Sigulda, Cesis and Turaida Castle Day Tour from Riga

Explore Latvia’s most beautiful region with medieval castles, scenic views and rich history

Tour Type

Sightseeing Tour

Tour Duration

~10 Hours

Location

Vidzeme - Central Latvia

Tour Season

April - November

Full day tour in Latvia to the ancient city Cēsis and Switzerland of Latvia - Sigulda. Explore the hallways of the medieval castle in candle light, walk the Cēsis old town streets and admire wooden architecture. Enjoy Sigulda with the medieval castle, Gauja national park, gardens of the gods and amazing medieval castle in Turaida on this day tour from Riga.

About The Tour

Tour Description

Start your day with hotel pick-up in Riga and travel to the beautiful Vidzeme region for a full-day journey through medieval towns, castles and the landscapes of Gauja National Park.

Your first stop is Cēsis, one of Latvia’s most historic and atmospheric towns. Visit the medieval Cēsis Castle, discover its fascinating past and enjoy the feeling of stepping back in time. Continue with a walk through Cēsis Old Town, where charming streets, wooden architecture and local character make this place especially memorable. You will also see St. John’s Church, one of the oldest medieval churches in Latvia.

The tour then continues to Sigulda, one of the most visited and most scenic places in the country. Walk around the Sigulda Castle ruins and see the nearby New Castle, surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Gauja valley. After that, visit Gutman’s Cave, the largest cave in Latvia, and hear the legend that made it famous.

The highlight of the second part of the day is Turaida Museum Reserve with its spectacular medieval castle, rich history and impressive setting. Those who wish can climb the tower for panoramic views over the surrounding area.

After exploring the best of Cēsis, Sigulda and Turaida, return to Riga in the evening with a deeper impression of Latvia’s history, culture and nature.

Why choose this tour

See more than just Sigulda
3 castles and viewpoints
Classic Latvia feel
Nature and culture combining tour

Best for

First-time visitors to Latvia
Travelers who love castles and history
Nature lovers and scenic walkers
Couples, families and small groups

Tour Highlights

Tour itinerary

1

Pick-up in Riga

Your day begins with pick-up in Riga and a scenic drive to Vidzeme, one of the most beautiful regions of Latvia.

Approx. 90 minutes long transfer.

2

Discover medieval Cēsis

The first part of the tour is spent in Cēsis — one of Latvia’s most charming historic towns. Explore a beautiful park and the impressive medieval Cēsis Castle, learn about its rich history and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the old stone walls and ancient surroundings.

Approx. visit time: 2 hours.

3

Walk through Cēsis Old Town

After visiting the castle, continue with a walk through the old town of Cēsis. Admire the historic streets, wooden architecture and the peaceful character of one of Latvia’s nicest old towns.

Approx. 30 minutes.

4

Visit St. John’s Church

See St. John’s Church, one of the oldest medieval churches in Latvia and an important historical landmark of Cēsis.

Approx. duration: 10 minutes.

5

Transfer to Sigulda and Gauja National Park

The journey continues to Sigulda — one of the most scenic destinations in Latvia, located in Gauja National Park and often called the “Switzerland of Latvia” by locals.

Approx. duration: 45 minutes.

6

Lunch break (optional)

Have a lunch at a popular local venue.

Approx. duration: 45 minutes.

7

Visit to a viewpoint overlooking the impressive river Gauja valley (Gauja national park)

Approx. duration: 10 minutes.

8

Explore Sigulda medieval castle ruins and take a look at the New Castle.

Walk around the Sigulda medieval castle ruins and the charming park. See the nearby New Castle while enjoying the beautiful views of the Gauja valley.

Approx. duration: 40 minutes.

9

Visit Gutman’s Cave

Continue to Gutman’s Cave, the largest and most famous cave in Latvia. Hear the local legends connected to this unique natural site and see the historic inscriptions on the sandstone walls.

Approx. duration: 25 minutes.

10

Discover Turaida Museum Reserve

The final major stop of the tour is Turaida Museum Reserve — one of the most remarkable heritage sites in Latvia. Visit the famous Turaida Castle and enjoy the atmosphere of this historic and cultural landmark. For those who wish, it is possible to climb the tower for panoramic views.

