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Offered languages
- German
- English
- French
Three medieval castles in a single day from Riga — and at one of them you walk the towers by candlelight with a lantern in your hand instead of under museum lighting. I don't know anywhere else in Europe where you can still do that.
Ten hours, door to door, small group of up to 15. Air-conditioned minibus, entrances to Cesis, Sigulda, and Turaida castles, an artisan bread maker visit with dark-rye tasting, and a licensed Latvian guide for the full day.
The view from Turaida tower in the late afternoon — when the Gauja valley fills with shadow and the canopy turns amber — is the quiet highlight. Most groups rush through it. Don't.
The final stop is the photography vantage point that earned this landscape its "Switzerland of Latvia" nickname. Then back to Riga by early evening with a head full of castles and a Latvia most visitors never bother to find.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Please arrive 10 minutes before the 8:30 AM departure. Look for a minibus with the company's name displayed on the dashboard at your chosen meeting point — either Triangula Bastion or Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga. Your guide will have the booking list and will call your name.
If you are running late, call us so we can hold the group.
Please note: Riga Old Town's narrow cobbled streets are closed to larger vehicles, which is why we use these two easy-access pickup points nearby rather than direct hotel pickup.
Itinerary
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1Riga
Your day begins with a comfortable drive from Riga in an air-conditioned minibus. We drive east, watching the flat plains give way to rolling hills and pine forest. I'll share stories about the Gauja Valley, the Livonian Order, and why this region feels like a different country.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Cesis
Artisan Bread Maker A hands-on visit to a traditional Latvian bread maker. Tour the bakery, learn about dark rye bread's sacred place in Latvian culture, and taste it warm from the oven.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Cesis Medieval Castle
A walk through old Cesis, then into the medieval Livonian Order castle. You explore the towers by candlelight with a lantern in your hand, the way it would have been in the 13th century, not under museum floodlights.
2 hours • Admission ticket included -
4Cesis
Lunch in Cesis Relaxed lunch at a local Latvian cafeteria. Hearty, traditional food at local prices. You pay directly, I'll guide you through the menu.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
5Castle Of The Livonian Order In Sigulda
We then visit a local brewery, where you’ll learn about Latvian brewing traditions and enjoy a tasting before the drive back to Riga.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
6Sigulda New Castle
The atmospheric ruins of medieval Sigulda Castle and the neighbouring New Castle museum with excellent exhibits on the region's history.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
7Gauja National Park
A quick stop at the famous photography vantage point. Spectacular in any season, extraordinary in autumn.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8Turaida Castle
Red-brick Turaida Castle from the 13th century, looking out over the Gauja from its hillside. We climb the tower for the view, walk the sculpture garden, and visit the old wooden church and the restored folk buildings on the estate. This is where I’d slow the pace if we could, the late-afternoon light on the valley is the quiet highlight of the day.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
9Riga
Back in Riga by early evening, with a head full of castles, the taste of dark bread, and the feeling that you've seen a Latvia most visitors never discover.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Service animals allowed
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for travelers with limited mobility
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Service animals allowed
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for travelers with limited mobility
- Not recommended for travelers with walking difficulties
- Not recommended for travelers prone to motion sickness
- Not wheelchair accessible
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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