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

The most remarkable thing about this day trip is how much ground it covers without turning into a frantic checklist. From Riga, you cross into Lithuania, visit the unusual Hill of Crosses, then return to Latvia for Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle. You see two countries and three very different sights in nine hours.

I like the sensible pacing and the strong guides. Janis, Edgars, and Viesturs have each earned praise for being warm, funny, flexible, and well informed. I also like that Rundale Palace and the Bauska tower admissions are included. The drawback is simple: this is a long road day, and lunch is not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Two countries in one day: You cross from Latvia into Lithuania and stop for a border photo.
• Rundale gets the most time: Two hours covers the palace, gardens, audio guide, and lunch break.
• The Hill of Crosses is brief but memorable: You have one hour to walk the site and use an audio guide on your phone.
• Bauska is a compact final stop: The ticket covers the medieval castle tower and ruins, not the museum.
• Guides make the difference: Janis, Edgars, and Viesturs are singled out for friendly service, humor, local insight, and flexibility.
• Bring your passport and earbuds: Border checks are possible, and both audio guides work through your phone.

A big Baltic day from Riga

At $147 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day outside Riga. It is a fair price if you want the transport, two main entrance tickets, an English-speaking driver, and a practical route handled for you.

Trying to reproduce this trip independently would mean arranging transport across two countries, working out the order of the sights, buying admissions, and keeping an eye on the clock. The value here is not just the van. It is the efficient connection between places that are awkward to combine without your own car.

The group size is not stated as a fixed number, but the experience uses a car or van rather than a large coach. Some departures have been small, with six people on one outing. That gives the day a more personal feel and makes it easier to ask questions or request a short comfort stop.

The tour begins in front of St. Peter’s Church in Riga Old Town. You should arrive ready for a full day. The drive starts with about 45 minutes in the van, followed by stops and longer rides between the major sites. You return to the same church after roughly nine hours.

Jelgava and the first look beyond Riga

The first stop is Jelgava, where you have about 20 minutes for a photo stop. The city is known for its large Baroque-style palace, described here as the largest Baroque palace in the Baltics.

Do not expect a full city tour or palace visit at this point. This is a quick orientation stop, useful for seeing a major Latvian landmark and stretching your legs before the cross-border part of the day. If you want a thorough look at Jelgava, you would need a separate visit.

This short stop also gives the driver a chance to add local context. That is one reason the guide matters. The strongest guides on this route, especially Janis, Edgars, and Viesturs, are praised for filling the drive with facts about Latvia rather than leaving you with a silent transfer.

The border crossing and a second country

After Jelgava, the van continues toward the Latvia-Lithuania border. You stop at Pārejas punkts for about 10 minutes, mainly for a photograph.

This is a small moment, but it gives the day a clear sense of place. You are not merely visiting a Lithuanian attraction by technicality. You actually cross an international border and can mark the change with a picture.

Bring your passport or EU identity card. It is mandatory in case of a border inspection, even though routine checks may not occur. Keep it accessible rather than buried in your luggage.

The crossing is followed by about 40 minutes of driving to the Hill of Crosses. If you are counting countries, this is the point where Lithuania becomes part of the day.

The Hill of Crosses: one hour at an unforgettable site

The Hill of Crosses is the most unusual stop. It is a Catholic pilgrimage site covered with crosses of many sizes, shapes, and materials. The effect is unlike the formal palace and castle visits later in the day. You walk among the crosses rather than moving through a conventional museum or monument.

You have one hour here, with time for sightseeing, walking, and a self-guided visit. An audio guide is available on your phone, but you need mobile data to use it. Bring earbuds if you want to listen comfortably.

You may bring your own cross to leave at the site. Local sellers also offer crosses nearby. You do not need to buy one, and you can simply walk through the hill and take in the setting.

One hour is a reasonable amount of time for this stop. It lets you see the main area without allowing the visit to swallow the entire day. Still, this is a place where your response may depend on your interest in religious sites and symbolic monuments. Some people will find the sheer number of crosses moving and fascinating. Others may prefer a longer architectural visit.

The site is also a good example of why this route works. Rundale Palace is polished and formal. Bauska is medieval and partly ruined. The Hill of Crosses is personal, irregular, and hard to compare with anything else in Latvia or Lithuania.

Rundale Palace and gardens: the day’s main event

After the Hill of Crosses, the drive back toward Latvia takes about an hour. You then get two hours at Rundale Palace, the longest stop of the day.

Rundale is often called a little Versailles, and that comparison helps explain the appeal. You can expect grand 18th-century interiors, formal rooms, and extensive gardens. The palace is well preserved, and it provides the most traditional sightseeing experience on the route.

Your entrance ticket includes the palace and gardens. A free audio guide is available through your phone, and Wi-Fi is available at the palace. If you want the full benefit of the rooms and their history, bring earbuds and make sure your phone is charged.

Two hours sounds generous, but it includes everything: the palace visit, garden walk, and lunch break. You need to manage your time. I would enter the palace first, then walk through the gardens, leaving enough time for food. If you linger over every audio stop, the gardens may get squeezed.

