Latvia uses the euro and is a member of the Eurozone, the EU, and the Schengen area, having adopted the euro in 2014. Card and contactless payments are widely used, particularly in Riga and other larger towns.
Published September 15, 2026 · 2 min read
Latvia adopted the euro in 2014 as a Eurozone member. Because Latvia is in the Eurozone, the euro does not fluctuate against other member countries' currencies, only against non-euro currencies like the US dollar. This stability simplifies financial planning for residents and visitors traveling within the Eurozone.
Card and contactless payments are widely used in Latvia, particularly in Riga and other larger towns. Most shops, restaurants, and hotels accept cards without issue. If you hold funds in a non-euro currency or crypto, your card converts at the point of payment or ATM withdrawal.
Visitors carrying non-euro cash can exchange it at banks, currency exchange offices, or airport kiosks in Latvia. Each provider sets its own exchange rate and fee structure. Comparing rates before exchanging helps you avoid paying more than necessary for the same service.
A card funded from a crypto wallet, such as the Nexus Pay Visa card, converts your balance to euros at the point of payment or ATM withdrawal in Latvia. This works the same way as in any other Eurozone country.
Nexus Pay supports funding across six networks and includes in-app coin swaps, giving you flexibility in how you hold and spend funds.
Traditional exchange services, bank cards, and crypto-funded cards each have trade-offs in convenience, fees, and exchange rates. If you already hold crypto, a card like Nexus Pay lets you spend directly in euros without a separate exchange step. If you prefer cash or a traditional bank account, those remain reliable choices in Latvia.
In Telegram, in a minute, with no paperwork.
Open Nexus Pay
Opening…