Best Day Trip Ideas for Castle Lovers Visiting Riga, Latvia

Rundale palace.
Rundale palace. Photo by Aleksas Stan on Unsplash

Due to its relatively small size, Latvia is the perfect country for day-tripping, and its capital of Riga will probably be the jumping-off point for the rest of your journey. Castle lovers will be especially impressed by its surroundings, especially if they decide to visit these magical spots.

Cesis

Located about an hour and a half from Riga, Cesis is worth the visit because it’s home to one of Latvia’s best-preserved medieval castles, which has been around for 800 years.

Sigulda

After exploring the magical stone castle in Cesis, consider making a stop in Sigulda on your way back. This city is one of  Latvia’s top spots for castle lovers—it happens to be home to several buildings of this kind, including Turaida Castle, Sigulda Castle, and the ruins of Krimulda Castle.

Rundale

Built as a summer residence for the Dukes of Courland, one of the most significant rulers of the Baltic region, this restored 18th-century baroque castle will win you over with its lush gardens and a museum that allows you to explore its history.

Jelgava

Just like Rundale, Jelgava Palace served as a residence of the Dukes of Courland, and it happens to be the largest Baroque-style palace that you can find in the Baltic region.