Options for recreation

The Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum is one of the oldest open-air museums in Europe. Its exhibits cover an area of 87 ha, with more than 100 traditional buildings illustrating the life of peasants in what today is Latvia, within a period between late 1600’s and the end of the 1930’s.

You can take a walk there on your own, or tour the museum together with a guide, who will be able to tell you about the exhibits in Latvian, Russian, English or German. At the museum, you can buy souvenirs, and enjoy real rustic soup or bread baked in a wood-fired oven at the Priedes pub.

The museum often functions as a venue for various thematic events. You can find out more on the museum’s website.

The National Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful sites to visit in Latvia, located not far from Baltvilla Hotel. It boasts the largest collection of plants in the Baltics, which its guests can see in all its beauty, most of all during the blossoming season in spring, summer and early autumn. Those visiting the Botanical Garden in winter will also enjoy its diverse exhibits, including an extensive collection of cactuses and other temporary exhibitions. The National Botanical Garden is a perfect place for you to discover plants from several continents and distant, exotic lands.

Although traditionally, Saulkrasti and its seaside is sought after for recreation in summer, taking a walk on the beach brings joy in any season. The sea and the coniferous forest maintain their magic and special character throughout the year.

The beach at Saulkrasti is 17 km long, and is fairly diverse, with singing sands in Lilaste, and rocky parts of the shore in Zvejniekciems.

The Baltā Dune, from which you can get a wonderful view of the Gulf of Riga, is on the right bank, at the mouth of the Inčupe. There is a 3.6 km long Sunset (Saulrieta) trail leading from the Baltā Dune to the Saules bridge. Those who take it get a chance to see 20 venerable pine trees.

The Saulkrasti Bicycle Museum is an exciting place to visit, both for professional and casual cyclists. The museum’s exhibits include one of the first penny-farthings made in Latvia, a Coventry-brand bicycle made in Britain, the first to have pneumatic tyres, a ‘safety’ bicycle made by the A. Leitners first bicycle factory in 1888, and many others. Has this museum inspired you to take a bicycle trip? Conveniently, it offers bicycle rentals. Though these bicycles are modern and comfortable to use.

The multiple floors of the Alfa shopping centre offer shops, cafes, pharmacies, banks, salons, as well as a cinema. You can really spend a whole day here, if the weather during your stay isn’t as good as you expected!

People call Sigulda the Switzerland of Vidzeme, and the town’s surroundings offer some of the most beautiful locations in Latvia. In Sigulda, you can take a tour of Turaida Castle, or take a long walk along the countless forest trails around the town. The town’s sky tram is the only one in the Baltics, and it offers a magical view of the old valley of the Gauja. In summer, Sigulda offers various options for outdoor fun, including bungee-jumping from the tram, toboggan, Tarzāns adventure park, among other things, with skiing tracks set up in winter.