5 Trips From Riga You Can Do In A Day (Or Less)
If you find yourself in Riga with enough time for a trip, but not long enough to travel far, then you are in luck! Riga has some excellent locations close by, which are perfect for spending a day, or even just an afternoon. Whether you are envisioning a relaxing beach getaway, an immersion into nature, or a trip back in time, this article will give you a variety of options to suit whatever mood you are in. So, if you have a spare day and are looking to take advantage of Riga’s surroundings, then look no further than this list!
1. Jūrmala
The first, an perhaps most popular, day trip from Riga is the short journey to Jūrmala. To get here, you only need to travel 30 minutes on the train and there are all sorts of activities in the area. The coastline there is beautiful, spanning 24 kilometres, with quartz sand and 11 pristine beaches. Some areas are buzzing with restaurants, volleyball nets, and bars. Others are calm and feel entrenched in nature. If you get off the train at Dzintari, you can visit the forest park and climb the viewing tower for excellent views. On a hot summers day Līvu Akvaparks, one of the largest waterparks in Northern Europe, is a great place to go.
2. Sigulda
A train from Riga can also get you to Sigulda in around an hour. This natural escape holds unforgettable landscapes which includes stunning views of the banks of the valley of the River Gauja. This region is often referred to as Latvia’s Switzerland due to this picturesque scenery. There is a wonderful variety of trails through nature, which range from 6 to 30 kilometers in length. Turaida Castle and the Sigulda New Castle are fascinating visits, allowing visitors to explore the history and culture of the region further. The cable car in Sigulda is also a very popular activity.
3. Rundāle Palace
To get to Rundāle Palace, you can get a bus, with only one change at the town of Bauska. It is the perfect trip for any architecture lovers, as the palace is a significant monument, built in the baroque and rococo styles. The design was created by the renowned Italian architect, Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli. A trip is certainly worth it, with the opportunity to view the facade and interior of the palace, as well as the spacious park and rose garden.
4. Kemeri National Park
Kemeri National Park is a beautiful and unique natural space. To get there, you can take the train directly to Kemeri station, which heads in the same direction as Jūrmala and takes around an hour. There are plenty of nature trains along Lake Sloka, which you can walk or cycle along. A key site is the Great Kemeri Bog boardwalk. Here, you can discover the wonderful flora and fauna of the National Park and take some wonderful photos of the natural space. The region is particularly notable for its avian inhabitants, and you can watch them at the observation towers at Lake Kanieris and Lake Sloka.
5. Open Air Ethnographic Musuem
The Open Air Ethnographic Museum can be reached from Riga in under an hour. As one of the oldest outdoor museums in Europe, this is certainly a must-see site. It has 118 historical buildings from the four Latvian provinces on display. The buildings originate from the 17th century to the 1930s. At this museum, you can be immersed in rural Latvian life. For example, you can view the sauna style, everyday objects, churches, and farmsteads. The museum has the opportunity for interaction; you can try pottery molding, enjoy a Latvian meal, or play in the museum playground.
