FairSIM eSIM for Latvia
Latvia is a small country you cover fast. Riga Old Town and the Art Nouveau streets take a couple of days, the train to Jūrmala runs in half an hour, and Sigulda, Cēsis and the Gauja valley are an easy day trip. Almost none of it is bookable at a counter. Bolt for rides and scooters, Mobilly for parking, an e-talons top-up for Riga trams, Wolt when it rains. All of it wants data.
A FairSIM eSIM connects to LMT, Bite or Tele2, the three Latvian networks. LMT and Tele2 run 5G in Riga and the larger towns, Bite is 4G, and 4G coverage along the main roads and the coast is solid. You install the profile over Wi-Fi before you fly, switch the line on at Riga Airport, and skip the kiosk queue entirely. Every plan supports Personal Hotspot.
One local quirk worth knowing: in Latgale, near the Russian and Belarusian borders, your phone can pick up signal from across the line. If the bars drop or the network name looks wrong, choose LMT, Bite or Tele2 by hand in network settings. The border strip itself is a restricted zone that needs a permit, so stay on the public roads and trails.
- CarriersLMT
- CompatibilityCheck if eSIM is available on your phone
- No days lostPurchase now, data will start when you arrive
Latvia eSIM plans
Plan starts: On first data use
Coverage in Latvia
- 4G LTE5G
LMT
Part of the Telia group and the network with the widest rural reach, including 5G in Riga and regional centres. A common host for travel eSIMs.
- 4G LTE5G
Bite
The third network, strong in Riga and the bigger towns. 4G LTE only, no 5G on this network.
- 4G LTE5G
Tele2
Large nationwide network with 5G in Riga, Jūrmala and other urban areas, and dense 4G along the main roads.
5G on LMT and Tele2 in Riga and larger towns, with 4G LTE nationwide. Bite is 4G only.
Typical speed: Fast enough in Riga for video calls, hotspot work and uploads on 5G. Outside the cities you are on 4G, which is steady on the main roads and the coast.
Riga, Jūrmala, Liepāja, Daugavpils, Valmiera, Sigulda and the A-road network are well covered. Expect thinner signal in the deep forest of Gauja National Park, parts of Latgale, the Kurzeme bogs and around Cape Kolka.
How much data do you need in Latvia?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
Riga city break, 2 to 4 nights
Old Town, the Central Market, Art Nouveau streets and a night in Miera iela.
Why data matters: Bolt rides, e-talons and tram routes, restaurant bookings, museum tickets and maps in a city where the street names are long and the signs are Latvian.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Baltic road trip
Riga with Tallinn or Vilnius, by bus, train or rental car.
Why data matters: Lux Express and Ecolines tickets, live bus tracking, border-free driving and hotel check-ins on the move. A Latvia plan covers Latvia only, so buy a Europe regional plan if you are crossing borders.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
Jūrmala beach and spa summer
Train from Riga, pine forest, and a week of sauna and sand.
Why data matters: Vivi train times, spa bookings, Wolt and Bolt Food to the apartment, and photo uploads from the beach on 5G.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Gauja valley and outdoors
Sigulda, Cēsis, canoeing, bobsleigh and forest trails.
Why data matters: Offline maps as a backup, trail and tour bookings, weather radar, and calls to a canoe rental that only answers a mobile. Signal thins under the tree cover.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Remote work or business in Riga
A few weeks in a Riga apartment or a run of meetings.
Why data matters: Teams and Zoom on 5G, Personal Hotspot for the laptop when the apartment Wi-Fi stalls, and large file uploads.
- 7 days
- 20 GB
- 14 days
- Unlimited
- 30 days
- Unlimited
What your home carrier charges in Latvia
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for Latvia start at $5.99 and never bill per day.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T International Day Pass (US) | $12 per day per line, $6 for each additional line, charged only on the days you use it | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $12 per line per day, 5 GB of high-speed data per day then slower speeds | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| EE (UK) | £2.72 per day, or £16.50 for a 7-day EU pass and £30 for 15 days | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Orange or Telekom (EU) | Included under EU roam-like-at-home rules within your plan's fair-use limit | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Telstra International Day Pass (Australia) | A$10 per day with 2 GB of data | from $5.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
Three steps between you and the internet abroad. Nothing to pick up at the airport.
