Riga is a small city with a big hinterland, and some of Latvia’s best sights lie within a couple of hours’ travel. Roads are good, trains run to several of the destinations and guided day tours cover the rest, so you can see a good deal in a short stay. Here are the best day trips and how to choose among them.
Rundāle Palace: Baroque on a grand scale
About an hour and a half south of the city, Rundāle is the finest Baroque palace in the Baltics, designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who also designed the Winter Palace in St Petersburg. Gilded state rooms, a rose garden and a formal French-style park make a full and rewarding day. Many tours add Bauska Castle, a short drive away, and some continue to the Hill of Crosses across the border. Choose Rundāle if you love grand interiors, gardens and architecture.
Sigulda and Gauja National Park: castles and forest
An hour northeast, the Gauja valley is a landscape of pine forest, sandstone cliffs and medieval castles. Turaida’s red-brick castle and tower, the ruins in Sigulda, the caves and the cable car across the valley make a classic day out, with a bobsleigh track for thrill-seekers. Trains run from Riga Central Station, so you can go independently, or join a tour that adds Cēsis. Choose Sigulda if you want a mix of history and fresh air, and if you are travelling with children.
Jūrmala: the beach
Half an hour west by train, Jūrmala is Latvia’s seaside resort, with long pale beaches, pine woods and streets of ornate wooden villas. It is the obvious choice for a hot summer day, but it is also pleasant for a winter stroll and a spa visit. Choose Jūrmala if you want an easy, relaxed day without a long journey, or if you are staying in the city for several days and want a change of pace.
Ķemeri National Park: the bog boardwalk
Beyond Jūrmala, the Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk takes you over dark pools and moss on a flat wooden loop. It is quiet, beautiful and unlike anything in the city, and combines easily with Jūrmala in a single outing by tour or car. Choose Ķemeri if you enjoy nature walks and photography.
Hill of Crosses: a pilgrimage across the border
About two hours south, in northern Lithuania, the Hill of Crosses is a moving place covered in countless crosses left by pilgrims. It is a longer trip, often combined with Rundāle, and requires you to carry a passport or ID, though border checks are normally absent in the Schengen area. Choose the hill if you are interested in history, resistance under occupation and unusual places.
The Open-Air Museum: close to home
Not far from the centre, the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum shows rural life in historic farmsteads and churches beside a lake. It is a half-day outing rather than a full day trip, and works well with a visit to the Motor Museum or the Central Market.
Other ideas
Longer trips can reach Kuldīga, a pretty town with a wide waterfall, the coast of the Gulf of Riga, or the capitals of Estonia and Lithuania. These are better with an overnight stay than as a rushed day trip.
How to choose
For a first visit with one spare day, go to Rundāle or Sigulda. For a beach or relaxing day, choose Jūrmala. For nature, choose Ķemeri. For history and atmosphere, choose the Hill of Crosses. If you have two days, pair Rundāle with the Hill of Crosses on one and Sigulda on another, and save Jūrmala for a slow afternoon.
Practical tips
Guided tours save time and add context, but trains to Sigulda and Jūrmala are cheap and simple. Start early, check seasonal opening hours and bring a layer, since the weather can change. Book popular tours ahead in summer, and avoid planning a day trip on a Monday if your chosen sight closes that day.