5 days in Riga with day trips: Rundāle Palace and Cēsis medieval town
From Riga: day trip to Hill of Crosses, Rundāle Palace and Bauska
Duration: 10-11 hours
- Hotel pickup
- Best seller
Why Rundāle and Cēsis are the best day trips from Riga
Five days in Riga gives you the right amount of time to do the city properly and add two of Latvia’s most extraordinary sites beyond the capital: Rundāle Palace (the “Versailles of Latvia,” 80 km south) and Cēsis (a perfectly preserved medieval town with a 13th-century castle, 90 km northeast). Both require a full day each, and both deliver something the city cannot — countryside, scale, and a different timeline of Latvian history.
Rundāle was designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli — the same architect who built the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg — for Duke Ernst Johann von Biron of Courland. The Baroque palace and its formal French garden are among the finest examples of their kind in northern Europe, and almost unknown outside the Baltics. Cēsis is to medieval Latvia what Tallinn’s Old Town is to Estonia — a remarkably well-preserved example of the German-Livonian Order urban pattern, with a castle that you can explore with candles (literally: the interior is not electrically lit, and the guide gives you candleholders).
Total estimated budget, 2 people, 5 days: €900–1100. Per person: €450–550.
At a glance
- Day 1: Riga Old Town — guided walk, canal cruise, evening
- Day 2: Art Nouveau district, Quiet Center, Central Market
- Day 3: Rundāle Palace and Hill of Crosses day trip (full day)
- Day 4: Cēsis medieval town and Gauja National Park
- Day 5: Occupation Museum, free afternoon, departure
Budget breakdown (real EUR, per person)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hotel mid-range (4 nights) | €110/night × 4 = €440 |
| Airport bus 22 (return) | €3 |
| Old Town walking tour | €22 |
| Blackheads ticket | €7 |
| Canal cruise | €18 |
| Art Nouveau tour | €22 |
| Central Market food tour | €43 |
| Rundāle/Hill of Crosses day trip | €95 |
| Cēsis train + activities | €25 |
| Meals (€35/day × 5) | €175 |
| TOTAL per person | €850 |
USD approx $930. GBP approx £735.
Day 1: Riga Old Town
Morning (9:00–12:30)
9:00 — Bus 22 from RIX (€1.50). Coffee at Innocent café (Audēju iela). House of the Blackheads ticket pre-booked (€7). 45 minutes inside. Walk Town Hall Square, Three Brothers, Cat House.
10:45 — Guided Old Town tour. Guided Old Town walking tour (€22, 2 hours) — the essential historical framework for the trip. Covers Dome Cathedral, Three Brothers, Swedish Gate, Riga Castle, Freedom Monument.
Lunch (13:30–14:30)
Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs (Peldu iela 19, mains €11–18). Or Bergs Bazaar if you prefer lighter food.
Afternoon (15:00–17:30)
15:00 — Canal cruise. Canal and Daugava wooden boat cruise (€18, 1 hour). Departures every 30 minutes from the National Opera pier.
16:00 — St. Peter’s Church viewpoint (€9) and Bastejkalns park walk.
Evening
Riga Black Magic Bar (Black Balsam, €4–8). Dinner at Bibliotēka No1 (Tērbatas iela 2, mains €20–30).
Day 2: Art Nouveau and Central Market
Morning (9:00–12:00)
Tram 11 to Alberta iela. Art Nouveau history walking tour (€22, 2 hours). Art Nouveau Museum (€8, closed Monday). Walk through the Quiet Center.
Lunch
Miera iela — Rocket Bean Roastery (€8–14) or Lauku Pirtiņa (€10–16).
Afternoon (14:00–17:00)
14:00 — Central Market food tour. Central Market traditional food tour (€43, 2 hours) — smoked fish, grey peas, Latvian dairy, rye bread. Or explore independently in the five Zeppelin hangar pavilions.
16:30 — Maskavas Forštate walk. 30 minutes south of the market through the Jewish heritage neighbourhood — wooden Art Nouveau residential buildings, completely tourist-free.
