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As inviting as Riga is – with its ornate Art Nouveaux architecture, twisting cobblestone lanes and quaint cafes – it shouldn’t be the sole destination on a trip to Latvia. The country is too diverse to see only one part of it!
While we were never at a loss for Riga things to do, we also wanted to explore beyond the capital city to get a glimpse of the nearby natural splendors. On day trips from Riga, we strolled on sandy beaches in Jurmala and hiked through the shaded mountains of Sigulda.
Best Day Trips From Riga, Latvia
Latvia is a small country – roughly the same size as the U.S. state of West Virginia. The long stretch of coastline and forest-covered hills are within easy reach of Riga. The two most popular Riga excursions – to Jurmala and Sigulda – are close enough that they could both be visited in a single day. However, we suggest spending more time in each location to fully enjoy your day tours from Riga.
Both destinations can be reached using inexpensive public transportation. For those who prefer organized excursions, there are both private and group tours that depart from Riga daily.
Save, Pin or Bookmark our Guide To Riga Day Trips for your vacation to Latvia!
Day Trip From Riga to Jurmala
Looking for a Riga beach? Go west until you reach the beachfront town of Jurmala! With miles of white, powder-sand beaches along the Gulf of Riga, Jurmala is a top summer destination in Latvia. Visiting in the autumn, we quickly realized there is more to do in Jurmala than get a tan.
We walked along the beach and explored the wooded parks bordering the sandy shore. Following crisscrossing trails, we were astounded by the number, variety and size of mushrooms we spotted. The least crowded beaches – and our favorite forests – were west of Jurmala, near the Kauguri neighborhood.
In the center of Jurmala, a pedestrian-only street runs from across the Majori Train Station to the popular Dzintaru Park. Along the wide street are art galleries, tourist shops, cafes and restaurants. We stopped at Alus Krodzins, a cozy pub with outdoor space that serves inexpensive local beer and traditional dishes.
Throughout Jurmala are historic buildings and sculptures. Among our favorites were The Turtle sculpture at the Sea Pavilion, the Jurmala Globe at the east end of Jomas Iela and the former bathhouse of E. Racene, a 2-story wooden structure right on the beach.
In Dzintaru Park, we beelined to the lookout tower. The 110-foot-tall tower just peeks out over the tree tops. It’s free to make the climb to the top for 360-degree views of Jurmala and out to sea. Park visitors can also bring their rollerblades to cruise around the skate park or test their balance on the ropes course (for a fee).
Before leaving Jurmala, we dined at Kurins for a Latvian meal on the seaside (reservations recommended). The wooden house sits right on Kauguru Beach and serves enormous portions of local comfort food. We feasted on meaty dishes covered in mushrooms; a fantastic ending to our time by the sea in Jurmala!
Getting to Jurmala from Riga
It is easiest to get from Riga to Jurmala by rental car, however, during the summer traffic congestion and parking can be an issue. For our trip to Jurmala during the autumn, we relied on public transportation from Riga.
Riga Jurmala Train
To get from Riga to Jurmala by train is pretty straight-forward. Trains depart from the Riga Central Station (Riga Pasazieru) several times a day. The stop closest to the center of Jurmala is Majori. It takes about 30 minutes to travel by train to Jurmala from Riga. Tickets cost €1.50 each way and the current Riga Jurmala train schedule can be found on the official website.
Tips for your Riga to Jurmala Day Trip
- If you plan on leaving the center of Jurmala town to explore the Kauguri neighborhood, you will want to take a local bus or taxi. The bus stop is across the street from the Majori Train Station.
- The Jurmala Tourist Information Office (official website) provides free maps that highlight all the top sights and attractions in Jurmala.
Riga Day Trip to Sigulda
Any Riga itinerary wouldn’t be complete without making a trip to Sigulda, a fairytale town just an hour train ride away from the city. Forest-covered mountains topped with castles and ruins are the highlights of Riga Sigulda day trips.
We started our day in the Sigulda town center and set out on foot to see the region’s top attractions. Unlike Jurmala, where we simply wanted to breathe in the fresh sea air, in Sigulda we had specific sights we wanted to see – castles! Using the suggested routes outlined on the free map from the Sigulda Tourist Office, we routed our way to the Sigulda, Krimulda and Turaida Castles.
The medieval Sigulda Castle dates to the 13th century and is much closer than it looked on the map. Once we had taken in the views, our next stop was the pretty Sigulda Lutheran Church. We stepped inside to take a peek and learned that visitors could climb the stairs to the top of the bell tower…which, of course, we did!
