Latvia · 1-DAY TOURS

The 12 Best Day Trips from Riga

12 tours  ·  from $47

Everything you can leave the city for and be back the same evening. The 12 below run from a ninety minute drive to the palace to a full day over the Lithuanian border, priced and timed.

Group Day trip to Rundale Palace, Hill of Crosses & Bauska Castle - Bauska Castle and the view from the tower
1-Day Tours, Hill of Crosses Day Trips, Rundale Palace Tours, Tour Reviews

Group Day trip to Rundale Palace, Hill of Crosses & Bauska Castle

1.Group Day trip to Rundale Palace, Hill of Crosses & Bauska Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $151Our pick

Leave Riga for a full day across Latvia and Lithuania, with stops at Bauska Castle, Rundale Palace, and the Hill of Crosses. You get guided context, free time to explore, and transport in a small air-conditioned van. Guides such as Paul, Tomass, Gints, and Kristine have led this trip, though the guide varies by departure.

“A great day out. We crossed the border into Lithuania to visit the hill of crosses which was absolutely amazing. We were given free time to wonder around and take photos. We were hoping for a stop off at the border to grab a photo or two but we sailed straight through. Next we visited Rundāles Palace where we had a couple of hours to tour the gardens and the inside of the palace and have some lunch. Our final stop was at Bauska castle where we were treated to some historical facts before and were able to walk around the grounds. Unfortunately our trip didn’t included entrance into the…”

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From Riga: Best of Kemeri National Park In One Day - Wet forests and Ķemeri’s sulphur springs
1-Day Tours, Kemeri National Park Tours, National Parks, Tour Reviews

From Riga: Best of Kemeri National Park In One Day

2.Best of Kemeri National Park In One Day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $235

Leave Riga with an eco-tour leader and spend about seven hours exploring Ķemeri National Park. Walk the Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk, visit sulphur springs, look for birds at Lake Kaņieris, and finish by the Gulf of Riga at Ragaciems. Groups are limited to eight, with pickup, transport, and Latvian snacks included.

“My husband and I enjoyed our trip with Rolands. He was an expert on environmental issues and shared his knowledge and enthusisiam. with us. We enjoyed the diversity of the tour taking in bog, lake, forest and beach areas. He supplied a picnic of traditional Latvian fare, which we enjoyed. We were picked up promptly at our hotel and returned there afterwards.”

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Private Full-Day Trip to Turaida, Sigulda, and Cesis - Sigulda’s castle ruins and Gauja views
1-Day Tours, Full-Day, Private, Sigulda Day Trips, Tour Reviews

Private Full-Day Trip to Turaida, Sigulda, and Cesis

3.Private Full-Day Trip to Turaida, Sigulda, and Cesis

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 52 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.)

Leave Riga at 10:00 for a private, 7 to 8-hour drive through Gauja National Park and Latvia’s medieval past. Visit Turaida, Sigulda, and Cesis castles, then add Araisi Lake Dwelling Site or another local stop. Guides such as Normunds and Jurijs are praised for flexible plans, local stories, and comfortable transport.

“Normund was simply awesome. He kept us informed and engaged throughout the entire tour even during driving. The stops were a perfect balance between private time and guided tour and he was flexible to add extra stops near his home village and coastline, superb!!!!”

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Private trip - Hill of Crosses / 2 countries in 1 day - The first 30 minutes at Kryziu Kalnas
1-Day Tours, Hill of Crosses Day Trips, Private, Tour Reviews

Private trip – Hill of Crosses / 2 countries in 1 day

4.Private trip – Hill of Crosses / 2 countries in 1 day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $150

Travel from central Riga to Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi and bottled water. Guides such as Krista, Armand, Elrens, and VB explain the site’s history, legends, and meaningful crosses. You’ll have guided time, then an hour to explore alone, with an optional border photo stop at Eleja.

“Krista is the best guide you will EVER have! She is amazing, super knowledgeable, and sincerely wants her guests to have a perfect day with her. Booking this tour, you will get so much more than the Hill of Crosses, as Krista will take you on spontaneous adventures if you are up for it. Apart from Hill of Crosses, we visited 3 castles, a city of rabbits, and even had an authentic Latvian lunch! This was a fabulous experience 100/10!!! The only day trip you need from Riga!”

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Private Full-Day Trip to Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace & Bauska - Rundale Palace: Latvia’s grandest interior stop
1-Day Tours, Full-Day, Hill of Crosses Day Trips, Private, Rundale Palace Tours, Tour Reviews

Private Full-Day Trip to Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace & Bauska

5.Private Full-Day Trip to Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace & Bauska

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

From Riga, a private English-language guide takes you across two countries to the Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace, and Bauska Castle. You get private transport, flexible time at each stop, and a lunch break. Guides named in past bookings include Norman, Normund, Normands, and Andrejs.

“Normund was incredible tour guide! He was extremely knowledgable and very passionate about our entire journey. We learned so much from him and the stops on our tour, we would love to book with him again in the Baltic states. Thanks for everything Normund and we wish you the best!!”

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Hill of Crosses and Jelgava Gems Tour - 2 countries in 1 day - A quick stop at the Latvia-Lithuania border
1-Day Tours, Hill of Crosses Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hill of Crosses and Jelgava Gems Tour – 2 countries in 1 day

6.Hill of Crosses and Jelgava Gems Tour – 2 countries in 1 day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $46Best value

Travel from Riga to Lithuania’s moving Hill of Crosses with guide Tomas or Paul, one hour to explore on your own, and a possible Latvia-Lithuania border photo stop. On the return, see Jelgava’s Orthodox cathedral, Trinity Church Tower, riverside promenade, and enjoy an optional lunch. The tour runs about 7.5 hours.