Approx. duration: 2 hours.

11

Return transfer to Riga

After a full day of history, nature and sightseeing, return to Riga in the evening.

Approx. duration: 1 hour.

Additional information

Map of the tour

Tour Price and Booking

From 75 EUR*
Price includes:
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Transportation
  • Entrance tickets
  • Guide
*Price is provided for the complete groups! To get quote for your group size click "+Inquire / Book"!
From 50 EUR*
Price includes:
  • Rental car with unlimited mileage
  • Detailed itinerary
*Price is provided for the whole tour program!
Learn more about Self Guided Tours!
i Select "YES" if you want the tour without other travelers
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

The tour lasts around~10 Hours, with pick-up and drop-off in Riga. It is designed as a full but comfortable day trip, giving you enough time to enjoy both Cēsis and Sigulda without feeling rushed.

You will visit some of the most beautiful and historic places in Latvia, including Cēsis, Sigulda, Gutman’s Cave and Turaida Museum Reserve. The tour also includes Cēsis Medieval Castle, St. John’s Church, Cēsis Old Town and Sigulda Castle ruins.

This tour is a great choice if you want to see both Latvian history and nature in one day. It combines charming old towns, medieval castles, scenic views and some of the most famous sights in Gauja National Park.

Yes, absolutely. This is one of the best day trips for first-time visitors who want to experience some of Latvia’s most iconic and memorable places outside Riga

The guided tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, transportation, entrance tickets and guide service, so everything is arranged for an easy and enjoyable day.

There is a moderate amount of walking during the tour, so comfortable shoes are recommended. The day is active but manageable for most travelers who enjoy sightseeing on foot.

Yes, this tour can be a very good option for couples, families and small groups looking for a varied and scenic day out.

Since the duration of the tour is ~10 Hours, we would recommend this tour for children starting with age of 7. Child seats are available on request during booking.

Tour includes climbing stairs in all three castles. The highest climbs are in Cēsis and Turaida castles.

Turaida is purely optional tower visit but it is worth it for the beautiful panoramic views.

In Cēsis castle it's possible to reduce the stairs to minimum, but some will have to be done to see the castle.

Doing stairs in Sigulda castle is optional.

Yes, the tour operates in all weather conditions. We recommend dressing according to the weather so you can enjoy the day comfortably.

Yes, private tour options are available. This is a great choice if you would like a more personal experience and a flexible pace during the day.

The tour runs from April to November. It is especially enjoyable in the warmer months, when Gauja National Park, the castle surroundings and the old towns are at their most beautiful.

You may also like

Alternative Latvia day trips from Riga
Kemeri Bog Boardwalk & Jurmala Beach Tour from Riga

Kemeri Bog & Jurmala Beach Tour from Riga

Scenic day trip to Kemeri National Park with bog boardwalks, forest trails, lake views and the Baltic seaside — all in one memorable day from Riga.

Duration: ~8 Hours
April - November
Price from:
70 EUR
Sigulda Day Trip from Riga | Gauja National Park, Turaida & Gutman’s Cave

Sigulda Day Trip from Riga | Gauja National Park, Turaida & Gutman’s Cave

A scenic day trip from Riga to Sigulda with Gauja valley views, medieval castles, the aerial cableway, Gutman’s Cave and Turaida Museum Reserve.

Duration: ~7 Hours
Whole year
Price from:
75 EUR
Hill of Crosses & Rundāle Palace Tour from Riga

Hill of Crosses & Rundāle Palace Tour from Riga

Visit the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania and elegant Rundāle Palace, then enjoy a relaxing walk through the beautiful French Garden.

Duration: ~8 Hours
March - November
Price from:
80 EUR

About this region of Latvia - Vidzeme

Vidzeme (Northern Latvia)

EDEN 2011 Cēsis

EDEN 2011 Turaida and sigulda

Reviews of this tour on TripAdvisor

"A great day out in two fascinating places"

Reviewed May 31, 2025
Hilary from UK

We had a wonderful day with Rihard. Everything went smoothly, he was a knowledgeable and interesting guide, and could tell us everything we wanted to know. He was friendly and professional and we had a great experience with him as our guide. We would be happy to book another tour with him, should we return to Latvia.

