Is time an issue? Riga to Moscow is 16 hours on an overnight train — the only option. To St. Petersburg is 12 hours by train. There’s an overnight train everyday and about 1 day train a week. Amsterdam to Brussels is 3 hours and there are a couple of trains an hour to choose from. There’s a train station right at the Brussels airport, so with a change at Brussels Nord, it’s easy to get from either Amsterdam or Schipol airport to the Brussels airport.

There have been some positive posts about Europebyair. I’ve booked a flight with them for next month. They sent two confirming e-mails and called to check my departure date and tell me they’d be sending the ticket in 2 days within 10 minutes of me booking the flight.

I would fly Brussels – Moscow. Not only much faster, but Riga-Moscow train is expensive, it can easily cost 30-40 euro.

Having not flown this route yet, I would probably take the flight from Brussels. I highly doubt KLM or Aeroflot will be less on the route, but doesn’t hurt to run it through Travelocity flex date search to be sure.

Thanks for the advice.. Andrew, is there much to see in Riga?

Haven’t been there myself, first of all
It is a pleasant town and many people like it. Although from what I’ve heard (even from the people who liked it) I have a feeling that it is just one more nice-looking town. If you have enough time, why not visit it for a copuple of days but if time matters I would skip it with no hesitations

If you`re able to get a flight price $99, fly.

A train Riga-Moscow costs from 35 EUR in open car with 56+ bunks [platzkart] to 100 EUR in 1st class. All one way.

Another option is overnight bus for 20 EUR.

Been to Riga, loved it. It’s like Prague, but less touristy.