Gauja National Park Ultimate Guide
In June 2022 we made a 2-week road trip in the Baltic States. We started in Vilnius (Lithuania), rented a car, and explored as much as we could on the way to Tallinn (Estonia) while stopping by Latvia.
Gauja National Park was our next stop after Riga. We spent 2 nights there and it gave us enough time to visit what we wanted and do some hikes around.
The Gauja National Park is the largest and oldest of the national parks in Latvia, characterized by great biological diversity, variety of landforms, natural springs, sandstone outcrops, picturesque views and unique natural, cultural and historical monuments.
It is the perfect place for any type of travellers. Family, Couple, Hikers, Solo, Young, and old. There you will be able to visit some
If you too are planning a trip to the Baltic states and to Latvia you will probably stop by Gauja national park, then let ‘s dive in this Gauja National Park Ultimate Guide
Table of Contents
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About Gauja national park
Gauja national park covers a huge area with an area of 917.86 km2 running along the Gauja river. It was established in order to protect slightly disturbed natural areas, promote nature tourism and ensure sustainable development in the area. The park is comprised of 3 main cities:
- Sigulda
- Līgatne
- Cesis
So, if you wish to visit it, those cities will be your base. On each side of the national park, there is a main road with smaller one going within.
Getting to Gauja national park
The easiest way to reach Gauja national park is from Riga. You can directly fly to Riga international airport, rent a car there and then head to Gauja. The road is just 1h15 for 61.6km.
The roads are really good, and it is well indicated. But if you prefer public transportation there is also some options, though it will be harder to move within:
- There are many daily departures by train from Riga station to Sigulda. Cost is around 2€ and it takes 58 to 1h10min. Check more here
- You can also take the bus from Riga SAO to Sigulda, it takes 1h08 and there are lots of daily departure. It cost 2.85€. Check more here
Moving Around
As mentioned, there are 3 main cities to visit in the national park. From those you will be able to explore the park as well as hike some easy trail. But you will need to use transportation between those cities.
If you need to move between those cities, you can also take the bus if you do not have a car.
When to Visit
You can visit Gauja National Park all year round but be aware that temperature varies from the extreme 30°C in summer to freezing -25°C in winter. Also, the length of the day varies a lot from 4h in winter to almost 18h in summer.
The touristic season is mostly July and August and is made of local tourism. The Baltic states are not the most touristic countries in the world nor in EU.
The best time to visit it in term of weather are from May to September but we would without a doubt recommend June as the best month to visit it. Out of 16 days in the Baltic states, we only got 2 of them with rain. It wasn’t yet too hot and wasn’t too cold and really enjoyed it.
Where to Stay
We personally stayed 2 nights there which gave us plenty of time to explore the Gauja national park and get most of it:
- (€): Green bear
- (€€): Karlamuiza Country Hotel
- (€€€): Ezerkalni
What to Eat
When we arrived in Sigulda, we first stopped at the train station where the tourist office is located. We asked about trail in the area, but it wasn’t that clear. Though it seems we could do a small one in the afternoon.
We then went across the road and into a modern industrial building with a few shops and restaurant in it. We ate Italian that lunch 😊
After that, we mostly made our own meals as it was more convenient. We stop by a hypermarket in Sigulda to get enough food for the next 2 days.
About the town
Sigulda
Sigulda is a small town of 14 000 inhabitants for 22.88km². Mostly known for its located within the Gauja national park and for the points on interests you find there such as the biggest cave of the Baltics or 2 medieval castles.
Līgatne
Līgatne only cover 7.07km² for 1000 inhabitants. The village of Līgatne was built around the paper mill, still extant, on the River Līgatne in the 19th century. Later it grew into a town and was then awarded city status in 1993.
Cēsis
Cēsis is a cute Latvian town, mostly known for its medieval castle. First built in the 13th century and rebuilt many times since, Cēsis Castle features wall paintings, dungeons and towers with views. Its Castle Park includes an old brewery, a cemetery and the Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Church. Also on castle grounds, the 18th-century Castle Manor House is home to the Cēsis History and Art Museum
Population of Cēsis is about 17 000 inhabitants for 19.28km².
Best things to do Sigulda
Sigulda Castle
The Sigulda castle is made of a new castle and an old castle. New Castle was built in 1878 in the Neo-Gothic style as the living house for the owners of the manor, the Kropotkin family. Sigulda (old) Medieval Castle ruins are located right behind the new castle and can be visited for 2€ per person. Built in 1207 as a castellum type fortress, it was later rebuilt into a convent type building.
Sigulda Trail
If you prefer hiking rather than taking the car around. The best way to actually discover Sigulda is by following this trail. The trail is going through the forest and the Sigulda hills. By following it you will be able to get to Krimulda Castle, Gutman’s Cave and Turaida castle. From there you can either take a bus back to Sigulda or walk it back.
Krimulda Castle
Krimulda Castle is actually made of old ruins as well as a manor. The ruins dates from the 14th century and was destroyed in a war in 1601. The mansion has a classical villa architecture in Latvia. Around it was sunbathing area later converted into medical places.
If you wish, you can even stay there overnight : Krimuldas Muiža
To reach this place, you can either drive and park next to it or use the cable car (departures once every 20 minutes from 10 am to 6.30 pm during the summer, and from 10 am to 5 pm during winter.