Visited May 2025

"Must Do in Latvia!"

Reviewed July 1, 2024
Caroline from USA

Rihards and Discover Latvia are the best tour group in Latvia! My mom and I were interested in doing a tour of Sigulda, Turaida, and Cēsis and spent a lot of time looking at different options before landing on Discover Latvia which we chose both based on price and the fact that it did all three cities. Rihards was incredibly communicative in terms of booking on the front end which made us feel even better about our choice. The tour itself was absolutely excellent, giving us a great feel of each of the places we visited and a better understanding of Latvia as a whole. We got to visit all three castles as well as Gutman's cave, and there were additional stops along the way that enhanced our tour even more. My mom and I cannot say enough good things about Rihards and Discover Latvia and encourage anyone and everyone who visits Latvia to book a tour!

Visited June 2024

"Excellent, professional service"

Reviewed June, 2022
Rosemary from UK

We approached Discover Latvia Tours to provide us with full day sightseeing transfers from Vilnius to Riga and from Riga to Tallinn. We were really delighted with the service we received. Rihards is so professional and knowledgeable, and we thoroughly enjoyed his company and our conversations as we travelled across the Baltic States. Rihards also arranged an excellent guide for us on a day trip out into the Latvian countryside whilst we were staying in Riga: Maria took us on a fascinating tour of the castles at Sigulda, Turaida and Cesis. We would highly recommend Discover Latvia Tours. Rihards is very flexible in accommodating the interests of his clients and the tours are very competitively priced.

Visited June 2022

"Fascinating tour of Cesis and Sigulda"

Reviewed June 15th, 2019
Mike from UK

Our group of eight had a tremendously enjoyable early June tour with Rihards (Richard), meeting us all promptly at the hotel for a 0900 start and reaching Cesis around 90 minutes later. Booked at quite short notice, it was certainly appreciated that Rihards was able to respond quickly to any questions and he made an interesting and helpful guide. We found the pricing to be highly competitive for a ten-hour tour given that all entrance fees were included. Highlight wise, the medieval castle at Cesis is a definite must-see for anybody visiting Latvia, particularly with a superb new multimedia exhibition charting its historical timeline in HG Wells ‘Time Machine’ style. They also have a number of in-costume inhabitants that interact with visitors to make it a great visit (the armour hut guy was a real star). Rihards also took us for a photo opportunity at the downhill ski slope after lunch and the castle at Sigulda, we finished with Gutmans cave and the interesting defensive keep at Turaida.

Visited June 2019

"Great day in Cesis and Sigulda"

Reviewed June 5th, 2019
Roxana from Norway

My wife and I enjoyed a very nice day visiting the charming towns of Cesis and Sigulda. Our guide Rihards picked us up in Riga old town, and fed us lots of interesting information during the whole day. Both destinations were interesting, but we especially enjoyed the hillsided landscape in Sigulda. And we enjoyed a lot the pleasant company of Rihards, his knowledge and professionality. We learned and enjoyed a lot - thank you!!

Visited June 2019

"Private Tours with Discover Latvia"

Reviewed October 1, 2018
Maysen from Germany

I booked three private tours with Discover Latvia. For the first tour, Rihards picked me up outside of where I was staying for a trip to Cēsis, Sigulda and Turaida. Rihards was friendly and knowledgeable. The other two tours were with Ilze, who I met after visiting a museum on my own for the Jewish Riga Grand Tour. Ilze customized the tour so that I could visit a location not normally on the itinerary. For my second tour with Ilze, I went to Rundāle palace, Mežotne palace and Bauska castle. After spending two days with Ilze, it was like spending time with a friend and not a tour guide. All three tours with Discover Latvia exceeded my expectations and I would recommend both guides.

Visited October, 2018

"Very enjoyable tour to Sigulda!"

