Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Riga
You'll arrive in Riga by ferry or another method and head to your hotel to get settled. If the timing works out, take a walk through the city's streets to get a feel for the place. It's a good way to shake off any travel fatigue and start getting oriented.
Optional Activities
- Ferry from Travemünde to Liepaja with Stenaline (approx. 20 hours travel time)
- Ferry from Kiel to Klaipeda, Lithuania with DFDs Seaways (approx. 20 hours travel time)
- Ferry from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines and onward to Tallinn with Viking or Silja Line, then coach to Riga
- Opera festival visit (June)
Landmarks/POIs Riga - Day 2
Riga
After breakfast, you'll spend the morning in Old Town with a local guide who'll show you the ornate Schwarzhäupter House, the cathedral (largest church in the Baltic), and St. Peter's Church with its sharp pointed tower. Head into the New Town during the afternoon and walk around the Art Nouveau district, where the buildings reflect a really distinct architectural period.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Riga's Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Schwarzhäupter House
- Visit Cathedral
- Visit St. Peter's Church
- Guided walk through New Town and Art Nouveau district
Landmarks/POIs Riga Old Town Schwarzhäupter House Riga Cathedral St. Peter's Church Schwedentor Jakobi Church Riga New Town Art Nouveau District - Day 3
Riga to Mezotne
Pick up your rental car this morning, then drive south through open, green landscapes toward Mezotne. Stop at Salaspils to explore a memorial about World War II and Soviet history. Continue on to Rundale Castle, a grand Baroque and Rococo structure built by Count Biron. After the guided tour, you'll settle into accommodation on the Mazmezotne estate, which sits in a large park setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Rundale Castle
Optional Activities
- Visit Salaspils memorial
Landmarks/POIs Salaspils Memorial Rundale Castle - Day 4
Mezotne to Marciena
Drive from Mezotne toward Marciena via Bauska. Your accommodation is Marcienas Muiza, a restored early 1900s manor house with classicist design, dark wood staircases, and polished floors that really capture the feel of old Latvian landed estates. The setting takes you back to another era.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 5
Marciena to Ungurmuiza
Take the morning at your own pace, maybe walking by the lake or just relaxing around the manor. Later in the day, drive through oak-lined avenues to Cesis for a guided town tour. From there, head to Ungurmuiza and the Orellen manor house, a wooden building that was once Baron von Campenhausen's country home. It's been thoughtfully restored and is considered central to Livonian heritage.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Cesis
Landmarks/POIs Cesis - Day 6
Ungurmuiza to Birini
Spend your morning exploring the manor park or the surrounding forest at your own pace. If the kitchen's operating, you can have lunch featuring traditional Latvian recipes made with seasonal ingredients. Later, drive through the rolling hills and grottos of 'Latvian Switzerland' on your way to Birini.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Lunch based on old recipes using seasonal produce
Landmarks/POIs Latvian Switzerland - Day 7
Birini to Riga
Wander through the castle park in the morning, checking out the famous Love Oak covered with bells from newlyweds. Walk through the forest park and Priezkhalna Park at your own speed. By afternoon, make your way back to Riga and take an evening walk through Old Town to reflect on your time in the countryside.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Love Oak Priezkhalna Park - Day 8
Departure from Riga
Depending on when you leave, you might squeeze in more sightseeing in Riga or head straight to the airport. If you rented a car, return it there. You could also stay another night in Riga or add a few days at the nearby Jurmala beach if you want to extend your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Riga TV Tower viewing platform (97m height on 368m tower)
- Canal cruise in Riga
- Walk through Spikeri (Riga's art and creative scene)
- Stroll through central market halls (built 1930 in former Zeppelin hangars)
- Visit Academy of Sciences (Soviet-era building from 1958)
- Visit Occupation Museum (Nazi and Soviet occupation 1940-1961)
- Visit Art Nouveau Museum
- Extension to Jurmala beach
Landmarks/POIs Riga TV Tower Spikeri Riga Central Market Halls Academy of Sciences Occupation Museum Art Nouveau Museum Jurmala
