Riga: Hill of Crosses & Guided Rundale Palace with Bauska Castle

The Hill of Crosses is the unforgettable heart of this long day. Thousands of crosses crowd a low hill in northern Lithuania, creating a place that feels personal, solemn, and unlike any ordinary sightseeing stop. I like that you get a guided introduction first, then about an hour to walk alone and take in the details. I also like the care shown by guides such as Erlens, who are known for clear stories, local chocolate, water, and thoughtful surprises.

The main drawback is the distance. You are fitting three major sights across Latvia and Lithuania into roughly eight hours, so this is not a slow country outing. Bauska Castle can also be affected by holiday or seasonal closures, though arrangements may sometimes allow access to its medieval section.

At a glance

• Cross-border history in one day: Stop at the Latvia-Lithuania border before reaching the Hill of Crosses.
• A fully guided palace visit: Rundale Palace requires an official certified palace guide, and the tour includes the ceremonial rooms and ducal apartments.
• One hour to wander freely: After the introduction at the Hill of Crosses, you can explore at your own pace and visit the nearby Franciscan Monastery if it is open.
• A practical small-group format: Transport is by air-conditioned bus, minibus, or minivan, with a maximum of 19 people.
• A castle tower climb: The Bauska visit includes the medieval section and access to the tower with your guide.
• Good personal touches: Guides have provided bottled water, local chocolate, and even a birthday cake for a parent celebrating during the trip.

Why this Riga day trip is worth your time

Riga has plenty to keep you busy, but Latvia’s capital also makes a useful base for seeing the surrounding region. This outing links two important Latvian sites with the Hill of Crosses just over the border in Lithuania. You get religion, aristocratic art, medieval warfare, and Soviet-era personal stories in one compact trip.

I like the variety. The Hill of Crosses is emotional and open-air. Rundale Palace is polished, decorative, and indoors. Bauska Castle is more rugged, with stone walls and a tower climb. The change of mood helps the day pass quickly, even though the drive makes it a full outing.

The tour costs $119.18 per person. That is a fair price if you want transport from Riga, an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets, and guided visits without arranging cross-border transport yourself. Lunch is not included, so budget separately for the midday meal.

A small group capped at 19 people matters here. You will spend a lot of time on the road, and a smaller vehicle makes the journey more comfortable than a large coach. Wi-Fi and bottled water are included, useful details on a long day out.

Leaving Riga at 8:00 a.m.

The meeting point is Riga Cathedral at Herdera laukums 6. The tour returns to the same spot at the end of the day, which keeps the start and finish simple if you are staying in central Riga.

Bring walking shoes. You will walk outdoors at the Hill of Crosses, move through palace rooms, and climb at Bauska Castle. Weather can change the feel of the day dramatically. One especially cold outing took place at minus 21 degrees Celsius, yet the clear winter light made the stops memorable. That is a reminder to dress for the season rather than relying on the vehicle and indoor palace to keep you warm.

Your guide handles the route and commentary while a professional driver manages the roads. Guides such as Erlens have also shared personal stories about growing up in Latvia during the Soviet period. That sort of firsthand perspective can add meaning to the places you pass, especially when the trip covers borders and changing political eras.

A quick stop at the Latvia-Lithuania border

The border stop lasts about ten minutes. It is mainly for photographs and a brief explanation from the guide, not a major sightseeing visit.

Still, it gives you useful geographic context. You are not simply driving to a faraway monument. You are crossing from Latvia into Lithuania for the Hill of Crosses, then returning to Latvia for Rundale and Bauska. The stop also breaks up the first stretch of driving without taking much time from the main sights.

Keep your expectations modest. This is a photo opportunity and orientation stop, not a museum or extended border walk.

The Hill of Crosses: a powerful first major stop

The Hill of Crosses is small in physical size but packed with crosses, religious symbols, photographs, and memorial objects left by people over many years. You will see crosses of many sizes, from tiny personal offerings to larger pieces that form part of the dense hillside.

Your guide begins with the history, religious meaning, and traditions connected with the site. This introduction helps you understand why the place matters instead of treating it as a strange collection of objects. The setting can feel solemn, crowded with memory, and deeply personal.

After the guided explanation, you have about one hour to explore independently. I value this part of the schedule because a site like this needs quiet time. You can take photographs, look closely at individual offerings, or simply walk without having to keep pace with the group.

If it is open, the nearby Franciscan Monastery is another possible stop. The chapel welcomes visitors, but the tour information does not promise a separate extended visit, so treat it as an optional addition during your free time.

The Hill of Crosses is outdoors and exposed. In winter, the cold can be severe. In wet weather, comfortable shoes and warm layers will make a real difference. The site may not take a full day to see, but its effect comes from standing among the many individual signs of faith and remembrance.

Rundale Palace and its Rococo rooms

Rundale Palace is the artistic center of the tour. You enter with an official certified palace guide, as required by the museum. This is not an audio-guide visit or a quick walk through a few rooms. The guide leads you through the exhibition halls open to the public, including ceremonial rooms and the private apartments of the Duke and Duchess.

The palace interiors are mainly Rococo, with delicate decoration, formal design, and a clear sense of court life. The value of a live guide is easy to understand here. Decorative rooms can blur together when you visit alone, but a guide can point out artistic details and explain how the palace functioned for the ducal court.

The palace guide is separate from your main English-speaking tour guide. This arrangement gives you a specialist inside Rundale rather than asking one person to cover every subject at the same level. Several details from the tour point to how much this palace visit depends on the quality of the explanation, so listen closely and ask questions if you are curious about the rooms or the people who used them.

The palace receives about two hours in the schedule, including the organized lunch break after the interior visit. That gives you enough time for the guided rooms and a meal, but do not expect a leisurely afternoon at the estate.

