If your spirit of adventure is high and you want to explore a little, but don’t have too much time, a tour of Pierīga is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the capital. Such routes will be useful for those foreign guests who have come for a shorter period of time or don’t want to go on longer trips. Or it will be a bit more of an unusual ride for those who don’t live in Riga or near it. Whatever your reason for getting to know the nearby territory around the capital of Latvia, it still offers things to discover, learn and enjoy.
You can easily get out of Riga to all sides of the country. There is a regular train to Jurmala, Sigulda, Saulkrasti, Jelgava and Ogre from Riga Central Railway Station. Intercity buses from Riga Bus Terminal will take you to smaller cities and yet undiscovered directions. If no public transport goes to your intended destination, you can use one of the carsharing services.
Below we have summarised the carsharing services available in Latvia, as well as cities where you can take and park the cars. The information may change, therefore please see the availability and options on company websites or apps.
- You can take and park “Citybee” cars in Riga, Jurmala, Ogre, Jelgava and Sigulda.
- You can only take and park “Car Guru” cars in Riga.
- You can take and park “Bolt Drive” cars in Riga and Jurmala.
- You can take and park “OX Drive” Tesla cars in Riga and Jurmala.
- You can only take and park “Fiqsy” cars in Riga, but you can drive further distances: with one charge you can travel 250 km on average and, if necessary, you can recharge it at CSDD or Latvenergo charging stations.
It doesn’t matter which type of transport you choose, because you can get to all the attraction sites of Pierīga quickly and without much effort. What to see?
Travelling around the Pierīga region
Carnikava is located on a seashore not far from Riga. In the 17th century the city played a major role in promoting the well-being of Latvia: the lower reaches of the River Gauja had the only crossing, which was particularly important for the international route Riga-Pärnu. While visiting the Carnikava Local History Centre - Cēlāji homestead - you can learn about the local fishing traditions and look into the life of fishermen throughout history. The building is a replica of a classic 19th century Vidzeme fisherman’s house; the original was brought to the Open Air Museum in 1966, where you can still see it today. This place allows you to learn the old craft and the significance of transport, while getting lost a little in the omnipresent ancient aura. Next to the Local History Centre there is a well organised resting place with swings, picnic area and a campfire. Travellers can order soup made over a campfire. With prior booking you can get a guided tour to Gauja estuary or take a ride on a fishermen’s boat after visiting the Local History Centre.
Gauja estuary and the promenade of Carnikava
Carnikava and one of the longest rivers in Latvia - the Gauja - are closely linked. Right here in Carnikava, the Gauja flows into the sea, and although this fact was of greater significance in the past, this place is worth a visit. You can get to the estuary via different ways. One of the most exciting is to travel along the Gauja by boat, SUP board or other water vehicle, thus fully experiencing every bend and expanse of the river that opens to the eye when the river meets the sea. However, if you prefer a walk in nature, we suggest you head to the Carnikava promenade. It allows you to enjoy a comfortable and pleasant walk through a pine forest right down to the sea. Its concrete slab covering includes the concept of the Livonian road pattern, depicting a tricolour - black, white, red - wave as a symbol of the Gauja and the sea coast. The most enthusiastic walkers can also take a detour from the promenade and walk through the forest. The promenade is 2 km long and is also perfect for cycling, children, mothers with strollers and people in wheelchairs. In the sandy area however, it can be difficult to get around with a wheelchair
Riekstukalns
The charm of Pierīga: you can get to the hill from the centre of Riga in less than an hour! During all seasons, this hill offers a lot for adventure seekers, as well as people who just wish to relax. In winter, when Riekstukalns is covered in white snow, it becomes a winter sports complex where you can ski, snowboard, cross-country ski or sled. In autumn, you can watch all the shades of orange and brown colouring the nearby forests from the observation tower on the hill. However, in spring and summer, Riekstukalns has something for all who are keen on active recreation: here you can go for a walk, negotiate an obstacle course in the treetops, go on a Tyrolean ride, play disc golf, ride with quadricycles or just lazily relax in the territory of the complex.
Cena moorland trail
Cena moorland is one of the largest bogs in Latvia; its untouched bog territory is included in two nature reserves, and it is also a Natura 2000 territory. Cena moorland formed due to disturbed run-off as a result of overland swamping. It has several smaller lakes, the largest of which is Lake Skaista, while in the southwest part there is a forest area. Peat is still extracted in part of the bog area. The diversity of the bog is a reason to go on the 5 km walk along the trail. In spring, the Cena moorland is particularly interesting for bird watchers. The bog is home to ten species of birds protected in Latvia and Europe, as well as several other species of small birds.
The Great Kangari
If you want to completely escape from the city, you can do so only 45 km away from the centre of Riga, where you will find the Great Kangari - the largest esker ridge in Latvia, which is part of the nature reserve of the same name. There is an old folk legend about the Great Kangari, which says that the Devil once brought sand to Riga to be used for building Riga. The road led across the bog. The Devil got a little sleepy, so it lay down in the bog. Meanwhile, the kids cut a hole in his bag. After a while, the Devil woke up, put the bag on his shoulders and went to Riga. But the sand was falling out. That’s how the Kangari hills were made - by the Devil. You can see the devil’s bed in the bog - the part where his head was located is slightly higher. This relief and the proportion of bogs and hills can be best observed from the 33-metre high observation tower. Moreover, you can best observe the Great Kangari while walking along the 2 km long trail that takes you through the forest, along the bog and the lake.
Salaspils National Botanical Garden
The national botanical garden in Salaspils has a wonderful and ancient history. It was founded in 1956, however its history is steeped in the 18th century. When the botanical garden was founded, its key objectives were determined: research in botany, ornamental horticulture, planting, plant introduction, genetics, selection, as well as popularisation of research. Not long after the botanical garden was founded, it was granted the status of a research institute. This is a place where different species are not only grown and preserved, but new ones are also selected - every plant and flower lover will find something they’ve never seen before. The National Botanical Garden has both a large garden and an orangery, where you can see exotic and tropical plants.
Nature park Ogres Zilie kalni
Turquoise water, coniferous forest and nature everywhere - you can enjoy this in the nature park Ogres Zilie Kalni (Blue Hills), just a short ride from Riga. The major part of the nature park is home to a protected biotope of European significance - coniferous forest on esker ridge. There are 18 protected plant species, six protected bird species and several protected bug species in Ogres Zilie kalni. The park offers walking, educational, bicycle trails and cross-country skiing tracks, which are available to Nordic walkers, cyclists and others who love active recreation during the snow-free period. The Dubkalni reservoir in the park has exceptionally clean and clear water, which is perfect for diving. Rest areas by the water are equipped with changing rooms, and during the swimming season - with toilets. Also, a popular tourist attraction and challenging activity for visitors is the 30-metre high observation tower located at the highest point of the nature park.
Ikšķile Church ruins on St Meinhard Island
For those who love a decent handful of history while investigating Pierīga region, we definitely suggest you visit the Ikšķile Church ruins on St Meinhard’s island. The ruins of the oldest church in Latvia are located right on St Meinhard's Island, surrounded by the waters of the Daugava. More than 800 years ago, with the construction of St Meinhard's Church, the spread of Christianity began in Latvia. It was built by the first Catholic missionary of the Baltic tribes, as well as the first establisher of the Church organisation in the Baltic region, Bishop Maynard. Only the ruins of the church have survived to this day, but the presence of history on the island is unquestionable. In the summer months, when the Riga hydroelectric power plant lowers the water level in the reservoir, you can walk to the island along the road, which still bears the stumps of the former avenue of trees.