Gutman's Cave
A bit further is the Gutman’s Cave, the widest and highest cave in the Baltic countries. It started forming more than 10 000 years ago when meltwater eroded the sandstone rock after the Ice Age. It is the oldest tourist attraction in Latvia.
Here also, there is a car park right next to it that you cannot miss on the road.
Turaida castle
And to finish the trail is the Turaida castle. Built in 1214, it was recently rebuilt and is now a great place to see. It features:
- Folksong Park with statues: one of the places where the Singing Revolution took place, eventually leading to independence from the Soviets
- Old castle with its watch tower
- A Small Museum about the castle its history
- In one of the homestead there is an exhibition about the Livonians or Livs, Latvia’s native Finno-Ugric people.
More things to do
If you are looking for more things to do:
- Paradise Hill: a small 30min hike that allow you get a nice panoramic view of the region and its forest. You can also get there by car (park next to the cemetery then walk 600 meters to get to the viewpoint itself)
- Sigulda bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track: A 6-storey complex where Olympians train. Visitors can get on the bobsleigh track with a wheeled bobsleigh in summer (May-Sept) or a regular bobsleigh during winter (Nov-March).
Best things to do Līgatne
Līgatne Gauja Trail
One of the top things to do in Līgatne is to walk along the Gauja River. We found that trail and it was amazing (for most of it). When the Gauja river is high (after lots of rain), the trail is almost unpracticable as you have to pass small river. But if it didn’t rain much in the past days, this is definitely a top hike.
Līgatnes pārceltuve pār Gauju
Also known as the ligatne ferry. It crosses the Gauja river and is the only ferry of such type in the Baltic region. The ferry consists of two joined boats, covered by a deck of boards. The cable across the river does not let the stream carry the ferryboat down the river, while the power of the stream propels it from one coast to the other.
Līgatne Nature Trails
This 5km trails within a kind of nature reserve allows you watch wild animals and birds native to Latvia. The cost is 4.3€ and it could be cool to do with kids or family. While we were there, we saw a few bears, owls, wild pigs… But of course, they were in cages.
Līgatnes papīrfabrika
This is more somewhere to just pop by for 5min as it played a big part of the town history. Līgatne Paper Mill was one of the oldest and richest paper producers in traditions not only in the Baltic States, but also in Europe. It was the only paper producer in Latvia and the most important wastepaper recycler. It was providing housing for its worker and most of the old houses in town belonged to the factory.
Lustūzis
Also called the Cave (Alu) Rock. It is a very scenic sandstone outcrop on the right bank of River Līgatne. It can be seen from a platform located next to the road.
Best things to do Cēsis
Cēsis Castle
Cēsis Castle is made of a new castle that serves as a museum and of an old castle that are ruins. In the museum you can learn about the history of town and then discover the ruins of the old medieval castle. But it cost 10€ per person.
Castle Park
That’s our favourite things to do in Cēsis. The castle park is a beautiful park around the castles. It has a small lake in its center and offer amazing views of the castle. As we visited it on Sunday, we even saw locals performing their local dance.
Cēsis Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Church
Within the park, you can also see the Orthodox Church, built in Byzantine style, the Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Church of Cēsis is decorated with icons of saints and vivid blue turrets.
Old Town
Cēsis and its old town are not really big. So, take 30min or 1h to stroll around and enjoy the main streets as well as smaller park in it. In a smaller park, we also spotted black swans. We haven’t seen them before, and it was amazing.
St. John’s Church
We couldn’t get inside the church as it was being renovated but apparently you can even go on its bell tower to get a nice panorama of the city.
Old Man of Time
Don’t miss the statue of the Old Man of Time located right next to St. John’s Church. According to legends, the Old Man of Time used to walk through the streets with his lantern to light up other lanterns along the way. This way, he would keep the inhabitants safe at night.
Monument of Victory
Located in the main square in the old town. It was first built in 1924 to honour the soldiers who fell in the Latvian Independence battles. In 1952, the Soviet Union replaced it with a statue of Lenin that stayed there until 1990, when it got dismantled. And in 1998, the Monument of Victory was finally brought back to its former state.
Cēsis Brewery
It is said that it is the oldest brewery of Northern Europe. Called Cesus Alus it was first mentioned in 1590. Today, the brewery is outside of Cēsis but you can still see the old one.
An amazing 2-day Gauja National Park Itinerary
Day 1 Morning
- Arrive from Riga to Sigulda
Day 1 Afternoon: Sigulda
- Lunch in Sigulda
- Sigulda Trail to see all the top spots in town
- Go to your accommodation
Day 2 Morning: Līgatne
- Līgatnes papīrfabrika
- Lustūzis
- Līgatne Gauja Trail
- Līgatne ferry
- Līgatne Nature Trails
Day 2 Afternoon: Cesis
- Cēsis Castle
- Castle Park
- Cēsis Transfiguration of Christ Orthodox Church
- Old Town
- John’s Church
- Old Man of Time
- Monument of Victory
- Cēsis Brewery
- Return to your accommodation
Mans maks ir kā sīpols – My wallet is like an onion.
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