rather than as swings: our hundred fares spanned six euros. Compare both airlines and watch the baggage rules rather than just the headline fare.
When to book & how to save
- Book 3–8 weeks ahead for the best short-haul prices; this route rarely needs booking months in advance outside the summer peak.
- Travel in the shoulder or low season — late autumn and midwinter (outside the Christmas market weeks) are the cheapest, while June to August is dearest.
- Go hand-baggage only if you can. On a short city break the cheapest airBaltic fares without a checked bag are excellent value; only add hold luggage if you truly need it.
- Consider a Baltic loop. Riga pairs naturally with Vilnius or Tallinn by bus or a short flight, so an open-jaw ticket can be efficient.
- Check both airlines. airBaltic and Finnair trade the lowest fare depending on the date — comparing the two often saves a useful chunk.
Arriving in Riga
Flights land at Riga International (RIX), about 10 km southwest of the old town. The cheapest way in is city bus 22, which runs to the centre in around 25–30 minutes for roughly €2 (a little more if you buy the ticket from the driver). A taxi or ride-hail to the old town takes about 15 minutes and costs around €12–€20 — agree the fare or use the app rather than taking an unmetered car at the rank.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Helsinki to Riga?
The non-stop flight takes about 55 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes, one of the quicker international hops in the Baltic region. Airborne time is so short that boarding and taxiing account for a fair share of the journey.
Are there direct flights from Helsinki to Riga?
Yes. Finnair and airBaltic both fly non-stop, with dozens of departures a week between them. Because airBaltic is based in Riga there is plenty of choice, and you can find a cheap direct flight without needing to connect — every one of the hundred cheapest fares we checked is direct, at €104–€110 return.
How much does it cost to fly from Helsinki to Riga?
A typical economy return was €104 — the median, the floor and the p80 all at once, because Finnair priced nine tenths of the cheapest seats at €104–€106 and airBaltic the rest at €110. Summer and the December Christmas-market weeks are when the cheap seats run out rather than when the headline fare moves.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Helsinki to Riga?
January, February and November are usually the cheapest, with quiet demand and low fares. The summer months of June to August are the most expensive, along with the run-up to Christmas, so travel in the shoulder or low season for the best value.
Which airlines fly from Helsinki to Riga?
Two carriers fly the route non-stop: Finnair, from its Helsinki base with easy onward connections, and airBaltic, whose home hub is Riga. In our fare check Finnair was the cheaper of the two on every fare — €104–€106 against €110 — and took nine tenths of the lowest seats; airBaltic’s advantage is speed, at about 55 minutes against an hour. Comparing both is still the simplest way to find the cheapest date.
Which airport do I fly into in Riga?
All flights use Riga International (RIX), the city’s single main airport, about 10 km from the old town. Bus 22 reaches the centre in under half an hour for around €2, or a taxi takes about 15 minutes for roughly €12–€20.
How far in advance should I book Helsinki to Riga flights?
For a short route like this, booking 3 to 8 weeks ahead is usually enough to get a good fare. The main exceptions are the summer peak and the Christmas-market weeks, when booking a month or two earlier helps lock in a cheaper non-stop.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Often, yes — midweek flights (Tuesday to Thursday) tend to be a little cheaper than Friday-evening and Sunday city-break departures. Shifting your travel by a day can save €15–€40 on a return, which is meaningful on a route where the base fare is already low.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Prices are indicative economy returns and change with demand — always check the live fare before booking.
