LV
Jurmala
A long sandy beach resort near Riga, with wooden villas, spas and a bog boardwalk
A long sandy beach resort near Riga, with wooden villas, spas and a bog boardwalk
The fine white sand slopes gently into shallow water, good for families. Cafés and beach bars open in summer, and the beach has Blue Flag status.
The Baltic is cool even in July.
Photo: Jurmalastic, CC BY-SA 4.0
The pedestrian street in Majori, about 1.3km long, is lined with restaurants, shops and old wooden houses.
Photo: Ken Eckert, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hundreds of timber summer houses from the 19th and early 20th centuries stand among the pines, especially in Majori, Dubulti and Dzintari.
Photo: Андрей Романенко, CC BY-SA 4.0
This open-air concert hall in the pines hosts concerts through the summer season.
Photo: Gustamons, CC0
In Ķemeri National Park, a wooden trail crosses the Great Ķemeri Bog past pools, moss and small pines, with a viewing tower.
Go at sunrise or sunset for the best light.
Photo: GRID-Arendal, CC BY 2.0
Try smoked fish, grey peas with bacon, rye bread and local craft beer. Beach cafés serve light meals in summer.
Jomas iela has the most restaurants.
Trains from Riga Central Station reach Majori in about 30 minutes and are cheap. Drivers must pay a daily fee to enter Jūrmala by car, usually paid by app.
Trains stop at stations along the coast; bikes are good for getting around.
Latvia uses the euro (EUR).
Beach, villas and nature.
Walk the beach and Jomas iela, then see the wooden villas.
Walk the bog boardwalk in Ķemeri National Park.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Latvia is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Pay the Jūrmala entry fee if you drive in.
Cycle paths run along the coast.
The sea is shallow and cool.
Bring repellent for the bog in summer.
Quick answers for planning time in Jūrmala.
By train in about 30 minutes, or by car (an entry fee applies).
More than 20km.
The main pedestrian street in Majori.
In Ķemeri National Park, at the western end of Jūrmala.
June to August.
Planning a wider trip? Our Latvia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.