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

The clever idea here is simple: two countries and three major sights in one day without arranging buses, border directions, or separate entrance tickets. From Riga, you head south through Jelgava to Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses, then return to Latvia for Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle.

I like the well-sized stops, especially the two hours at Rundale Palace and gardens. I also like the personable guiding. Janis, Edgars, and Viesturs are repeatedly praised for clear English, local insight, humor, and small touches such as water, candy, traditional snacks, or a taste of Riga Black Balsam.

The trade-off is the road time. This is a long nine-hour day, with several hours in the van. The tour suits you if you want a broad first look at southern Latvia and northern Lithuania, but it is not the right choice if you prefer one palace at a very slow pace.

Key points at a glance

• Three very different sights: See a medieval castle ruin, an ornate 18th-century palace, and a striking religious site covered with crosses.
• Two countries in one day: Cross from Latvia into Lithuania, and remember to carry your passport or EU identity card.
• Two hours at Rundale Palace: You have time for the palace, gardens, audio guide, and lunch, though the meal is extra.
• Guides make the long drive useful: Janis, Edgars, and Viesturs are praised for local stories, humor, patience, and practical help.
• Admissions are mostly handled: Rundale Palace and garden entry, the Bauska castle tower, and phone audio guides are included.
• Pack for the stops: Bring earbuds, snacks or lunch, water, comfortable shoes, and mosquito repellent for summer garden visits.

Why this day trip works from Riga

Riga is a rewarding city, but southern Latvia is harder to see without a car. Public transport will not neatly connect Jelgava, the border, Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace, and Bauska Castle in one day. This trip handles the awkward pieces for you.

You meet in front of St. Peter’s Church in Riga Old Town. From there, a comfortable car or van carries you through the countryside. The exact departure time depends on availability, but the day lasts about nine hours and returns to the same central meeting point.

The group runs with at least three people booked. It can remain small enough for conversation, though the final group size is not fixed. One recent group had six people, which is about the sweet spot for a shared day trip: social but not unwieldy.

The driver stays with you throughout the day and speaks English. The strongest part of the experience is not a long formal lecture at each monument. Instead, your driver fills the road time with context and answers questions as they come up. Janis is described as funny and especially well informed about Latvia. Edgars receives praise for his kindness and care. Viesturs is noted for extra facts and thoughtful touches.

Jelgava gives the day an elegant opening

Your first major stop is Jelgava, about 45 minutes from Riga. The stop lasts around 20 minutes and is mainly for photographs and a look at the city’s grand Baroque character.

Jelgava is known here for its palace, described as the largest Baroque-style palace in the Baltic states. You should treat this as an orientation stop rather than a full palace visit. The short pause gives you a visual introduction to Latvia’s former ducal world, but there is not time for an extended interior tour.

That limitation is worth understanding before you book. The tour covers a lot, so Jelgava is a quick taste, not a separate destination. I like its place in the schedule because it breaks up the first drive and gives you something substantial to see before crossing toward Lithuania.

Crossing into Lithuania and reaching the Hill of Crosses

After Jelgava, the van continues toward the Latvia-Lithuania border. There is a roughly 10-minute photo stop at the crossing. It is a small moment, but it gives the day a clear sense of place: you are not merely visiting another Latvian attraction, you are entering a second country.

Carry your passport or EU identity card. Border inspections may occur, and this is mandatory even though Latvia and Lithuania are both in the European Union. Do not leave your travel document at the hotel.

The road then continues to the Hill of Crosses. You have about an hour here, with time to walk and use the audio guide on your phone. You need mobile data for the phone guide, so check that your plan works in Lithuania before leaving Riga. Earbuds are useful.

The Hill of Crosses is unlike the other stops. Bauska is a military ruin, and Rundale is a polished aristocratic palace. The Hill of Crosses is a deeply personal religious site, marked by a huge collection of crosses placed over many years. Its meaning is best approached quietly. You can bring a cross of your own, and local sellers offer crosses at the site if you wish to leave one.

An hour is enough to walk through and take in the unusual sight, though the visit can feel brief if you want to linger, photograph every section, or listen to all the audio material. Wear shoes that handle uneven walking areas. The site is open-air, so weather matters.

Rundale Palace is the day’s main event

After the Hill of Crosses, expect about an hour in the van before reaching Rundale Palace. This is the longest stop, with two hours for the palace and gardens.

Rundale is often called little Versailles, and the comparison points to its 18th-century Baroque design, formal rooms, and carefully arranged grounds. The palace is the part of the tour where you get the most time to slow down. Admission to the palace and garden is included, and you can use a phone audio guide. Free Wi-Fi is available at the palace.

Two hours sounds generous, but you need to divide it sensibly. The interior deserves attention, especially if you enjoy decorative rooms and courtly design. The gardens give you a different experience, with open space and formal planting. If you want both, avoid spending the entire first hour inside.

Lunch also comes out of this two-hour stop. The palace restaurant offers a proper meal at your own expense, or you can bring snacks and drinks. A picnic can be the better choice if you want maximum time outdoors and do not want to wait for food. Several people specifically recommend bringing lunch for the gardens.

The palace is the strongest stop for travelers who enjoy architecture, interiors, and gardens. It is also the stop most likely to leave you wishing for another hour. The tour provides enough time for a good first visit, but not for a slow museum study or an unhurried meal followed by every garden path.

