Top things to do in Sigulda Riga

Visiting Sigulda Riga on a day trip from Riga

While I was on my tour to Riga I was told that I had to do a day trip from Riga and visit Gauja National Park and to go to visit Sigulda.  I did this the day after I had done another day trip from Riga to Kemeri National Park.

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How to get from Riga to Sigulda Latvia

You can get the Riga to Sigulda bus, which goes from the main bus station and takes about 1 hour 15 mins and costs 2.50 Euro each way.

You can also get the train, though the trains are less frequent than the Sigulda Riga bus.

You also have the option of doing a tour to Sigulda if you don’t want to organise this yourself.

What to do in Sigulda

When I arrived I went into the tourist information office located next to the Sigulda train station and got a map of the area and found out the main points of interests to see.

1) Sigulda Castle Complex

My first stop was to the Sigulda Castle Complex.  Walking in I saw Sigulda New Castle which was built in 1878 in a neo gothic style, it now houses the Sigulda City Council.  The grounds and the castle are just stunning and are a must see.

I walked around the back of the house and got my first view of Sigulda Castle, it was built in 1207 as a fortress by The Brothers of the Sword and was later rebuilt as a convent.  You can climb the north tower and main gate tower and walk along part of the walls.  Sigulda Medieval castle was damaged in the Livonian War and destroyed in the 18th century during the Northern War and the castle was never restored.

Nowadays the castle has a stage set up in the grounds and during summer there are Opera and Blue’s Music Festivals.  It costs 2 Euro to enter the castle but it’s well worth it for the views from there are amazing.

After exploring the castle and seeing the views of Turaida Medieval Castle and Krimulda Manor I walked back through town and past Sigulda Evangelic Lutheran Church.

2) Sigulda Evangelic Lutheran Church

Located in the centre of the town since 1483, it is beautiful with the little lake beside it.  The tower and pulpit were added in the 1930’s and for a small donation you can climb to the top of the tower.  It is open daily from 10am to 4pm.

3) Cross the river Guaja by sigulda Cable car

To get across the valley to Turaida Medieval Castle, you can either get a bus from the bus station, walk along the road for 5km or get the cablecar across the valley.  It costs 7 euro one way or 12 Euro return but the views down the valley are amazing.

I opted for the cable car so I could see the views of the valleys and from the other side it’s a 4km hike to Turaida Castle.  Just turn right from the cable car and either the top path or bottom path will eventually lead to the same place, the path is very up and down, lots of stairs but worth doing.  They are in process of putting sign posts up, which unfortunately wasn’t finished when I was doing the hike meaning it was easy to get lost in places.

4) Krimulda Medieval Castle

Firstly from the cablecar you walk past Krimulda Medieval Castle which is in ruins, this is if you take the top path.  It was built in 1255 and after burning down in 1601 was never rebuilt.

5) Gutmanis Cave

Gutmanis cave you will find after going down all the steps to the bottom of the valley.  It is the biggest cave in the baltic region and the oldest tourist attraction in Latvia.  It has ancient inscriptions written on the walls.

6) Hiking in Guaja National Park

The Guaja National Park covers an area of 917km squared, there are lots of hikes to do in the area to see the sandstone cliffs, caves and rocks or ones of the 500 monuments located within the park.

7) Turaida Castle

I walked the 4km through Guaja National Park from the cablecar, up lots of stairs, down lots of stairs, got lost and then finally arrived at Sigulda Turaida Castle.   Admission is 6 euros.  The massive red brick tower you can see for miles, you can climb to see the amazing views looking down towards the Guaja river. The complex is a museum telling you the history of the area and is the most visited museum in Latvia.  It was originally built in 1214 and restored in the 1970’s.

The area around the castle is stunning and you could walk around the 42 hectares of grounds for hours, there are miles of paths and a sculpture park too.  The native people referred to this area as the Garden of God.

The wooden church of Turaida is one of the oldest in Latvia built in 1750 and has largely remained unchanged, this is on the estate and is a beautiful setting for the wedding I saw.

You can also see the old houses and gardens, it’s certainly a beautiful area.  There is also a little cafe serving tea and cakes and I can imagine on a warm summer’s day it’s even more beautiful.

From Turaida Castle there is a bus back to Sigulda bus station & Sigulda Train Station if you do not want to hike back too.

8) Krimulda Manor

The Krimulda Manor was built in the 1930’s, though the land it is on has long since been a park enjoyed by many famous people in the past.  You can take a tour of the manor and winery for 47 Euro.

9) sigulda Bobsleigh track & Luge Track

The current track was completed in 1986, though sledding has been popular here since 1887 with previous tracks being closeby.  It is accessible both to visitors and professionals.

Visitors can walk the track or even try the soft bob or the summer bobsleigh as long as there are no national or international competitions.

10) Tarzan’s Adventure Park

Sigulda tarzan park is the largest adventure park in the Baltics.  Tarzans sigulda caters for both adults and children and has more than 100 different obstacles both on the ground and 20 metres above in the trees. Prices start from 26 Euro.

Where to stay when visiting Sigulda

Most people visit Sigulda as a day trip from Riga, but if you want to explore further and do everything above or just a few hikes in Guaja National Park, then a good option is it stay in Sigulda itself.

Here is a list of the top hotels in Sigulda to check out:

Hotel Sigulda – Right in the centre of Sigulda, it’s a popular choice – Click here for more information and availability.

Hotel Pils – In the centre of Sigulda and breakfast included – Click here for more information and availability.

Aparjods – Just over a mile from the centre of town with a spa bath and sauna – Click here for more information and availability.

I hope you enjoyed this post and enjoy Sigulda, if there is anything I have missed, please let me know below.

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