Jurmala is an excellent day trip option from Riga, the capital of Latvia, to escape the grey days of life in the city. Being located directly on a large strip of white, sandy beach, Jurmala is a favorite getaway on warmer days in the spring, summer, and fall. Jurmala was a famous Soviet summertime retreat for the rich and famous, so don’t hesitate to visit and see why it is such a famous destination!
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Getting there
Jurmala is easy to reach from Riga, Latvia and is only an approximately 40 minute drive via the A10. Jurmala can also easily be reached by train from Riga. It takes 20 to 50 minutes to reach Jurmala by train from Riga (depending on where you get off in Jurmala), and there are 14 stops within the city. The main stop is Majori, which also has a tourist information center.
Tickets cost approximately 1.40 EUR (1.56 USD) each way. Tickets can be purchased at the station or onboard the train, although tickets purchased on the train are at a slightly higher rate than at the station. Tickets and other information can be found at the link at the bottom of this article.
Jurmala can also easily be reached from other major cities in the Baltic States. From Vilnius, Lithuania the drive is about 4 hours via A2. Jurmala can also be reached in about 4.5 hours by car from Tallinn, Estonia via Route 4 and the A1.
What to do and where to eat
The number one thing to do in Jurmala (weather permitting) is to enjoy the 24 km (~15 mi) of sandy beaches. You’ll surely find a comfortable place to lay your towel and place your chairs along this long beach with its soft sands. The water is crystal clear (and cold) and shallow, so you can walk out into the sea for quite a distance to search for shells or to just enjoy the feeling of the water splashing on your legs. Amenities at the beach include designated swimming areas and outdoor showers and changing rooms.
Other than enjoying the beach, you may want to take a walk along the pedestrian street of Jomas iela. Jomas iela boasts numerous restaurants, beautiful buildings, outdoor shops to purchase souvenirs, and small vendors selling fruits and vegetables. If you are hungry, there are numerous restaurant options along Jomas iela, but I’d suggest stopping at Uzbekistan. As the name suggests, Uzbekistan offers a wide array of vegetarian and meat-based dishes that are traditional to Uzbekistan. I’d suggest the lamb soup, pumpkin dumplings, and delicious bread, but everything we tried on the menu was delicious.
Another outdoor activity that I’d highly recommend is the Dzintari Mezaparks (Dzintari Forest Park in English), which is a large outdoor playground built for children and adults alike. Best of all, it is free to play in this large park, which is built among tall, straight evergreen trees.
Architecture
Jurmala is famous for its detailed wooden architecture seen on the (former) homes of Russian oil tycoons and oligarchs. Here you’ll see large, wooden houses built in Neo-Classical and Art Nouveau style. Notice the intricately carved fronts of the houses, the small turrets, the calming colors, and detailed windows. You’ll also likely see some houses showing the wear of time. One of the main streets to see beautiful homes is Juras iela. Self-guided walking routes can be found on the Visit Jurmala webpage linked below.
Enjoy a great escape from the city
If you are looking for additional ways to relax in Jurmala, consider having a spa treatment in one of their spas or hotels. No matter what you do in Jurmala, Latvia, you will certainly feel refreshed during your easy escape from Riga.
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