Riga to Jūrmala by train, bus and bike: the complete guide

Riga to Jūrmala: why the train is the only sensible choice

Jūrmala is Latvia’s main seaside resort, 25 km west of Riga along the Gulf of Riga coast. The city stretches 26 km along the coast and sits between the Baltic Sea and the Lielupe River, giving it a distinctive narrow, pine-forested character unlike any typical beach town.

Getting there by train takes 25–30 minutes and costs €2. Getting there by car in July or August on a sunny Sunday can take 90–120 minutes in traffic on the A10 highway, followed by difficulty parking and a €3–5 vehicle entry fee. The choice is not a difficult one.

The train from Riga Central Station (Centrālā stacija) is operated by Pasažieru Vilciens — Latvia’s national passenger rail company, separate from the city bus/tram system. It is reliable, well-used by Rigans on weekends, and offers a genuinely pleasant journey through the outer suburbs and forest before reaching the coast.

Train details: schedule, tickets, and boarding

From Riga Central Station (Rīga Centrālā Dzelzceļa Stacija)

The Pasažieru Vilciens trains to Jūrmala depart from platforms on the lower level of Riga Central Station. The station is adjacent to the Central Market (Centrāltirgus) — a 10-minute walk from Old Town.

Schedule: trains to Jūrmala (direction: Tukums or Sloka) run approximately every 30 minutes on weekdays and every 30–60 minutes on weekends in peak season. During major beach days in summer, additional services are added. Check live departures at pasazieru.lv or on the screens at the station.

Buying tickets

Tickets are bought at the station — not online (the Pasažieru Vilciens online booking system is primarily for longer inter-city journeys and has limited tourist accessibility). At Riga Central Station:

• Yellow ticket vending machines in the hall: touch screen, English language option, card and cash accepted
• Ticket counter: longer queues but staff speak English
• On board from the conductor: possible but more expensive (€0.40 surcharge)

Ticket cost: €2.00 single to Majori (Zone 2 ticket). Keep your ticket — inspectors do check, and the fine for travelling without a valid ticket is significant.

Journey time to key Jūrmala stations:

• Lielupe: ~16 minutes
• Bulduri: ~20 minutes
• Dzintari: ~23 minutes
• Majori: ~25–28 minutes
• Dubulti: ~28 minutes

Which Jūrmala station to use

Majori (recommended for first visitors): the town centre of Jūrmala in terms of cafés, restaurants, shops, and promenade activity. The Jomas iela pedestrian street with its restaurants and boutiques is a 3-minute walk from the station. The beach is a 5-minute walk.

Dzintari: one stop before Majori. Good for the Dzintari Concert Hall (summer outdoor concerts are an institution) and slightly less crowded beach access.

Dubulti: one stop after Majori, slightly quieter with a longer stretch of beach. The small Dubulti church and wooden architecture here are particularly photogenic.

Lielupe: the first Jūrmala stop, good entry point for the eastern beach access and the forest. Used by locals who know exactly which section of beach they are heading to.

What to do in Jūrmala

The beach: white sand, shallow water, backed by pine forest. In July–August the water temperature reaches 16–20°C — genuinely swimmable by northern European standards. The beach is clean and well-maintained with designated swimming zones.

Jomas iela pedestrian street: the commercial heart of Jūrmala. Cafés, restaurants (including Orizzonte, Dzintars, and local ice cream shops), souvenir sellers, and the main promenade atmosphere. Prices here are higher than Riga equivalents — budget an extra 20–30% for anything tourist-facing.

Wooden villa architecture: Jūrmala has an extraordinary collection of late 19th and early 20th century wooden holiday villas in a style unique to the Baltic coast — eclectic, with decorative woodwork, ornate verandas, and fairy-tale silhouettes. Walking through the residential streets between the beach and the train line is one of the most distinctive architectural experiences in the Baltics.

Ķemeri National Park: reachable by continuing one stop past Jūrmala to Ķemeri station. The Ķemeri bog boardwalk is one of Latvia’s most spectacular nature experiences — a raised wooden walkway over an open moorland landscape of peat bog, small lakes, and twisted pines. See our full Ķemeri guide (future article).

