If you are in Riga and looking to explore more of Latvia and are wondering where to go, this post has you covered! From spectacular castles to raw nature, there is a lot that you can see when you venture out of Latvia’s capital city. Keep reading to find out where to go for some amazing day trips from Riga!
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Table of Contents
Day Trips from Riga
Hill of Crosses
This is one of the furthest day trips from Riga and is actually located in Lithuania! The Hill of Crosses is a small hill covered with over 100,000 crosses of all sizes, styles, and materials, placed by pilgrims and visitors. It’s such an interesting place and the sheer number of crosses was hard to comprehend.
This site came into being during the time Lithuania was occupied by the Soviets. The authorities repeatedly bulldozed this site but it became a place of faith and perseverance through hardships. Despite their best efforts, the locals continued to replace the crosses overnight. It soon became a symbol of Lithuanian national identity and resistance.
The site is free to access and open 24/7.
Getting to Hill of Crosses
- Self-drive – This is the best and most efficient way to see the Hill of Crosses. The site is located 120 kilometers from Riga.
- Guided tour – See below in the “Combined Day Trips from Riga” section
Rundale Palace
Located about 80 kilometers or an hour south of Riga, Rundale Palace is often considered as the Versailles in the Baltics! This18th century palace, built for the Duke Ernst Johann Biron, ruler of the Duchy of Courland, is a beautiful example of a baroque and rococo-style palace. It was built by the same architect who built St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace and Catherine Palace in Russia.
I spent about 2.5 hours at Rundale Palace and really enjoyed my time here. Check out the grand palace, the palace museum and the beautifully curated French gardens.
Getting to Rundale
- Self-drive – Takes around 1 hour 15 minutes but is the most efficient.
- Bus – First get to Bauska and then transfer from Bauska to Rundale. Take bus line 5313 or 6383 from Bauska and get off at “Rundales pils”. Takes around 2 hours.
- Guided tours – See below in the “Combined Day Trips from Riga” section.
Bauska Castle
This castle is located around 70 kilometers or 1 hour from Riga and is an easy day trip or even half day trip from the capital city.
Bauska Castle is actually two distinct structures built in different time periods, side by side. The castle was built by the Livonian Order around 1443 as a fortress to defend against attacks from Lithuania and to control trade routes. It was badly damaged during wars in the 17th and 18th centuries, especially during the Great Northern War, and is now in ruins. After the fall of the Livonian Order in the 16th century, the Duke Gotthard Kettler, built a brand new renaissance-style palace called Ducal Palace next to the ruins of the medieval fortress. The site became a residence for the Dukes of Courland, a powerful duchy under Polish–Lithuanian influence.
What to See
- The Medieval Castle Ruins – Explore towers, walls, and defense structures with views over the river valley.
- Restored Ducal Palace: – Renovated with period interiors showing how nobility lived.
- Museum Exhibits – Focus on the history of the Courland duchy, castle life, and archaeological findings.
- Panoramic Tower – You can climb the tower for great views over the Bauska town and surrounding countryside.
Once you are done exploring the castle, head over to ‘Bauska’s Old Town. Explore this quaint little town with its cobblestone streets and historic churches or grab a bite to eat at a local eatery before heading back to Riga.
See HERE for hours, tickets and more information.
Note – Bauska castle is closed on Monday from November to April.
Getting to Bauska
- Self-drive – Takes about an hour or so from Riga.
- Bus – Departs hourly and takes around 70 minutes.
Jūrmala
Located just around 25 kilometers from Riga, Jūrmala is one of the most popular day trips from Riga, especially during summer. It is Latvia’s famous seaside resort town with a white-sand beach stretching for over 26 kilometers!
What to See
- Enjoy the beach – The popular spots are Majori, Dzintari, and Bulduri.
- Have a spa day at one of the hotels (Baltic Beach Hotel, Hotel Jurmala Spa, Lielupe Hotel) which has day spa access.
- Check out the over 400 historic wooden villas, many from the 19th and early 20th centuries, in Art Nouveau and National Romantic styles. These were once summer homes for Baltic aristocrats and Russian nobility.
- Rent a bike and ride along the beachfront or forest trails.
- Stroll down Jomas iela – This is the lively pedestrian street in Majori which is lined with restaurants, art galleries, cafes and shops.
Getting to Jūrmala
- Self-drive – Usually takes 25-35 minutes. Need to pay the Jūrmala entry pass toll.
- Taxi – Same time as driving. You can take a Bolt which is relatively reasonable.
- Trains – Also takes 25-35 minutes and departs from Riga every 30 minutes or so.
- Bus – Takes 30-40 minutes from Riga.
Ķemeri National Park
Located about 45 kilometers west of Riga, it’s the third-largest national park in the country. This park is best known for its vast bogs, mineral springs, and wildlife. It’s the national park that is closest to Riga and therefore makes for one of the best day trips from Riga.
Once at Kemeri, you can visit The Great Ķemeri Bog. The bog has a wooden boardwalk trail that you can walk on to explore. There is a 1.4 kilometer short loop or a 3.4 kilometer long loop .There is also a viewing tower at the end of the long trail for panoramic views.
Sunrise is supposed to be the best time to visit Kemeri with with mist, reflections in bog pools, and birds chirping in the air. You can also visit some sulfur springs and old spa ruins.
Kemeri used to be a spa resort town in the 19th and 20th century and sits atop sulfur-rich underground waters.
