Riga: Bauska Castle, Rundale Palace and Hill of Crosses Trip

Three remarkable stops, two countries, one long day. This Riga day trip packs Bauska Castle, Rundale Palace, and Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses into a well-planned loop. I like the mix of grand interiors, ruined medieval stonework, and a deeply unusual religious site. I also like the free time at the main stops, rather than being marched from one photo point to the next.

The trade-off is the road time. You spend about nine hours out, with several transfers, so this suits you best if you want broad coverage in one day rather than a slow visit to one place. Guides such as Jānis, Edgars, and Viesturs have earned strong praise for their humor, local insight, and care with the group.

Key points to know before booking

• Three very different sights: See a medieval castle, an 18th-century palace, and Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses in one outing.
• Two countries in one day: A short stop at the Latvia-Lithuania border lets you cross into Lithuania before reaching the Hill of Crosses.
• Rundale gets the most time: You have about two hours for the palace, gardens, and lunch.
• Small-group feel: The trip runs with at least three people booked, and recent groups have included as few as six.
• Self-guided exploring: Your English-speaking driver stays with you, while printed information and phone audio guides fill in the details.
• Good value at $147: Palace and garden admission, Bauska tower admission, transport, and guidance are included, but lunch is extra.

Why this day trip works for a short Riga stay

Riga is easy to enjoy on foot, but Latvia’s best-known royal and medieval sites sit outside the capital. Reaching all three on your own would take careful planning, regional transport, and a willingness to manage border travel. This trip removes that work and gives you a clear route through southern Latvia and into Lithuania.

I like the way the day moves from one type of place to another. Bauska gives you old stone and a tower climb. Rundale offers polished rooms and formal gardens. The Hill of Crosses is less orderly and much more personal, with thousands of crosses covering a small hill.

The $147 price needs to be judged against what is included. You receive transport from Riga Old Town, an English-speaking driver, entrance to Rundale Palace and its gardens, admission to the Bauska Castle tower, and audio support at two sites. Lunch is not included, but you can bring food or buy a meal at Rundale.

This is not the cheapest way to see one attraction. It is a practical price for covering two countries and three major stops without renting a car. The value is strongest if you have only a few days in Riga and want to see beyond the capital.

Meeting at St. Peter’s Church and settling into the van

The day begins in front of St. Peter’s Church in Riga Old Town. From there, the first drive lasts about 45 minutes. The exact vehicle depends on the group, but the trip uses a comfortable car or van.

Your driver remains with you through the day. The most praised part of the service is the human touch: Jānis has been described as funny, patient, and full of local facts, while Edgars and Viesturs also receive strong praise for being attentive and easy to talk with.

You should expect a group outing, not a private tour. That can be a plus. The shared van makes it easier to meet people from different countries, and several groups have enjoyed the friendly atmosphere. It also means you will need to keep to the planned schedule.

The company provides printed sheets about each stop. These are useful if you prefer reading at your own pace or if your phone battery is low. At the Hill of Crosses and Rundale, audio guides are available through your phone, so bring earbuds if you want to use them comfortably.

Jelgava: a quick look at Latvia’s Baroque center

After the first drive, the tour pauses in Jelgava for about 20 minutes. This is a photo stop rather than a full city visit. The main point is to see the city connected with the largest Baroque-style palace in the Baltics.

Keep your expectations clear here. You do not get a long Jelgava walking tour or a full palace visit. Instead, this short pause breaks up the drive and gives you a glimpse of an important Latvian city before the rural stops begin.

Twenty minutes is enough for photographs and a quick look around. It is not enough for detailed sightseeing, so you should treat Jelgava as an introduction rather than one of the day’s main attractions.

Crossing into Lithuania near the border

The border stop lasts about ten minutes and gives you a chance to photograph the Latvia-Lithuania crossing. Since both countries are in the European Union, the crossing may feel simple, but you still must carry your passport or EU identity card in case of an inspection.

This is a small stop, but it adds a useful sense of place. You are not merely driving to a Lithuanian attraction from Latvia. You are crossing an international border during the day and can count another country on your trip.

Do not leave your passport in your hotel room. A passport or EU ID is mandatory for this experience.

Hill of Crosses: one hour at Lithuania’s most unusual stop

The Hill of Crosses is the emotional and visual surprise of the day. Crosses of different sizes fill the site, creating a crowded, highly personal memorial and pilgrimage place. Some are carefully made, some are simple, and you will find a mix of styles and materials.

You receive about one hour here, with time to walk and look around independently. That is enough for a meaningful visit without making the stop feel endless. The site is unusual enough that you may want to move slowly at first, simply taking in the sheer number of crosses.

An audio guide is available on your phone. You need mobile data to use it, so check your phone plan before leaving Riga. You can also bring a cross of your own if you wish. Local sellers offer crosses at the site, which makes it easy to take part in the custom without preparing in advance.

The Hill of Crosses is not a conventional museum. There is no polished sequence of rooms or neat display system. Its appeal comes from the accumulation of private acts of faith and remembrance. I would give yourself time to look closely rather than rushing through for photographs.

The ground can be uneven, and the experience is mainly outdoors. Wear shoes that feel secure for walking. The site may be especially striking in changing weather, though you should be prepared to spend the hour outside.

Rundale Palace: the main event of the afternoon

The drive from the Hill of Crosses to Rundale takes about an hour. Then you have two hours at the palace and gardens, including time for lunch. This is the longest stop and, for many people, the highlight.

Rundale Palace is often called little Versailles, a nickname that points to its grand Baroque and Rococo design. The palace gives you ornate rooms, formal decoration, and a much more polished setting than Bauska Castle. The gardens add another side to the visit, with carefully planned paths and formal planting.