Horse riding on the beach: the Jūrmala coast has a horse riding operation that offers beach rides — genuinely spectacular on a clear day with the sea on one side and pine forest on the other. See Jūrmala beach horse riding for booking.

Guided day trips: when the tour is better than going solo

For combining Jūrmala with Ķemeri bog, an organised tour makes sense — the logistics of getting from Jūrmala to Ķemeri and back within a day trip, with context on the ecology and history, is meaningfully better with a guide. The Ķemeri bog and Jūrmala combined tour from Riga covers both in a single well-paced day.

For a half-day focused on Jūrmala itself, the Soul of the Baltic half-day Jūrmala tour includes transport, a guided walk of the wooden villas, and beach time — good if you want context you would otherwise miss.

Cycling from Riga to Jūrmala

The dedicated cycling route from Riga to Jūrmala follows the Lielupe River and passes through forest for significant stretches. Total distance: approximately 25 km. Elevation: flat — Latvia is entirely flat, and this route is no exception.

Renting a bike: city bike-share (Sixt Ride or Bolt Bikes) covers Riga but not the full route. For the Jūrmala cycling route, renting from a specialist hire point near the departure zone or from a Jūrmala-area rental shop is more practical. Electric bikes are available and make the distance much more accessible.

Train with bike: Pasažieru Vilciens allows bicycles in designated bike carriages. You can cycle to Jūrmala and take the train back (or vice versa). The bike supplement is nominal.

Driving to Jūrmala: only for specific reasons

If you have a car and are combining Jūrmala with other western Latvia destinations (Tukums, Ķemeri, coastal route) then driving makes sense. For a simple Jūrmala day trip from Riga: the train wins on every metric except cargo capacity.

If you do drive: the A10 highway is the main route. Vehicle entry fee: approximately €3–5/day into the resort zone. Paid parking near the beach: €2–4/hour in peak season. Arrive early (before 10am on summer weekends) to avoid both traffic and full parking lots.

Practical tips for the Jūrmala day trip

Timing: go on a weekday in peak season if possible — weekend trains fill up and the beach is significantly more crowded. Mid-morning arrival (9:30–11am) gives you the best of both uncrowded morning and warm afternoon.

What to bring: swimwear and towel if going in July–August. Sunscreen (surprisingly easy to burn on an overcast Baltic day). Cash for smaller cafés and market vendors in Jūrmala (many accept cards, but not all). A jumper or light jacket — sea breezes can be 4–5°C cooler than Riga.

Returning: trains run from Majori back to Riga Central Station until approximately midnight in summer. Last departure around 11pm–midnight — check the return schedule before you go.

Jūrmala dining: Orizzonte is the well-known elevated option. For something local and more affordable, the side streets off Jomas iela have cafés charging reasonable Latvian prices. Avoid the beach-front tourist restaurants with the laminated photo menus.

Frequently asked questions about Riga to Jūrmala

How far is Jūrmala from Riga?

25 km by road. 25–30 minutes by train from Riga Central Station.

Is Jūrmala worth visiting outside of summer?

Yes, for different reasons. The wooden villa architecture is beautiful year-round. The beach in October with autumn colours and storm waves is spectacular for photography. In winter, the closed resorts create an interesting off-season atmosphere. The swimming is cold.

Can I combine Jūrmala and Sigulda in one day?

Technically possible but rushed — both destinations warrant half a day each. If you only have one day for day trips, choose based on priority: beach and architecture (Jūrmala) or nature and adventure (Sigulda). See Riga to Sigulda guide.

Is Jūrmala crowded in summer?

Yes, on sunny summer weekends it gets very crowded — particularly the beach itself and Jomas iela restaurants. Weekday visits are significantly more relaxed. The eastern and western ends of the beach are less crowded than the central Majori section.

What is the difference between Jūrmala and Majori?

Jūrmala is the name of the entire resort municipality stretching 26 km along the coast. Majori is the specific central town and the main station — when most people say “going to Jūrmala,” they mean arriving at Majori station.