Lunch is at your own expense. You can bring snacks and drinks, which may be the most efficient choice if you want more time outdoors. There is also a palace restaurant for a proper meal. The tour does not include lunch, so budget for it or pack something before departure.

The gardens are especially attractive in good weather, but summer visitors should bring mosquito repellent. That small tip can make a real difference if you plan to spend much of your two hours outside.

Rundale is likely to be the highlight if you enjoy architecture, interiors, and formal gardens. It is also the stop where the admission included in the price has the clearest practical value. You get enough time to see the palace properly, but not enough for a slow, all-day visit.

Bauska Castle and the medieval tower

The final attraction is Bauska Castle, reached after a short 15-minute drive from Rundale. You have about 45 minutes here.

The ticket includes access to the recently renovated medieval castle tower, where you can climb for views and a closer look at the site’s defensive character. You also have time to see the castle ruins. The museum is not included, and this tour does not visit it.

That distinction matters. If you want a full museum experience or an extended study of the castle, this stop will feel short. If you mainly want a striking ruin, a tower climb, and a final historic setting before returning to Riga, 45 minutes works well.

Bauska also provides a useful contrast with Rundale. Rundale shows aristocratic comfort and order. Bauska gives you stone walls, a tower, and the remains of a fortified past. The two sites are close enough to pair efficiently, but different enough that the day does not feel repetitive.

After Bauska, the drive back to St. Peter’s Church takes about an hour. You should still have time to enjoy Riga in the evening, though your energy will depend on how well you handle a full day on the road.

The guides are a major part of the experience

The driver is also your English-speaking guide throughout the day. That matters because much of the experience happens between the stops.

Janis is praised for being funny, patient, and especially strong at explaining Latvia. Edgars is described as kind, accommodating, and good at looking after the group. Viesturs is praised for extra touches such as offering water and sweets, sharing Latvian Balsam to taste, and giving small souvenirs on one outing.

Those personal details are not guaranteed on every departure. The assigned driver can vary, and gifts or extra detours should not be treated as part of the formal package. But they show the kind of service the company aims for.

The best part of having a live guide is the chance to ask about the countryside, history, food, and daily life in Latvia. You also get a human voice during the long transfers, rather than simply moving from one ticketed site to another.

The audio guides fill in details at the Hill of Crosses and Rundale Palace. They do not replace the driver. Think of them as tools for exploring at your own pace once you are on foot.

What the price includes, and what it does not

The $147 price includes:

• Transportation from St. Peter’s Church in a car or van
• An English-speaking driver throughout the day
• Written information about the stops
• Hill of Crosses audio guide access on your phone
• Rundale Palace and garden admission
• Rundale audio guide access on your phone
• Bauska Castle tower admission

Lunch is not included. You should also bring your own phone data for the Hill of Crosses audio guide and earbuds for either audio guide.

The price is easiest to justify if you are staying in Riga for a short time and want to see beyond the capital without hiring a car. It is less compelling if you strongly prefer slow visits, long meals, or one attraction per day.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve without paying immediately add useful flexibility. The tour operates only when at least three people are booked for that day, so check availability before building your entire schedule around it.

Who should book this day trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want a broad first look at southern Latvia and a taste of Lithuania. It suits people who enjoy castles, palaces, gardens, unusual religious sites, and local history, especially when all four can fit into one organized day.

It also works well if you are short on time. You can cover places that would be difficult to connect by public transport, while still getting free time at each major stop.

You should think twice if you dislike long drives or prefer to explore at a very slow pace. The Hill of Crosses and Bauska Castle are timed visits, and Rundale’s two hours must also include lunch. This is a well-planned sampler, not a deep visit to every location.

Wear comfortable shoes for walking and the Bauska tower climb. Bring a passport or EU ID card, snacks if you want to save time, earbuds, phone data, and mosquito repellent in summer. Those simple preparations will help you get more from the day.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the efficient version of southern Latvia: three strong stops, two countries, included admissions, and a friendly guide who can make the drives useful. The best reasons to go are Rundale Palace, the strange beauty of the Hill of Crosses, and the chance to see Bauska without arranging your own transport.

Skip it if your ideal holiday day has no schedule and no long van rides. For most people with limited time in Riga, though, $147 buys a practical and varied outing, not just a transfer between attractions.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts and returns in front of St. Peter’s Church in Riga Old Town.

How long does the experience last?

The full trip lasts about nine hours.

Do I need to bring a passport?

Yes. You must bring your passport or EU identity card because a border inspection is possible when crossing between Latvia and Lithuania.

Is lunch included?

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

How much time do I get at Rundale Palace?

You have about two hours for the palace, gardens, sightseeing, walking, and lunch.

Is admission to Rundale Palace included?

Yes. The price includes entrance to Rundale Palace and its gardens.

Can I visit the Bauska Castle museum?

No. This tour includes the medieval castle tower and the ruins, but it does not include a visit to the museum.

Do I need mobile data and earbuds?

Mobile data is required for the Hill of Crosses audio guide. Earbuds are useful for both audio guides. Rundale Palace also has free Wi-Fi available.