Rundāle Palace and Hill of Crosses day trip from Riga: honest review

The day trip that crosses two countries — and earns the title

The Rundāle Palace, Hill of Crosses, and Bauska day trip is the most geographically ambitious day trip available from Riga. It combines Latvia’s most extraordinary baroque palace, a ruined Livonian Order castle on a river confluence, and a pilgrimage site in Lithuania that is unlike anything else in the Baltic region — all in a single 10-hour day.

Rundāle Palace is routinely described as the “Versailles of Latvia,” which is simultaneously apt (the scale, the gardens, the gilded state rooms designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli — the same architect as St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace) and slightly misleading (it is much smaller than Versailles and far less crowded). The better comparison is perhaps a minor Habsburg palace — intimate but genuinely magnificent, with state rooms that rival anything in Western Europe and a Rose Garden that is one of the most beautiful formal gardens in the Baltics.

The Hill of Crosses in Lithuania adds a completely different emotional register. A low hill outside Šiauliai covered in hundreds of thousands of crosses — from enormous carved wooden monuments to tiny silver ones — placed by pilgrims, families mourning the Soviet-era dead, and visitors from around the world. It is strange, moving, and in some weather conditions almost overwhelming. It is also entirely free to visit. Going here and not understanding the context of Soviet suppression of religion in the Baltics is to miss most of the site’s meaning; a guide provides exactly that context.

What’s included and what’s not

Group tour: Hill of Crosses, Rundāle Palace and Bauska (€89, 10 hours):

• Duration: 10 hours including hotel pickup
• Language: English
• Group size: standard group tour with hotel pickup
• Itinerary: Riga → Bauska Castle (brief stop) → Rundāle Palace (guided interior tour + gardens) → Hill of Crosses, Lithuania → Riga
• Includes: hotel pickup, guide, transport
• Not included: Rundāle Palace entry (~€8), lunch
• Note: 4.8 stars, 350 reviews — consistently well-rated

Day trip: Hill of Crosses, Rundāle Palace and Bauska (€95, 10–11 hours):

• Duration: 10–11 hours
• Alternative operator, slightly higher price
• 4.9 stars, 410 reviews — best-rated option in this category
• Best seller badge
• Includes: hotel pickup, Rundāle entry included in some versions — check listing

Private: Rundāle Palace and Hill of Crosses (€295, 10 hours):

• Duration: 10 hours, fully customisable
• Private vehicle and guide — your pace throughout
• Best for: visitors who want extended time at Rundāle (especially the gardens in June)
• At €295 for a vehicle, for 3–4 people this is €75–100 each — comparable to the group tour

The honest review

The group tours at €89–95 are both well-proven and among the highest-rated day trips from Riga. The decision between the two is marginal — the €95 option has a slightly higher average rating (4.9 vs 4.8) and slightly more reviews, suggesting marginally better execution. The price difference of €6 is not meaningful.

Rundāle Palace is the highlight of the day. The interior — 138 rooms, of which around 40 are open to visitors — is genuinely grand. The White Hall and the Gold Hall are among the finest rococo interiors in Northern Europe. The Rose Garden blooms in June and July and is worth timing your visit around if possible. Budget 2.5–3 hours here if the pace allows; many visitors report wanting more time.

The Hill of Crosses is profoundly strange. No photograph prepares you for the density of the site — layers upon layers of crosses in every material, scale, and style, stretching across a low mound that was bulldozed three times by the Soviets and rebuilt each time. The guide’s role here is crucial: without understanding why this hill matters to Lithuanian Catholics and to Baltic national identity, you will see an unusual monument. With that context, you will understand one of the most remarkable acts of collective resistance in European 20th-century history.

The honest weakness of the day: 10 hours with hotel pickup and three major sites is demanding. If you are prone to fatigue or travelling with people who don’t share an enthusiasm for the cultural stops, it can feel like a long day. The itinerary is front-loaded with Rundāle (often the most popular stop) and ends with the Hill of Crosses, so the day ends on a strong emotional note.

How it compares to the other options

The two group tours are functionally identical in itinerary with minor operational differences. The private tour at €295 makes sense for visitors who want Rundāle without time pressure — the Rose Garden in June deserves a full afternoon and the group tour’s pace does not allow that. For everyone else, the group tour at €89–95 is the right choice.

Best for / not for

Pick this if you:

• Are visiting Riga for 3+ days and want to see the Latvian and Lithuanian countryside
• Have any interest in baroque architecture, formal gardens, or European palace history
• Are curious about the Hill of Crosses and the religious dimension of Soviet resistance
• Don’t have a rental car (no practical way to do both sites in one day otherwise)

Skip this if you:

• Have only one day in Riga and haven’t seen the Old Town or Art Nouveau yet
• Are not interested in palaces or religious pilgrimage sites
• Visited Rundāle Palace on a previous trip to Latvia

How to book (and what to do if you’re flexible)

For the best-seller alternative: the best-rated day trip to Hill of Crosses, Rundāle Palace and Bauska (€95, 4.9 stars)

For the private option: private Rundāle Palace and Hill of Crosses day trip (€295)

Book 2–3 days in advance for summer departures. Group tour capacity is limited and popular dates fill up. Free cancellation up to 24 hours. Mobile ticket.

Frequently asked questions about the Rundāle and Hill of Crosses day trip

Who designed Rundāle Palace?

Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the Italian-born architect responsible for the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, the Smolny Cathedral, and several other major Russian Empire buildings. Rundāle was commissioned by the Duke of Courland in the mid-18th century and reflects the full rococo tradition Rastrelli brought to the Baltic region.

Is a visa required for the Lithuania portion (Hill of Crosses)?

No. Both Latvia and Lithuania are Schengen Area countries. There are no border controls between them for Schengen passport holders. Your passport or national ID is sufficient.

When is the best time to visit Rundāle’s Rose Garden?

Mid-June to mid-July is peak bloom. The garden is maintained to a high standard — roughly 100 rose varieties. Outside the bloom period the formal garden structure is still worth seeing, but the visual impact is significantly less than in high summer.

Is the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania or Latvia?

It is in Lithuania, near Šiauliai, approximately 180 km from Riga. It is a standard component of the Rundāle day trip precisely because it is on the route between Riga and southern Latvia, making it a logical combination.

How much is Rundāle Palace entry?

The main state rooms cost approximately €8 for adults. The combined ticket including the Rose Garden costs slightly more. Some GYG tours include palace entry in the listed price — verify at booking.