8 hoursSigulda, Turaida & the Gauja ValleyLatvia's green heart: the medieval ramparts of Cēsis, the brick castle of Turaida, and Gūtmaņa cave below the cliffs of the Gauja Valley.From $228(≈ €195)Read the trip ← Day trips · Latvia
Day trips from Riga.
The beach at Jūrmala is half an hour away, the Gauja valley an hour, and Rundāle, Latvia's baroque palace, an easy drive south. Here is every day we run from Riga, what you can do on your own, and when to go.
How long
Riga
Latvia9 8 hoursSigulda, Turaida & the Gauja ValleyLatvia's green heart: the medieval ramparts of Cēsis, the brick castle of Turaida, and Gūtmaņa cave below the cliffs of the Gauja Valley.From $228(≈ €195)Read the trip 
10 hoursRundāle Palace & the Hill of CrossesTwo opposite poles in one day. The Rastrelli baroque of Rundāle, the Versailles of the north, then the spontaneous, decades-old pilgrim memorial at the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai.From $310(≈ €265)Read the trip 
Riga sits in the middle of Latvia, on the coast, so most of the country's best days out are within ninety minutes: Jūrmala's beach and wooden villas to the west, Sigulda, Turaida Castle and the Gauja valley to the north-east, and Rundāle Palace to the south. Cape Kolka, where the Gulf of Riga meets the open sea, is the long one.
Every trip on this page is private: your own guide, and your own car and driver where the day leaves the city. Pickup is from your hotel, the start time is yours, and you can add a stop on the way.
Doing it without a tour.
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jūrmala (Majori) | Train from Riga Central Station | about 30 to 40 minutes |
| Sigulda | Train on the Valga line | about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 |
| Ķemeri National Park | Train towards Tukums | about 1 hour |
| Rundāle Palace | Bus to Bauska, then local bus or taxi; a direct bus in summer | about 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Cape Kolka | Bus, very few departures | 3 hours or more: a car makes it a day |
Jūrmala and Sigulda are easy by train and cost a few euros. Rundāle is possible by bus with a careful eye on the return, and Cape Kolka needs a car.
Every month works, differently.
June to August is beach season in Jūrmala, and the Gauja valley is green and good for walking. Late September and early October turn the valley around Sigulda red and gold, and it is the most photographed time of year there.
In winter the days are short, under seven hours of light in December. Sigulda has a public bobsled ride and the bog boardwalk at Ķemeri is beautiful in snow, while Rundāle's rooms are quiet and the gardens rest until spring.
- What is the best day trip from Riga?
- Sigulda and Turaida Castle, for most first visits: a medieval castle above a river valley, sandstone caves and walking paths, an hour from Riga. Rundāle Palace is the grandest day, and Jūrmala the easiest.
- Can I do a day trip from Riga without a car?
- Yes, to Jūrmala and Sigulda, both on the railway and both a few euros each way. Ķemeri is also by train. Rundāle is possible by bus via Bauska with planning. Cape Kolka really needs a car.
- Can I see Rundāle Palace and the Hill of Crosses in one day?
- Yes. They are about an hour apart by car, south of Riga, and our day covering both takes about ten hours. It is a full day, but it is the most efficient way to see either.
- How far is Rundāle Palace from Riga?
- About 80 km south, roughly an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half by car. Allow two hours for the palace and the French gardens.
- Are the day trips private?
- Yes. Every trip is only your party, with your own guide, and your own car and driver where the day leaves the city. There are no shared coaches.