Getting to Kemeri
- Self drive – About a 45-minute drive from Riga.
- Train – Riga to Ķemeri Station (~1 hour), then ~1.5 km walk to the park entrance.
- Bus – Rīgas SAO (coach station) to Kemeri. Takes around 70 minutes and will have to walk another 30 minutes to the park entrance.
- Tour – Check out some options below!
Sigulda
Sigulda is located around 50 kilometers or about 50 minutes by car from Riga. It is often referred to as the Switzerland of Latvia because of its hilly terrain, scenic valleys, natural beauty and medieval castles.
Once at Sigulda, you can opt to either see historic sites or immerse yourself in nature or do a combination of the two.
What to See
Castles & Historic Sites
- Turaida Castle – A red-brick medieval castle built in 1214. Climb the tower for panoramic views and explore the surrounding Turaida Museum Reserve, which includes a sculpture garden and ancient church.
- Sigulda Medieval Castle (Livonian Order Castle) – Ruins of a 13th-century castle, partially restored.
- Krimulda Manor and Castle Ruins – Across the river, reachable by cable car or hiking trail.
Adventure Activities
- Sigulda Cable Car – Spanning the Gauja River, this offers stunning views of the valley, especially in the fall.
- Bobsleigh and Luge Track – One of the few in Eastern Europe open to visitors; you can even ride with a professional in winter.
- Aerodium – An outdoor vertical wind tunnel where you will feel like you are flying/
- Zip-lining and hiking trails – Particularly around the Gauja valley.
Natural Wonders
- Gauja National Par – Sigulda is situated within Latvia’s largest and oldest national park. You’ll find forests, sandstone cliffs, caves, and the winding Gauja River, perfect for hiking, canoeing, or nature photography.
- Gutmanis Cave – The oldest known tourist attraction in Latvia. Covered with centuries-old inscriptions, this sandstone cave is linked to the legend of the Rose of Turaida, a local tragic love story.
Getting to Sigulda
- Self driving – Takes a little less than an hour and is the most efficient way to get there.
- Bus or train – Takes a little over an hour (1.25 hours), making it another day trip from Riga that you can visit independently.
- Tours – If you rather have someone else take care of the logistic, then check out these tour below!
Kuldiga
Located 150 kilometers from Riga, Kuldiga is often called the “Venice of Latvia” and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This quaint city has cobblestone streets, red roofs and beautiful architecture.
What to See
- Ventas Rumba – The widest waterfall in Europe at 249 meters across (though only 2 meters high).
- Kuldīga Brick Bridge – Built in 1874, it’s one of the longest functioning brick bridges in Europe. Best view of ventas rumba.
- Explore Kuldiga Old Town
- Walk along the Aleksupīte river
- Kuldīga District Museum
- Visit St. Catherine’s church – Baroque-style church dating back to the 17th century.
- Explore craft beer and wine bars
- Visit art galleries and shops
Getting to Kuldiga
- Self drive – Takes about 2.5 hours by car
- Bus – Takes a round 3-3.5 hours.
- Guided tour – See below for options
Combined Day Trips from Riga
Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle
You can easily combine the Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle in one trip. Start your day around 8 AM from Riga and cross the Lithuanian border over to the Hill of Crosses. From there, return back to Latvia and visit Rundale Palace before proceeding to Bauska Castle and then back to Riga. This is perhaps one of the best day trips from Riga where you get to see not one but 3 places in 2 countries.
How to Get There
Self-Drive
You can rent a car in Riga and then do the drive yourself. Crossing the border to Lithuania is easy because there is no actual border crossing. The roads are easy to drive so I recommend this if you don’t mind driving.
Group Tour
This group tour combines 3 day trips from Riga into 1 day and gets raving reviews!
Private Tour
I took a private tour and was perfect! They picked me up on time and gave me ample time at each place. I definitely recommend this tour if you are looking for a more private option.
Note – Regardless of if you are self-driving or taking a group or private tour, it’s best advised to take your passport with you. Although there is no official boarder crossing from Latvia to Lithuania and back, there can be border guards occasionally. You don’t want to miss out on one of the best day trips from Riga because you didn’t bring your passport!
Jūrmala & Ķemeri National Park
You can also combine Jūrmala & Ķemeri National Park into one day trip. The two are about 20 minutes a part making it one of the easiest day trip from Riga to combine into one day. To do this, first visit Kemeri. If you can, visit for sunrise as that is when the Kemeri bog walk is the prettiest. Once you are done at Kemeri, relax at Jūrmala at the beach or get a spa treatment.
How to Get There
- Self drive – This is the easiest and most efficient.
- Train – You can take a train to Kemeri station and then another train from Kemeri to Jūrmala once done.
- Bus – You can take a bus from Rīgas SAO and then a train from Kemeri to Jūrmala once done.
- Guided tour – Check out some tours that combine both.
Vilnius and Tallinn
You maybe wondering if it is possible to do day trips from Riga to Vilnius and Tallinn. Vilnius is 3.5 hours away and Tallinn is almost 4 hours away from Riga. I don’t recommend visiting these 2 cities as day trips. For one, you will spend a considerable amount of time on the road, especially when you consider it from a round trip perspective and two, I think these cities deserve a bit more time than a day trip (at least an overnight).
Wondering what to see and do in Riga? check out my detailed guide HERE!
Car Rental
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