“Enjoyed my trip to the Hill of Crosses. Thomas was a great guide. His knowledge made the experience more enriching.”

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Sunrise at the Hill of Crosses - 2 countries in 1 day - The pre-dawn ride from Riga to Lithuania
1-Day Tours, Hill of Crosses Day Trips, Morning, Tour Reviews

Sunrise at the Hill of Crosses – 2 countries in 1 day

7.Sunrise at the Hill of Crosses – 2 countries in 1 day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $150

Leave Riga before sunrise for a private drive to Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses with a guide such as Janis, Krista, or Matiss. Hear the site’s stories, examine its crosses and symbols, then explore alone and add your own cross if you wish. An optional Eleja border stop adds a quick photo break.

“Great tour from start to finsh.janis was a great tour guide told many stories about hill of crosses and pointed out the differences in some of the crosses plenty of free time at hill i am not a holy person but felt very moved when here. Only i would have liked a leaflet about hil which the guide had it had pictures of hill with no crosses on it but apart from that great tour once again janis was great tell him keep up with learning his spanish 5* tour🥳👍”

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Discover Best Of Gauja National Park In One Day - Krimulda estate and a living historic area
1-Day Tours, Gauja National Park Tours, National Parks, Tour Reviews

Discover Best Of Gauja National Park In One Day

8.Discover Best Of Gauja National Park In One Day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $258

Travel from Riga with guide Rolands or his team for an eight-hour nature and heritage day in Gauja National Park. Walk 8 to 12 kilometers through forests, meadows, and river views, visit Krimulda estate, and explore Turaida Museum Reserve. Pickup, transport, and Turaida entry are included. Lunch is not.

“We had a wonderful trip with Rolands. He is such a friendly person, a terrific guide, and is very knowledgeable about the area’s significance and history. I would gladly book another trip with him!”

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Private Full-Day Trip to Jurmala and Great Kemeri Bog Boardwalk - Walking the Great Kemeri Bog Boardwalk
1-Day Tours, Full-Day, Jurmala Day Trips, Kemeri National Park Tours, Private, Tour Reviews

Private Full-Day Trip to Jurmala and Great Kemeri Bog Boardwalk

9.Private Full-Day Trip to Jurmala and Great Kemeri Bog Boardwalk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 7 hours (approx.)

Travel privately from Riga to Jurmala and the Great Kemeri Bog with an English-language driver. Visit the Jurmala Open-Air Museum, walk the Baltic beach, then follow the wooden bog boardwalk to its tower. Hotel pickup, mobile tickets, and a flexible private setting make this a practical day outside Riga.

“This was an amazing trip with a friendly driver. The sights were remarkable and appropriate for all age groups.”

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1-Day Tours, Kuldiga Day Trips, Tour Reviews

Small Group Day Trip From Riga To Kuldiga

10.Small Group Day Trip From Riga To Kuldiga

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $156

Travel from Riga to Kuldīga with an English-speaking driver in a small shared vehicle. You’ll see the unusual Sabile Doll Garden, tour Kuldīga’s old streets, climb a 25-meter tower, and visit Europe’s widest waterfall. Guides such as Jānis and Vytenis add local stories, humor, and helpful support.

“It was a great day out. Lots of countryside to see with our guide Jānis telling us stories and history about the area. Latvia Gem is a great company to travel with. They treated us more like family rather than just a tour company. Jānis our tour guide was so much fun, had us in fits of laughter with mythical stories, history and personal experiences. He was also extremely helpful as 2 of the 4 guests on our trip had leg or knee issues and needed help in and out of the minivan. Nothing was to much trouble for him he was very accommodating and a gentleman. We can highly…”

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Private Full-Day Trip to Bauska, Rundale and Jelgava Palace - Leaving Riga at 10:00 am
1-Day Tours, Full-Day, Private, Rundale Palace Tours, Tour Reviews

Private Full-Day Trip to Bauska, Rundale and Jelgava Palace

11.Private Full-Day Trip to Bauska, Rundale and Jelgava Palace

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 7 hours (approx.)

Travel from Riga by private vehicle to three remarkable Latvian sites: medieval Bauska Castle, lavish Rundale Palace, and elegant Jelgava Palace. Your guide, possibly Sebastian, Norman, or Andreas, shares local history and may add extra stops. The tour lasts about seven hours, with entrance fees and lunch paid separately.

“Sebastian was amazing. He drove us around, took us to castles and even made extra stops for us to see extra local heritage and shops. He listened to our conversations and came up with other places he thought we would want to see. He knew all the special places. It was great to get a real locals experience. We could not have had a better tour.”

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Day trip to Gauja National Park: animals, castles and a cave - Why the small group changes the day
1-Day Tours, Gauja National Park Tours, National Parks, Tour Reviews

Day trip to Gauja National Park: animals, castles and a cave

12.Day trip to Gauja National Park: animals, castles and a cave

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $178

Leave Riga at 9:00 for a small-group day in Gauja National Park. Walk the 4 km Ligatne Nature Trails to see rescued Latvian wildlife, visit the old papermill village, explore Sigulda’s medieval ruins and New Castle, and enter Gutman’s Cave with an English-speaking guide such as Lauris or Valdis.

“A nice way to explore Gauja National park and spend a day closer to nature outside of Riga. We saw the bear, deers, wild boar etc ad promised. Valdis, our tour guide was very nice and informative. We enjoyed our hiking tour with him as well as it was a nice group we had on that day.”

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