Jūrmala stretches along a 24-kilometre stretch of coastline on the Gulf of Riga. Its beach consists of golden-shimmering quartz sand and is shallow, making it suitable for barefoot walks and cycling. But the town’s character also includes pine forests, protected natural areas and cultural discoveries. You can tailor your trip to the landscapes and experiences that interest you most.
From the beach to pine forest and bog
Dzintari Forest Park is home to a stand of pine trees that is 200 years old. The park’s observation tower has twelve platforms. Ragakāpa Nature Park also combines forest with protected landscapes: it is a specially protected natural area and includes seven biotopes protected in the European Union. A trail about two kilometres long leads through the pine forest, mostly along wooden boardwalks.
Jūrmala’s tourist attractions include several nature trails in Ķemeri National Park and the surrounding areas. These include the Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk, the Black Alder Swamp Boardwalk, the Sulphur Ponds Boardwalk, the Forest Trail, the Sloka Lake Hiking Trail and the Green Dune. On the Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk, you can choose between a short loop section of about 1.4 kilometres and a long section of around 3.4 kilometres. The long section also offers the option of climbing to an observation platform with a view over the bog from above.
The Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk makes it possible to safely explore an area that is difficult to access, with mosses, small bog pines, acacias, dark lakes and wild rosemary. The distances provide a practical way to compare the trails: the roughly two-kilometre trail in Ragakāpa falls between the two loop sections in Ķemeri. Jūrmala is also known for its healing mud, mineral waters and pine forests.
Concerts, museums and glimpses of fishermen’s lives
The historic concert hall at Dzintari Concert Hall was built in 1936 to a design by architects Viktors Mellenbergs and Aleksandrs Birzenieks. The complex also includes an elegant concert hall from the 1930s and a concert garden from the 1960s, which is used in summer. Dzintari Concert Hall hosts concerts featuring folk, classical, rock and pop music. Architectural history and different musical styles are presented here as distinct aspects of the cultural offering.
The Jūrmala Museum covers the history of the Riga-Jūrmala and Ķemeri resorts from the 18th to the 21st century. It also holds Latvia’s largest swimwear collection. At the Jūrmala Open-Air Museum, nearly 2,000 exhibits offer insight into the work and lives of fishermen in Jūrmala in the 19th and 20th centuries. A visitor programme focuses on the traditional smoking of fish: you can watch the process, take part in the preparation and taste hot-smoked fish. As the programme can be booked, it is recommended that you check its availability before your trip.
Jomas Street is a pedestrian street about 1.1 kilometres long, lined with numerous restaurants and pubs. It offers a practical point of reference in town as well as places to stop for a meal along the way. If you are interested in a different kind of leisure activity, Līvu Water Park has areas for active recreation, family fun, and spa and sauna use. The water park includes a wave pool with waves up to 1.5 metres high.
Getting your bearings in Jūrmala
For your journey, the location offers a useful point of reference: Jūrmala lies about 20 kilometres west of Riga on the A10/E22 highway. Via the A10, the town is about a 15-minute drive from Riga Airport; actual journey time varies depending on traffic. This information can help you factor Jūrmala into your travel plans without limiting your decision to a single focus. Beaches, nature trails, museums and concerts offer different ways to experience the coastal region.
Discover more destinations: Jūrmala, Engures Novads, Mērsraga Novads, Krimuldas Novads, Nīcas Novads, Cesvaines Novads, Alsungas Novads, Ogres Novads.
For the broader travel overview: Latvia.