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for Latvia
Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi and turn the line on after you land at Riga Airport. Validity normally starts at the first connection to a Latvian network.
Bus 22 runs from Riga Airport to the centre for a couple of euros in about 30 minutes; Bolt is cheap if there are two of you.
Buy an e-talons card at a Narvesen kiosk for Riga trams and buses. Tickets bought on board cost more.
If your phone wanders onto a foreign network near the Russian or Belarusian border, pick LMT, Bite or Tele2 by hand in network settings.
Download offline maps for Gauja National Park, Kurzeme and Latgale before you drive out of Riga.
Everything closes early on Jāņi, 23 and 24 June. Shop before, and book accommodation on the coast months ahead.
Winter cold flattens batteries fast. Keep the phone in an inside pocket and carry a power bank.
Keep your home SIM in the phone with its data roaming switched off, so you still receive bank and airline SMS codes.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Latvia has genuinely good free Wi-Fi. Riga Airport, most cafés, hotels, shopping centres, the Vivi trains and many public squares are covered, and the passwords are usually on the receipt. What it does not cover is the walk between places, the bus out to Kolka, a canoe day on the Gauja, or a Bolt you need to order at 2 a.m. in the rain. Treat Wi-Fi as a bonus for big downloads and let the eSIM handle the rest.
Local SIM card or eSIM in Latvia?
LMT, Bite and Tele2 all sell prepaid starter packs, and they are cheap by European standards. You will find them in operator stores, Narvesen kiosks, Rimi and Maxima supermarkets and at Riga Airport. Top-ups happen in the operator app, at a kiosk or online. Latvia is moving towards mandatory prepaid registration, so carry your passport and expect to be asked for ID details for the number.
The trade-off is time and admin. A local SIM means finding a shop with English-speaking staff, swapping out your home SIM, and activating a pack in an app you cannot read. A FairSIM eSIM installs over Wi-Fi before you leave home, roams on the same LMT, Bite or Tele2 towers, keeps your home number live for bank codes, and needs no paperwork. It is data-only, so calls go through WhatsApp, Messenger or FaceTime.
Latvia eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in Latvia?
Yes. Any unlocked eSIM phone connects to LMT, Bite or Tele2 with a travel eSIM. On iPhone that means XS, XR or newer, and iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install.
Which network will my Latvia eSIM use?
LMT, Bite or Tele2, depending on the plan and local signal. LMT has the widest rural reach, Tele2 is strong in and around Riga, Bite covers the cities on 4G. The app shows the network for each plan.
Is there 5G in Latvia?
Yes, on LMT and Tele2 in Riga and the larger towns. Bite is 4G only. Outside the cities you will mostly be on 4G, which is fine for maps, calls and streaming.
Can I use my Latvia eSIM in Estonia or Lithuania?
No. A Latvia plan works in Latvia only. If you are doing Riga plus Tallinn or Vilnius, buy a Europe regional plan instead, or a second country plan from the same app.
Can I make calls and send texts?
FairSIM is data-only, so there is no local number and no SMS. Use WhatsApp, Messenger, FaceTime or Signal over the data connection. Your home SIM can stay in the phone for incoming bank codes.
Can I use Personal Hotspot in Latvia?
Yes. Every FairSIM plan supports Personal Hotspot, with no separate cap on tethered data.
Should I install the eSIM before or after I land?
Install it before, over home Wi-Fi, because the QR install needs a connection. Then switch the line and data roaming on when you arrive in Latvia.
How much data do I need for a week in Latvia?
A long weekend in Riga on maps, ride apps and messaging runs 1 to 3 GB. A week with some streaming and video calls is closer to 5 to 8 GB. Take more if you tether a laptop.
Local SIM or eSIM for Latvia?
Latvian prepaid is cheap, but it means a shop visit, possibly ID for registration, and swapping out your home SIM. A travel eSIM roams on the same LMT, Bite or Tele2 towers, installs before you fly and leaves your home number working.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer, on iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install with no QR code. iPhones bought in mainland China do not support eSIM at all, even when unlocked. Not sure yours is unlocked? Check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock, or ask your carrier. The full list is on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