In summer, bring mosquito repellent. One person specifically advises it for the gardens, and that is practical advice for any extended outdoor stop in warm weather. Comfortable shoes help here too, since you will walk between the palace and garden areas.

Bauska Castle closes the historical loop

The final sightseeing stop is Bauska Castle, about 15 minutes from Rundale Palace. You have roughly 45 minutes here, including access to the recently renovated tower and the castle ruins.

Bauska offers a sharp contrast with Rundale. The palace represents 18th-century elegance, while Bauska gives you defensive walls, medieval remains, and a tower view. Climbing the tower is the main included experience. From above, you can appreciate the setting and get a clearer sense of how the fortress occupied the ground.

The tour includes entry to the medieval castle tower and free time around the ruins. It does not include a visit to the museum, so set your expectations accordingly. Forty-five minutes is enough for the tower and a look around, but not a full museum visit or a slow examination of every part of the complex.

This order works well. After the formal beauty of Rundale, Bauska adds a rougher, more physical finish. You are not simply moving from one decorated room to another. The day keeps changing its mood.

After Bauska, the van returns to St. Peter’s Church in Riga, with about an hour of driving. If the day runs as planned, you still have the evening in Riga. One person especially liked getting back in time to enjoy the city at night.

What the $147 price really covers

At $147 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day outside Riga. It is a fair price if you value convenience and want several admission costs bundled together.

The price includes:

• Transport from central Riga and return
• An English-speaking driver throughout the day
• Written information about the sites
• Hill of Crosses phone audio guide
• Rundale Palace and garden admission
• Rundale phone audio guide
• Bauska Medieval Castle tower admission

Lunch is not included. You also need your own mobile data for the Hill of Crosses audio guide, although Rundale has free Wi-Fi for its guide. A phone and earbuds make the self-guided parts easier.

The value comes from the route. You would otherwise need to coordinate transport across two countries, manage the border crossing, buy separate tickets, and work out how to connect these places efficiently. If you are comfortable driving and planning everything yourself, a private car could give you more freedom. For a solo visitor or couple, though, the shared tour removes a lot of friction.

There is also value in the driver. The road stretches are long enough that a good guide changes the feel of the day. You are not just watching the countryside pass by. Janis, Edgars, and Viesturs have each been praised for clear explanations, local stories, flexibility, and friendly conversation.

The pace, vehicle, and practical comfort

The day is active but not strenuous in the athletic sense. You walk around the Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace and gardens, and Bauska Castle. There are stairs at the Bauska tower, and the grounds at the outdoor sites may be uneven.

The van rides are an important part of the experience. The listed drive segments add up to several hours, so this is not a quick outing. Bring water, a small snack, and something to occupy you during the longer stretches. The driver may provide water or a small snack, but you should not rely on that as your meal plan.

The guide’s flexibility is another useful feature. One person traveling while pregnant was pleased that Janis accommodated frequent bathroom stops. That does not guarantee a custom schedule, but it suggests you can communicate practical needs to the driver.

The tour provides printed information, so you are not dependent entirely on your phone. Still, the two phone audio guides make earbuds worthwhile. Charge your phone before departure.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour, and you can reserve without paying immediately. These policies help if your Riga schedule is still shifting. The key fixed requirement is your passport or EU identity card.

Who should book this experience

I would choose this tour if you have several days in Riga and want one full day devoted to the region beyond the capital. It is especially useful if you want to add Lithuania without changing hotels or arranging a separate cross-border trip.

It suits you if you enjoy variety. In one day, you get:

• A short city and palace view in Jelgava
• A cross-border stop
• A striking religious site
• An ornate palace and garden
• A medieval fortress tower and ruins

It is also a good match if you prefer independent exploring within a guided framework. The driver handles the route and gives you background, but you generally explore the sites at your own pace rather than moving through every room in a large guided group.

You may want another option if you dislike long drives, need extensive time at museums, or want a relaxed garden day. Rundale receives two hours, but the full route demands discipline. This is a sampler of several important places, not a leisurely deep visit to one.

My booking verdict

I would book this for a first visit to Latvia when I wanted to see more than Riga but had no interest in managing a complicated self-drive route. The combination of Rundale Palace and the Hill of Crosses gives the day real range, and Bauska adds a worthwhile castle stop rather than serving as filler.

The main condition is accepting the nine-hour schedule and several hours on the road. Bring your passport, earbuds, lunch or snacks, comfortable shoes, and mosquito repellent in summer. If that sounds manageable, $147 buys a well-organized route, included admissions, and a guide who can make the driving time part of the experience.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about nine hours, including transport from Riga, sightseeing stops, and the return to St. Peter’s Church.

Where does the tour begin and end?

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

Which countries do I visit?

You visit Latvia and Lithuania. The route includes a stop at the Latvia-Lithuania border crossing and a visit to the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania.

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 do I have at Rundale Palace?

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

Are entrance tickets included?

Yes. The price includes entry to Rundale Palace and its gardens, plus entry to the Bauska Medieval Castle tower. The Bauska museum is not included in the visit.

Are audio guides available?

Yes. A phone audio guide is available at the Hill of Crosses, and another is available at Rundale Palace and its gardens. The Hill of Crosses guide requires mobile data, while free Wi-Fi is available at Rundale Palace.

What happens if I need to cancel?

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