Lunch at a local restaurant

The guide organizes the lunch stop after the palace visit, but you choose your own meal and pay directly. This keeps the tour price lower and lets you decide how much or how little to spend.

A two-hour block gives you time to sit down rather than eat hurriedly in the vehicle. It also creates a welcome pause after the palace rooms. I would still ask the guide about the timing and menu when you arrive, especially if you have dietary needs, since the supplied information does not specify the restaurant or available dishes.

One past outing included a memorable meal connected with the palace, but the standard arrangement is simply a local restaurant stop with lunch at your own expense. Plan accordingly and do not assume food is included in the $119.18 price.

The French Garden after lunch

After eating, you have about 15 minutes to explore Rundale Palace’s French Garden independently. This is a short stop, but it gives you a chance to see how the grounds extend the palace’s formal design.

Expect symmetrical planting and carefully arranged paths rather than a wild park. You can walk, take photographs, and enjoy the view at your own pace. In warm weather, the garden may be especially pleasant. In winter or poor weather, 15 minutes may feel just right.

Because the time is limited, keep your attention on the central design and the relationship between the garden and palace. If you want an extensive garden visit, this tour may feel too compressed. If you want a brief outdoor break after the indoor tour, it fits well.

Medieval Bauska Castle and the tower

The final major stop is Bauska Castle, where the visit focuses on the medieval section. Your guide explains the castle’s strategic role and daily life in the medieval region. The site offers a different experience from Rundale. Instead of polished interiors and court ceremony, you get old masonry, defensive purpose, and a more hands-on sense of the past.

The tour includes a climb to the castle tower with the guide. From above, you can look across the surrounding rivers and countryside. The climb adds physical interest to the stop and rewards you with views that you cannot get from the lower rooms.

The visit lasts about 40 minutes, so it is a concise introduction rather than a long archaeological visit. One practical warning is important: Bauska Castle may close during holiday periods or on certain dates. The museum was closed for one Christmas visit, though access to the medieval section was arranged in that case. Check the official opening information before booking if the castle is essential to your plans.

Bauska is worth including for its historical role and tower access, but it may not impress you in the same way as Rundale Palace. Some visitors find the castle less scenic than the palace and Hill of Crosses. I see it as a strong closing stop because it adds stone walls, views, and a different period of Latvian history.

What the guide adds to the day

The route is useful, but the guide is what ties it together. Erlens is the name most often associated with this experience, and his style combines historical explanation with a friendly, personal approach. He has been praised for answering questions fully, keeping the drive lively, and making sure people feel attended to.

Orlando has also led the tour in Italian, providing both guiding and driving. His careful preparation and detailed explanations helped make the day work for Italian-speaking participants. The standard offering listed here is in English, so confirm language arrangements before booking if you need another language.

Small gestures can matter on a long excursion. Bottled water is provided, and guides have offered chocolate, local Riga Black Balsam tastings, and birthday surprises. These extras are not the main reason to book, and they should not be treated as guaranteed inclusions, but they show the personal style this company aims for.

The guide also has to manage a demanding schedule. The best version of this day is informative without becoming a lecture, and the available feedback points to guides who are good at balancing facts, conversation, and practical help.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this trip if you have several days in Riga and want to see major sights beyond the city without renting a car. It suits you if you like history, religious sites, grand interiors, castles, and guided storytelling.

It also works well for first-time visitors who want an efficient overview of southern Latvia and the nearby Lithuanian border area. You can see three very different places without arranging separate tickets, drivers, border directions, or palace guides.

You may want a different plan if you dislike long road journeys, prefer slow museum visits, or want to spend a full day at one estate. The Hill of Crosses is outdoors, the French Garden stop is brief, and the overall route moves at a steady pace.

Most people can participate, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Walking shoes are specifically recommended. The tour includes a tower climb, so consider your comfort with stairs before booking.

The cancellation policy is straightforward: cancel at least 24 hours before the 8:00 a.m. start for a full refund. Changes made inside 24 hours are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded. The activity also requires a minimum number of participants, with another date or a full refund offered if the operator cancels for that reason.

My verdict on the $119.18 price

The price makes sense if you value convenience and guiding. You are paying for round-trip transport from Riga, an English-speaking guide, bottled water, Wi-Fi, entry to Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle, the certified palace guide, and the guided medieval castle visit.

Lunch is the main extra cost. Personal purchases are also not included. Even after adding a meal, the package can be good value compared with arranging transport and admissions separately, particularly for a group of fewer than 19 people.

The strongest value comes from Rundale Palace and the Hill of Crosses. Bauska Castle adds variety and the tower climb, but its availability can change. If the castle is closed on your date, ask exactly what substitute visit or compensation is offered before setting out.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a full, well-organized day from Riga with strong historical variety. The Hill of Crosses gives you an unusual and moving experience, Rundale Palace supplies the grand art and interiors, and Bauska Castle finishes the route with medieval walls and high views.

Skip it if you want a relaxed day with little driving or if you prefer to explore each place without a schedule. For most visitors with limited time in Riga, though, the combination of border crossing, Lithuanian pilgrimage site, Rococo palace, and Latvian castle is hard to arrange as efficiently on your own.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Riga Cathedral, Herdera laukums 6, Centra rajons, Riga. The scheduled start time is 8:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point near Riga Cathedral.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Is lunch included?

No. The guide organizes a stop at a local restaurant, but you choose your meal and pay for it directly.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. An English-speaking professional guide is included. The tour has also been led in Italian on some occasions, but the listed language is English.

Are entrance tickets included?

Yes. Admission to Rundale Palace Museum and Bauska Castle is included. The guided palace visit and the medieval Bauska Castle visit with tower access are also included.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable walking shoes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Warm clothing may be important in colder seasons, especially for the outdoor visit to the Hill of Crosses.