Evening
Early dinner and early bed — Day 3 is a long one. Pelmeni XL (Kaļķu iela 7, €5–9) for a quick, good traditional dinner.
Day 3: Rundāle Palace and Hill of Crosses
This is the logistical highlight of the itinerary — a full day south through Zemgale to Rundāle Palace and optionally the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania.
Option A: Organised group tour (strongly recommended)
The day trip to Hill of Crosses, Rundāle Palace and Bauska (€95 per person, 10–11 hours, hotel pickup from Riga) is the most practical way to do this trip. The distances are too spread out for efficient public transport, and the tour van/bus picks you up from your hotel. The tour includes:
- Hill of Crosses (Kryžių kalnas) in Lithuania: one of the most powerful spiritual sites in the Baltics — a hill covered in hundreds of thousands of crosses, accumulated by Lithuanians over centuries as an act of faith and resistance during the Soviet period. 1 hour stop.
- Rundāle Palace: Bartolomeo Rastrelli’s masterpiece — the Baroque palace and formal garden that constitutes one of the greatest architectural experiences in the Baltics. Palace interior entry (€10, included or purchased separately depending on tour). The formal French garden is free to walk. Allow 2–2.5 hours.
- Bauska Castle: ruined 15th-century Livonian Order castle at the confluence of the Mūsa and Mēmele rivers. Atmospheric, well-preserved ruins.
Return to Riga around 19:00–20:00.
Option B: Self-guided Rundāle (no Hill of Crosses)
Bus from Riga International Bus Station (next to Central Station) to Bauska (1.5 hours, €4, hourly). From Bauska, local bus or taxi to Rundāle (15 km, €10 by taxi). Palace entry €10. Return bus from Bauska to Riga. Full day (9:00–18:00). The Hill of Crosses is not reachable by public transport from Riga in a single day — the organised tour is essential for combining both.
Rundāle Palace in detail:
The palace was built in two phases (1736–40 and 1764–68) for Ernst Johann von Biron, Duke of Courland. Rastrelli designed the same sweeping ceremonial staircase and painted ceiling format he used at the Winter Palace. The 138-room main building has been meticulously restored from Soviet-era agricultural use — the Soviet collective farm used the state rooms for grain storage. The Gold Hall and White Hall are the highlights. The formal garden (restored 1972–2014) has 70,000 perennial plants and 2,000 rose bushes.
Honest note: Rundāle is extraordinary but takes 2–2.5 hours to see properly. Rushing it to catch a bus is a waste. The organised tour paces this well.
Evening after Day 3
Dinner near the hotel. You will be tired. Lido (Elizabetes iela 65, buffet €6–12) for something quick and substantial.
Day 4: Cēsis medieval town
All day (9:00–19:00)
9:00 — Train to Cēsis. From Riga Central Station, Pasažieru Vilciens to Cēsis: 2 hours, €5 single, trains roughly every 2 hours (check schedule at pv.lv). Cēsis station is a short walk from the town centre.
11:00 — Cēsis Castle and candle tour. Cēsis (Wenden in German) has a 13th-century castle in remarkable condition. The West Tower interior is explored by candlelight — the guide hands each visitor a lit candleholder and leads you through the medieval chambers. This is one of the most atmospheric castle experiences anywhere in northern Europe (included in castle entry, €8). Allow 2 hours for the full Cēsis Castle Museum Reserve.
13:00 — Old Town lunch. Cēsis has several good small restaurants in its medieval centre. Cēsis Restaurant (Vendu iela 9, mains €12–18, local produce, seasonal menu) is the best. Or try one of the café teraces on Rožu laukums (Rose Square) in summer.
14:00 — Gauja valley walk. From Cēsis, the Gauja valley walking trail leads north through pine forest to the Araisi Archaeological Park (3 km, medieval lake fortress reconstruction, optional €4 entry) and excellent river valley views. This 2-hour walk is one of the most beautiful in Latvia.
