Daytrip to Sigulda from Riga
May 14th, 2004, 03:15 PM
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Daytrip to Sigulda from Riga
I was looking at taking a daytrip to Sigulda from Riga, looks the the quickest transport is by train, about an hour and 15 from Riga.
Once in Sigulda, are the sights walkable or do you need to take the buses/cable car that I've seen mentioned? Would you want to take the cable car for the view?
Any difference if we go on a weekend or weekday?
Once in Sigulda, are the sights walkable or do you need to take the buses/cable car that I've seen mentioned? Would you want to take the cable car for the view?
Any difference if we go on a weekend or weekday?
May 17th, 2004, 04:22 AM
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If you are prepared for a small hike, the sights are indeed walkable, I'd say. Allow for something like half an hour to an hour (depending on your pace) to get to Turaida castle and the caves. The bobsleigh- track is some 10 to 15 min. from the station.
May 17th, 2004, 07:02 AM
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Kristi,
it really seems that Latvia has not received much attention among Fodorites yet. In fact, I did not only vist, but even lived there for a while (and would return in a second if ends would meet in the right way). Anyway, I hope you don't mind me commenting on your travel plans...
I did take the cable car and it sports a nice view of the Gauja- Valley. But you would have about the same view if you take a look at the bobsleigh track.
Cheers to you
hsv
it really seems that Latvia has not received much attention among Fodorites yet. In fact, I did not only vist, but even lived there for a while (and would return in a second if ends would meet in the right way). Anyway, I hope you don't mind me commenting on your travel plans...
I did take the cable car and it sports a nice view of the Gauja- Valley. But you would have about the same view if you take a look at the bobsleigh track.
Cheers to you
hsv
May 17th, 2004, 07:40 AM
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Latvia has not only not received much interest from Fodorites, but not from Lonely Planeters or Virtual Tourists. The In Your Pocket guide has a lot of information and I can find train/bus schedules on line but I'm having the darnedest time finding info on day trips, have tried emailing several different places but it seems that there are only organized tours if there are a lot of you or if you want to do an escorted multi day trip.
Did you drive at all? I've been considering it for the daytrip down to Rundale, I'd like to see the castle at Bauska and if we have time Mezotne and Jelgava and we wouldn't be able to see more than Bauska and Rundale if we take the bus. I am having no luck finding a guide/driver for a day.
I appreciate all the help you've given me
Did you drive at all? I've been considering it for the daytrip down to Rundale, I'd like to see the castle at Bauska and if we have time Mezotne and Jelgava and we wouldn't be able to see more than Bauska and Rundale if we take the bus. I am having no luck finding a guide/driver for a day.
I appreciate all the help you've given me
May 17th, 2004, 09:58 AM
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Kristi,
actually, I drove all the time personally. I happen to dislike public transport other than aircraft anyway, but particularly in the Baltic countries relying on buses and trains appeared too time consuming to me.
One more point: As far as I remember, the Jelgava palace can only be seen from the outside. I think it houses an agricultural school of some sort or something. So it might not be worth the hassle to get there, as Jelgava apart from that did not leave much of an impression with me otherwise.
The tour to Bauska with Rundale Palace can be easily done in half a day when you have your own car. I would really advise on renting one if you can warm up to the idea at all. You might combine it with a visit of Salaspils concentration camp, if you're into that (which is a kind of wording that is probably inappropriate in this case, but anyway).
When will you be going?
actually, I drove all the time personally. I happen to dislike public transport other than aircraft anyway, but particularly in the Baltic countries relying on buses and trains appeared too time consuming to me.
One more point: As far as I remember, the Jelgava palace can only be seen from the outside. I think it houses an agricultural school of some sort or something. So it might not be worth the hassle to get there, as Jelgava apart from that did not leave much of an impression with me otherwise.
The tour to Bauska with Rundale Palace can be easily done in half a day when you have your own car. I would really advise on renting one if you can warm up to the idea at all. You might combine it with a visit of Salaspils concentration camp, if you're into that (which is a kind of wording that is probably inappropriate in this case, but anyway).
When will you be going?
May 17th, 2004, 11:20 AM
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We are leaving the last week of May, as always I think I have a lot of time to plan and then it is here.
I'm not entirely opposed to driving, have heard the usual cautions about terrible drivers in Latvia, could they be worse than the Turkish drivers that we somehow survived?
Lonely Planet says Jelgava Palace is open so I will try and confirm that, I thought if it was convenient to drive by that we would. They say that the town of Jelgava was mostly destroyed in the two wars so it is not much to see.
I saw that there was a concentration camp nearby but we have visited Dachau and Auschwitz/Birkenau, not sure I want to visit another.
Was it relatively easy to rent a car?
I'm not entirely opposed to driving, have heard the usual cautions about terrible drivers in Latvia, could they be worse than the Turkish drivers that we somehow survived?
Lonely Planet says Jelgava Palace is open so I will try and confirm that, I thought if it was convenient to drive by that we would. They say that the town of Jelgava was mostly destroyed in the two wars so it is not much to see.
I saw that there was a concentration camp nearby but we have visited Dachau and Auschwitz/Birkenau, not sure I want to visit another.
Was it relatively easy to rent a car?
May 17th, 2004, 10:26 PM
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Kristi,
I found Latvian drivers to be rude, too- esp. towards pedestrians. Which brought some unpleasant experiences during winters, when they would splash through muddy puddles in the potholes. But as you are going in summer, this should not be an issue for you.
Otherwise, driving is fine- there are frequent road patrols by the police and thus you should adhere to speed limits (and never drive on the streetcar's rails, as I experienced by paying a 5 Lat fine for that).
Renting is perfectly easy. Hertz, Avis and other major international companies such as Europcar have offices right in the city center (most of them somewhere around Hotel de Rome) and by the airport as well.
I found Latvian drivers to be rude, too- esp. towards pedestrians. Which brought some unpleasant experiences during winters, when they would splash through muddy puddles in the potholes. But as you are going in summer, this should not be an issue for you.
Otherwise, driving is fine- there are frequent road patrols by the police and thus you should adhere to speed limits (and never drive on the streetcar's rails, as I experienced by paying a 5 Lat fine for that).
Renting is perfectly easy. Hertz, Avis and other major international companies such as Europcar have offices right in the city center (most of them somewhere around Hotel de Rome) and by the airport as well.
Jun 6th, 2004, 12:12 PM
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hsv, if you're still reading this thread, thanks for all the advice, it was all quite helpful. I almost bypassed the Stockholm School of Economics but you had posted that on another thread so we went out of our way and WOW!
We ended up taking a bus to both Sigulda and Rundale, not nearly as difficult as I thought but I think we lucked out on the connections. Both daytrips were fabulous!
I thinked I gained about 10 lbs, the food was very cheap and delicious.
Riga is definitely an underrated city, not at all crowded, several places we were the only people there.
Thanks again!
We ended up taking a bus to both Sigulda and Rundale, not nearly as difficult as I thought but I think we lucked out on the connections. Both daytrips were fabulous!
I thinked I gained about 10 lbs, the food was very cheap and delicious.
Riga is definitely an underrated city, not at all crowded, several places we were the only people there.
Thanks again!
