Visiting Latvia: The Best Day Trips from Riga

Nestled in between Lithuania and Estonia, sitting along the Baltic Sea, Latvia may seem like a compact little country, but on further inspection that translates to a culturally rich country, brimming with opportunities to add uniqueness to your Eastern European itinerary. Starting a trip in Latvia and then taking day trips from Riga is an ideal way to get acquainted with the Baltic region. 

Visiting Latvia 

If you’re planning a trip to Eastern Europe, the Baltic states are not to be missed. While I think I could spend most of my time strictly exploring Riga, there are many day trips from Riga that show the true beauty and history of Latvia and the rest of the Baltic nations. 

What & Where are the Baltic Nations? 

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia make up the three countries of the Baltics. You may hear a few different variations, Baltic nations, countries or republics, but anyway you categorize it, the terms have stemmed from a complex geopolitical history of the region.  

A quick history lesson:

The region was occupied by the Germans and Russians back until World War I and at the end of the war, the three nations were given the chance to govern as independent states. With a puppet regime still operating in 1918, the countries looked toward true independence and struggled to have autonomous governing until the fall of the Soviet regime the following year. The beginning of WWII created another shuffle between Russia and Germany for control of the region and the Baltic people had some of the highest wartime losses of any European countries, from conflict and the deportation of Baltic Jews during the war.

The people’s movement didn’t make a major impact until the late 1980’s, most recognized by the ‘Baltic Way’, where a 2 million person peace protest that began in a square in Lithuania and created a hand to hand chain of people that spanned over 400 miles through all three countries as a symbol of freedom for its citizens. To this day, it’s marked as the world’s largest demonstration and challenged a 50th anniversary of a pact that Hitler and Stalin made that solidified years of Soviet occupation. The images of the event are truly powerful to see people coming together for common rites. Shortly after the Baltic Way, elections were held and pro-independence candidates were elected in each country in early 1990’s. 

Four Best Day Trips From Riga

Riga is a great jumping off point to explore more of Latvia and the other Baltic countries. Riga is in the middle of the action, so you can go south to Lithuania or north to Estonia. Day trips from Riga can be a great alternative from flying place to place or renting a car if a self-driving itinerary is not an option. Looking to be more mindful when you travel?

Slow travel is a way that you can look at sustainable travel a little differently. Picking a center point and taking day trips from Riga is a way to cut down on your carbon footprint by not jumping from city to city so quickly. Settle in, enjoy Riga and the surrounding excursions.

Kemeri National Park

One of just four National Parks in the Latvia, Kemeri is unlike any other park I’ve visited. A massive protected marsh and bogland, Kemeri is a mere 45 minutes from the capital and is over 35,000 hectares of peaceful forests.

There are options for all fitness levels at Kemeri. We chose a stroll along the wooden boardwalk that is situated among the raised bogs, going in a 3.4km loop. Be sure to ascend the observation platform along the trail to see a birds eye view of the bogs and the forest skirting the wetlands.

Kemeri is a bird watchers paradise, the boglands are a prime location for spotting all types of migratory birds that come from Scandinavia, Russia and it is an ideal location for fowl to enjoy the lakes and waterways during their seasonal move south. The flora and fauna in the park are specific, often endemic species to this type of ecosystem, so it is a chance to immerse yourself in some unique wildlife and foliage.

While the warmer months may be more popular time to visit, don’t rule out spending time outdoors on a rainy autumn day or a breezy winter afternoon. We visited in November and barely saw another group the whole morning we were there. It was a quiet and peaceful way to absorb a moment in Latvian nature.

Getting to Kemeri National Park from Riga

You can visit Kemeri from Riga on your own or with a group tour. Personally, I’d recommend taking your time and going on your own. You have more flexibility with your schedule and can explore more of the park. A great way is to take the train from Riga to Kemeri and bring your bike! You can bike from the station to the national park and then explore Kemeri on your own in a day, especially through Green Dune, the 14km cycling trail through the forest.

Jurmala

Not far from Kemeri is the seaside resort town of Jurmala, and it is an easy addition to add to your itinerary when visiting the park. Jurmala has a long, sandy beach and during the warmer months, it is a perfect place to escape the summer heat and go for a swim. Besides a beach venue, Jurmala is a great trip for architecture aficionados, there are plenty of Neo-Gothic style summer homes to ogle. For book lovers,  Aspazija home is open to visit and learn more about her feminist works and her husbands poetry.

Jurmala could be the easiest day trip from Riga, it is just a quick thirty minute journey to the Gulf of Riga. This is a destination where you can use simple public transit, a quick journey to Jurmala.

Kuldiga

If you get a chance to do just one thing in Latvia, make sure it is a day trip from Riga to visit Kuldiga. This quickly became one of my favorite small towns in Eastern Europe.

Why Visit Kuldgia

Kuldiga is a dream day trip for several reasons. Want to try delicious food? Check. Curious to learn more about Latvian wine? Check. Want to see Latvian nature? Again, check. Looking for culture? Guess what, check again. Kuldiga ticks all the boxes.

The city is extremely walkable, so you can start at the main square and make a loop around town to see the preserved architecture and historical buildings. The city takes pride in keeping their facades, there is a town restoration center that helps promote cultural heritage and artisanal craftsmanship.

The “Venice of the North”, Kuldiga has small waterways winding through town towards the Venta River which is also home to Europe’s longest waterfall. During the fall and winter months, the water level is quite low, but come spring and summer there are salmon jumping and locals swimming. Any time you visit, it is an impressive sight.

Getting to Kuldiga from Riga

Kuldiga is about a two hour drive from Riga and you can reach the town by car, train or bus. While you have several options, my personal recommendation would be to spend an overnight if visiting by public transportation. While the city is small enough to pack everything in one day, the slow pace is best enjoyed over a by really embracing the lifestyle. If you plan a weekend getaway to Kuldiga, staying at the Noliktava No 5 is a gorgeous boutique hotel property that is in the heart of the cobblestone streets and UNESCO world heritage architecture.

Hill of Crosses

Cross over the Lithuanian border and spend the afternoon on the Hill of Crosses, a pilgrimage site about two hours from Riga. In Šiauliai over 200,000 crosses rest on a hill and the history is a bit of a mystery. It is supposed to symbolize peace and endurance of the region over the years of war and unrest before independence. During the Soviet reign religion would have been targeted, so this was a silent sign of protest against Communism eradicating the right to faith. Soviet armies took bulldozers to the hill on several occasions during their occupation until 1985, exhausted by the continued placement of crosses and religious icons time and time again. Resilience in the Baltic regions is apparent throughout history in many stories like these. Pope John Paul II visited here in the 1990s and declared the space a place of peace and hope.

Getting to The Hill of Crosses

Traveling from Riga to the Hill of Crosses is easiest to do as a sightseeing tour or en route to Vilnius, Lithuania. Be aware that these tours often only run during busy season (spring and summer) so email or call to ensure a group trip runs during your itinerary. If you want a day trip from Riga to the hill, you can take a Lux Express Bus to Šiauliai from the city. The public transport option is a little more steps, you need to get off at the Domantai stop and then walk, taxi or bike to the site. This is why I opted to see the hill en route to Vilnius. I needed to take the bus south anyway, so I may as well make a day trip out of it!

Thanks so much to the Latvian Tourism Board for taking us to several of these day trips. While I was a guest, all opinions and thoughts as always are truly my own.