Admission to the palace and gardens is included. You also have access to a phone audio guide, with free Wi-Fi available at the palace. Bring earbuds if you want to listen without holding your phone throughout the visit.

Two hours is a sensible amount of time, but it is not unlimited. You need to divide it between the palace rooms, the gardens, and lunch. If the interiors matter most to you, eat quickly or bring a snack. If the weather is good, you may prefer to save time for the gardens.

Lunch is at your own expense. You can eat at the palace restaurant or bring snacks and drinks. A picnic-style approach may help you use the two-hour window well, especially if you want a longer walk outside.

Rundale is also where the tour feels least rushed. You are not simply stepping out for a photograph. You can set your own pace, listen to the guide, and choose how much time to spend indoors or outdoors.

Summer visitors should consider mosquito repellent for the gardens. This is a small practical point, but it can make a warm afternoon much more pleasant.

Bauska Castle: ruins, river views, and a tower climb

The final major stop is Bauska Castle, reached after a short 15-minute drive from Rundale. You have about 45 minutes here, including admission to the recently renovated medieval castle tower.

The castle combines ruins with a restored tower, so the experience is different from Rundale’s finished rooms. You can climb the tower and look across the surrounding area while getting a feel for the site’s defensive purpose.

This tour does not include the Bauska museum. That matters if you want a full indoor presentation of the castle’s history. You are visiting the tower and ruins instead, which works well for a shorter stop but leaves less time for detailed exhibits.

Forty-five minutes is enough for the tower, photographs, and a walk among the ruins. It is not enough for a leisurely museum visit, so people who want a deep historical presentation may wish to return independently.

The stop also comes late in the day, after the Hill of Crosses and Rundale. That order makes sense because Rundale needs the most time, but you may feel ready for a rest by the time you reach Bauska. The advantage is that the castle provides a final change of mood before the drive back to Riga.

The return to Riga and the shape of the day

The return drive takes about an hour, bringing you back to St. Peter’s Church. With all transfers included, the outing lasts about nine hours.

The schedule works because each stop has a clear purpose. Jelgava is brief, the border crossing is brief, the Hill of Crosses gets one hour, Rundale gets two hours, and Bauska gets 45 minutes. You are not left wondering how to fill a long stop, but you also should not expect complete freedom to linger.

Several people have found the timing well judged, with enough time at each main site and a return to Riga in the evening. That makes this a good choice if you want dinner or a final walk through the Old Town after the trip.

Still, this is a road-heavy day. If you dislike sitting in a van or prefer spending half a day at one palace, choose a slower outing. The reward here is range, not depth at every stop.

What the guides add to the experience

The driver is more than a person behind the wheel. The strongest part of the experience is the quality of the guiding, especially when the road stretches between stops.

Jānis is praised for clear explanations, humor, patience, and a strong grasp of Latvian history. Edgars is noted for being kind and attentive, while Viesturs has added personal touches such as water, sweets, a taste of Riga Black Balsam, and small souvenirs. These extras may not be guaranteed, so treat them as pleasant possibilities rather than promised inclusions.

The company also appears to match the tone of the group well. One guide adjusted the day for a pregnant participant who needed more frequent bathroom stops. That suggests a helpful attitude, though you should still discuss any specific needs before booking.

The written information and audio guides mean the day does not depend entirely on the driver talking constantly. You can listen, read, or simply watch the countryside pass by.

Who should book this $147 experience?

I would recommend this trip if you want to see several major sights outside Riga without hiring a car. It suits first-time visitors, short-stay visitors, and anyone who likes variety.

You should especially consider it if:

• You want to visit Lithuania without arranging a separate trip.
• You enjoy castles, palace interiors, gardens, and unusual cultural sites.
• You value a friendly English-speaking driver.
• You are comfortable with a full nine-hour day.
• You want admissions and transport bundled together.

I would hesitate if you want a private schedule, a full museum visit at Bauska, or a long, unhurried stay at Rundale. You should also be ready to pay separately for lunch and to use your phone for the audio guides.

The perfect transport score from 86 percent of ratings fits the overall picture: this is a well-organized outing whose success depends on smooth driving, sensible timing, and a good guide. At $147, it is not a bargain basement excursion, but it covers a lot of ground and includes the most important admissions.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your Riga plans leave room for one full day beyond the city. You get three strong contrasts: Bauska’s medieval ruins, Rundale’s elegant palace and gardens, and the Hill of Crosses’ striking religious display.

Bring your passport, earbuds, snacks if you want to save lunch time, comfortable shoes, and mosquito repellent in summer. If you accept the long day and the fixed schedule, this is one of the more efficient ways to see southern Latvia and a piece of Lithuania from Riga.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about nine hours, including transportation between Riga, Jelgava, the border, the Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace, Bauska Castle, and Riga.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins and ends in front of St. Peter’s Church in Riga Old Town.

Does the tour visit two countries?

Yes. It begins in Latvia and crosses into Lithuania for the visit to the Hill of Crosses.

Do I need to bring a passport?

Yes. You must bring your passport or EU identity card in case of a border inspection.

Is lunch included?

No. You can buy lunch at the Rundale Palace restaurant or bring your own snacks and drinks.

How much time is available at Rundale Palace?

You have about two hours at Rundale Palace, including time for the palace, gardens, and lunch.

Are Rundale Palace tickets included?

Yes. Admission to Rundale Palace and its gardens is included.

Is the Bauska Castle museum included?

No. The tour includes admission to the Bauska Medieval Castle tower and time to see the ruins, but it does not visit the museum.

Can I use an audio guide?

Yes. Audio guides are available at the Hill of Crosses and Rundale Palace. You need mobile data for the Hill of Crosses guide, while free Wi-Fi is available at Rundale Palace.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.