Alternatively, if you did the Sigulda/Cēsis/Turaida group tour on a previous trip and want a shorter Cēsis visit, take the Cēsis medieval heritage and natural treasures tour (€48, 3 hours) which runs locally and includes the castle visit.
17:00 — Train back to Riga. 2 hours, arrive 19:00.
Evening
Final proper dinner in Riga. Vairāk Saules (Dzirnavu iela 60, mains €18–28, modern Latvian cuisine, the best restaurant for contemporary cooking). Or Vincents (Elizabetes iela 19, fine dining, €35–55) for the best meal in Latvia.
Day 5: Occupation Museum, departure
Morning (9:00–12:00)
9:00 — Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. Free entry, Rātslaukums 1. 1.5–2 hours. This is where to put this museum — after four days in Latvia you will understand the context for every exhibit.
11:00 — Last Old Town walk. Check anything missed earlier — the Latvian War Museum (free, Smilšu iela 20, 45 minutes), or simply a final coffee and walk through the cobbled streets.
12:00 — Rimi supermarket (Audēju iela 16). Last-minute supplies for the journey: Riga Black Balsam (€8), Latvian dark rye bread (€2), local honey (€5), and the remarkable Latvian chocolate (Laima brand, €3–5).
Departure
Bus 22 from Abrenes iela to RIX (30–35 minutes, €1.50). Allow 2 hours before international departure.
How to extend to 7 days
Days 6–7 can add Sigulda, Jūrmala, or the Soviet heritage circuit in Riga (Corner House, Latvian War Museum, deportation sites). See our 7-day Latvia Grand Tour itinerary for the full-country version.
Where to stay
Budget: Naughty Squirrel (from €55 double), Tree House Riga (from €60).
Mid-range: Wellton Old Riga Palace (from €100), Centrum Riga (from €90), Pullman Riga Old Town (from €130).
Upscale: Grand Hotel Kempinski (from €250).
Honest tips
- Book the Rundāle day trip at least 3–4 days in advance. It is popular and has limited capacity. Weekday trips are more available than weekends.
- Cēsis castle candle tour has specific start times. Check the museum schedule at cesis.lv before travelling — the candle tours do not run continuously.
- The Hill of Crosses is in Lithuania, not Latvia. Some visitors do not realise this when booking. It is about 200 km south of Riga, well within day-trip range, but only practical via the organised tour.
- Rundāle Palace’s garden is best in June–July. The roses and formal plantings peak in early summer. Outside this window the palace interior is still spectacular.
- The Cēsis train schedule is limited. Trains run roughly every 2 hours. Check pv.lv before committing to a departure time. The train is much more pleasant than the bus on this route.
- Pre-book the Central Market food tour (Day 2). Sells out on summer weekends.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rundāle Palace worth a full day trip from Riga?
Yes, if you are interested in Baroque architecture and formal garden design. Rundāle is genuinely extraordinary — one of the finest Baroque palaces in northern Europe, comparable to Peterhof in scale and quality. The organised day trip that combines it with the Hill of Crosses and Bauska Castle makes efficient use of the long travel time.
How do I get to Cēsis from Riga?
Train from Riga Central Station (Pasažieru Vilciens) — 2 hours, €5 single, roughly every 2 hours. Buy tickets at the station counter. The train journey through the Gauja valley forests is scenic.
Is the Cēsis castle candle tour worth doing?
It is one of the most atmospheric castle experiences in the Baltics. The darkness, the candlelight, the medieval stone chambers — it sounds gimmicky but is genuinely effective. Included in the castle entry fee (€8). The guide provides good historical context for the Livonian Order and medieval Cēsis.
Can I combine Rundāle and Cēsis in one day?
Not comfortably. They are in opposite directions from Riga (Rundāle is south, Cēsis is northeast) and each requires a full day. Combining them would mean rushing both. Keep them on separate days.
What is the best season for Rundāle Palace?