To cross the Gauja River Valley, we opted to take the Sigulda Cable Car. The 3/4 of a mile long cable hovers 140 feet above the river and it takes seven minutes to cross from one side to the other. While waiting for the next cable car to arrive, we walked to a lookout point and got our first look at Turaida Castle in the distance.
Once we arrived on the west bank of the river, we explored the grounds of Krimulda Manor and found the crumbling ruins of the 13th century Krimulda Castle. Winding our way through the forest trails, we eventually came to Gutman’s Cave, which is rumored to have healing waters flowing from it.
After dipping our hands into the stream and waiting for that fountain of youth feeling, we continued our hike through the forest until we reached the Turaida Castle. Since the time was ticking by and we had a train to catch to Riga, we hopped on a bus from Turaida Castle back to Sigulda Central Square Station.
Getting from Riga to Sigulda
For the most freedom to discover, it is best to rent a car to get from Riga to Sigulda. We again relied on public transportation, and while it left us a bit short on time, it worked out fine in the end.
Riga Sigulda Train
To get from Riga to Sigulda by train is fairly simple, as well. Trains depart from the Central Riga Station multiple times a day and take 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to Sigulda. Tickets cost €2.10 each way and a current Riga Sigulda train timetable can be found on their website.
Tips for your Riga to Sigulda Day Trip
- The Sigulda Tourist Information Office (official website), conveniently located in the same building as the train station, provides free maps with highlighted routes to top sights in the area. The map is also available in the Riga Tourist Information Office (located on Ratslaukums). We recommend picking up a map a day in advance to plan your Sigulda sightseeing route.
- To maximize our time on the hiking trails and at the attractions, we packed a picnic lunch. There are benches and picnic tables located along the trails and near the sights in Sigulda.
Advice For Day Trips from Riga, Latvia
With just 2 days in Riga it is possible to take one – or both – of these day trips. On a Riga weekend break, you could see city, beach and mountains!
Day trips from Riga to Sigulda and Jurmala do not require much in the way of pre-planning. Just remember if taking public transportation, it’s a good idea to have the return schedule prior to setting off.
Would you rather take one of the organized Riga day tours? You can find more information about what tours from Riga are available on Viator. Full-day, private tours to Jurmala include the beach, fisherman villages and nature trails. To visit the castles in Sigulda, consider joining this highly rated half-day tour. Want to see even more castles? Take a full-day tour from Riga to visit five Latvian Castles and Palaces!
Our Top Tips For Your Trip to Riga, Latvia
Are you ready to visit Latvia? Super! We have a few more suggestions and hacks for packing to make for a great trip to Riga.
Where To Stay in Riga
During our visit to Riga, we booked an amazing Airbnb Apartment. We have found that staying in apartments is often less expensive than hotel rooms – with the added benefit of a kitchen and, usually, more space.
However, for those who prefer staying in traditional accommodations, there are many Riga Hotels to choose from in – or close to – the city center.
Check out these top-rated hotels in Riga (based on guest reviews) for your upcoming trip: Relais Le Chevalier, Neiburgs Hotel and Grand Palace Hotel. Budget travelers can search for top-rated Riga Hostels – like Tree House and Green Cat Hostel.
Getting To Riga
The International Airport in Riga (RIX) is located 6 miles west of the Old Town. Read our tips on purchasing cheap plane tickets, then search for the best deal on Skyscanner. Additionally, you might want to book your transfer from Riga Airport to the city in advance.
There are five regional train lines in Latvia, but the only international connection is with Estonia. Several bus routes connect Riga internationally. We used Eurolines to get from Riga to Tallinn.
Before You Go To Riga
- Find more advice in our guides to the Best Things To Do in Riga & Top Riga Craft Beer Bars!
- Don’t forget to pack a pair of lightweight and comfortable travel shoes for your trip. I (Sarah) have traveled with these shoes by Columbia and Reef. Kris prefers Merrell and Sanuk.
- We’re certain you’ll be snapping tons of photos during your trip to the Baltics. Rather than relying on your phone to capture the sights, upgrade to an actual camera for high quality photos. We shoot with a Canon Rebel and a 18-135mm lens, a setup that takes amazing photos and is an excellent budget camera option.
- Make sure to have a good guidebook before arriving in Riga and a great day pack to organize your day trip travel essentials!
- If you haven’t already obtained insurance, consider traveling protected with World Nomads.
Start planning your trip to Latvia! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
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