LV
Sigulda
Castles above the Gauja valley, sandstone caves and a cable car, an hour from Riga
Castles above the Gauja valley, sandstone caves and a cable car, an hour from Riga
Built from 1214 by order of Albert, Archbishop of Riga, on the site of a Livonian wooden fort, the red-brick castle was abandoned after a fire in 1776 and partly restored from the 1970s. It is the centrepiece of the Turaida Museum Reserve, and its main tower has views over the valley. The reserve also includes a small wooden church, a sculpture park and the grave linked to the legend of the Rose of Turaida.
Allow two to three hours for the whole museum reserve.
Photo: Qasinka, CC0
The ruins of the medieval Sigulda Castle, built by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in the early 13th century, stand next to the 19th-century New Castle. The ruins host an opera festival in summer.
Photo: Dor Shabashewitz, CC BY 4.0
The largest cave in the Baltics, about 19m deep and 10m high, was carved into the red sandstone by a spring. Its walls are covered with centuries of carved inscriptions.
Easy walk from Turaida on a valley trail.
Photo: Edgars Košovojs, CC BY-SA 4.0
A cable car crosses the valley between Sigulda and Krimulda, with views of the river and forest; it is also used for bungee jumping.
Photo: MOs810, CC BY 4.0
Trails run along the river and through the forest between the castles, past sandstone outcrops and viewpoints. The valley is especially colourful in autumn.
Photo: PROP1001, CC0
On the north bank, Krimulda has medieval castle ruins and a 19th-century manor, with paths leading down to Gutmanis Cave and Turaida.
Photo: Qasinka, CC0
Latvian food is hearty: rye bread, grey peas with bacon, potatoes, smoked fish and dairy. Try pīrāgi (bacon buns) and seasonal berries and mushrooms from the forest.
Sigulda has cafés and restaurants near the station and castles; options are more limited out of season.
Trains from Riga take about an hour, and there are buses too. By car, the drive is under an hour.
Sights are spread across both sides of the valley; combine walking, the cable car and local buses, or hire a bike.
Latvia uses the euro. Sigulda is affordable; the museum reserve and cable car charge entry.
Many visitors come as a day trip from Riga.
Bike hire is a good way to link the sights.
Tourist bobsleigh rides operate on the Sigulda track.
One full day is enough for the main castles and the valley.
From the station, visit Sigulda Castle, take the cable car to Krimulda, walk down to Gutmanis Cave and on to Turaida Museum Reserve. Return by bus.
Wear comfortable shoes; there are many steps.
🛂 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
Trains take about an hour.
Late September to October is spectacular.
Bobsleigh and skiing in winter.
Sights are on both banks of the river.
Quick answers for planning time in Sigulda.
About 53km; roughly an hour by train.
Visit Turaida Castle, Sigulda Castle, Gutmanis Cave and Krimulda, ride the cable car and hike the Gauja valley.
Yes, it is one of the most popular day trips from Riga.
May to October, especially early October for autumn colours.
Yes, it is considered the largest cave in the Baltic states.
Planning a wider trip? Our Latvia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.