June and July for the formal garden — 70,000 perennial plants, 2,000 rose bushes. The rose garden peaks in mid-June. In winter (November–March) the garden is bare but the palace interior is just as impressive and visitor numbers are minimal. Autumn (September–October) is a good compromise: fewer visitors than summer, the garden still has late-season colour.
Is the Cēsis train journey scenic?
Yes, notably so. The Pasažieru Vilciens route from Riga to Cēsis passes through the Gauja National Park corridor — pine forests, birch woods, and glimpses of the Gauja River valley. The 2-hour journey is pleasant enough that arriving at Cēsis feels like a proper arrival rather than just a transit.
Practical guide to Latvian day trips by public transport
Latvia’s public transport from Riga is better than most visitors expect — for northeast and south routes. The northwest (Kuldīga, Liepāja, Ventspils) and east (Daugavpils) require either a car or an organised tour for efficient access.
Train routes from Riga Central Station (Centrālā stacija):
- Riga → Jūrmala (Dubulti): 30 min, €1.70, every 20–30 min
- Riga → Sigulda: 60 min, €3, roughly every 2 hours
- Riga → Cēsis: 2 hours, €5, roughly every 2 hours
- Riga → Valmiera: 2.5 hours, €6, 4–6 trains daily
- Riga → Daugavpils: 3.5 hours, €9, 3–4 trains daily
Ticket purchasing: Buy at the station counter — the Pasažieru Vilciens website (pv.lv) has an English version but international card payment can be unreliable for tourists. Station counter is faster and more reliable. Cash or card accepted. Tickets are not bookable in advance for most routes (buy on the day). The only route requiring advance booking is Riga–Tallinn–Riga (separate ticket on Estonian trains, or bus).
Organised day trips (when bus/train is impractical):
- Rundāle, Hill of Crosses: these are too far apart for efficient public transport combination — the organised tour is the right choice
- Kuldīga: 2.5 hours by bus from the International Bus Terminal (Prāgas iela), €5–8 — viable, but slow. The GYG tour is more time-efficient.
For current timetables, pv.lv (trains) and 1188.lv (buses) are the reliable Latvian sources.
Riga day trips by time — the honest comparison
Here is an honest summary of what each day trip actually delivers, calibrated against the time investment:
Sigulda (1 hour by train, €3): Very high value. Medieval castles, dramatic river valley, walkable on arrival. Best day trip for nature + history combination. Summer bobsleigh adds adventure. No guide necessary for a self-guided visit but the group tour is more efficient.
Cēsis (2 hours by train, €5): High value for medieval architecture enthusiasts. The candle castle tour is distinctive; the old town is beautifully preserved. Requires more time planning (train schedule, castle tour times). Better for people with specific interest in medieval Baltic history.
Rundāle Palace (organised tour, €95 total): Very high value for Baroque architecture and garden design. Requires the organised tour because of the distance and multiple sites. The combination with Hill of Crosses gives the trip a spiritual dimension that contrasts well with the palace grandeur.
Jūrmala (20 minutes by train, €2): Excellent value for a relaxed half-day or day. No deep interest required — the beach, the wooden villas, and the pine forest are enjoyable for any visitor. Best in warm weather (May–September).
Daugavpils (4 hours by train or car): Worth doing if you have specific interest in the Rothko connection or Soviet-era fortress architecture. Too far for a comfortable day trip — better as an overnight on the way to or from Lithuania.
See also our best day trips from Riga guide for complete coverage of all options.
Top experiences
Bookable activities with verified prices and instant confirmation on GetYourGuide.
From Riga: day trip to Hill of Crosses, Rundāle Palace and Bauska
- Hotel pickup
- Best seller
From Riga: Cēsis, Sigulda and Turaida Castle tour
- Hotel pickup
- Free cancellation
- Best seller
Riga: guided Old Town walking tour
- Free cancellation
- Small group
- English guide
Riga: 2-hour history of Art Nouveau walking tour
- Free cancellation
- Small group
Riga: canal and Daugava cruise on a historic wooden boat
- Free cancellation
- Best seller