Reviewed April 24, 2017
Bronka from Israel

IRihards picked us from the hotel right on time. the tour was organized very good and so was the lunch. Rihards was friendly, informative and we had a very pleasant day with him.

Visited April 2017

"Un viaje en el tiempo"

Reviewed July 28, 2015
Julio from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Hicimos el tour "Hansa union city Cēsis and Switzerland of Vidzeme- Sigulda" lo cual fue una maravillosa experiencia el poder visitar tres castillos medievales en Letonia. Este tour nos brindó la posibilidad de visitar varios lugares en el mismo día, que de hacerlo por nuestra cuenta, hubiera sido imposible. Nuestro guía Rihards, un apasionado de su país, fue muy amable y didáctico con el que podías hablar abiertamente de cualquier tema. Nos ofreció un servicio de excelencia y siem.

Visited July 2015

"Excellent Customized Tour of Sigulda and Cesis"

Reviewed July 27, 2015
Kartik from Irvine, USA

Rihard worked with us to create a customized tour of Sigulda, Ligatne and Cesis. He was very responsive via phone and email and came up with an excellent plan for us. We visited Turida Castle, Ligatne's Soviet Bunker and Cesis Castle. He was professional and ensured our comfort by bringing water, sweets and ponchos for the weather. The best part of the tour was that Rihard, upon learning how we have never been berry picking, he took us to the forests near Ligatne to pick Blue and Strawberries. We had never seen berries in the wild and it was something we will cherish for a long time. He also gave us a close up view of the Guaja river. Thanks Rihard for making this a memorable tour for us.

Visited July 2015

"Wonderful experience"

Reviewed June 18, 2015
Chris from Sanfrancisco, USA

Me and my wife attended great private tour 'Hansa union city Cēsis and Switzerland of Vidzeme- Sigulda' and had really great time with our tour guide Rihards. The tour was really good organised, so we recommend the tour to anyone, who would like discover the great history of Latvia and see its beautiful countryside.

Visited September 2014

"Wonderful experience"

Reviewed June 18, 2015
Ivars from San Francisco, USA

Our family took a all day tour of Latvia with Richards that we enjoyed so much that we scheduled a second tour two days later. Richards was able to juggle his schedule accommodate our last minute request. Very personal and insightful information and we did not just have a tour guide, we made a friend.

Spend a day or two outside of Riga to view the land and learn about Latvian history.

Visited June 2015

"Great time in Latvia"

Reviewed September 19, 2014
Slovenia

Me and my wife attended great private tour 'Hansa union city Cēsis and Switzerland of Vidzeme- Sigulda' and had really great time with our tour guide Rihards. The tour was really good organised, so we recommend the tour to anyone, who would like discover the great history of Latvia and see its beautiful countryside.

Visited September 2014

"2 day tours plus travel into Lithuania"

Reviewed July 8, 2014
Barbara from Toronto, Canada

I took the 3 Pearls tour, the Cesis-Sigulda tour, visited Saiuliai's Hill of Crosses, and had a transfer from Riga to Siauliai to Kaunas. Maya was a great guide for the 3 Pearls and Rihards was just as great for the Cesis-Sigulda tour as well as a thoughtful driver. Prompt assistance online/emails and on time for tours/transfer. I highly recommend Discover Latvia Tours.

Visited June 2014

"Wonderful Experience"

Reviewed May 24, 2014
Ian from France

If you want to discover other sites in Latvia out of Riga do a "made to measure" experience with the "Discover Latvia" agency in Riga. Rihards took us out for the day to medieval Cesis, Sigulda and Turaida at a nice leisurely pace and it turned out to be exactly what we wanted! Medieval magic! Friendly and experienced he also gave us good tips about Riga itself = we were the very first visitors to be given tickets on opening day 1st May 2014 10am at the Corner House = KGB building now a museum and open to the public after 42 years. Waouh!
Thank you Rihards.

Visited May 2014

"The best personal tour"

Reviewed May 5, 2014
Lucas from Puerto Rico

My wife and I have travel considerably, but this is the first time that we actually write a review. The service was excellent. The tour was well coordinated and special attention was taken to make us feel at home. Highly recommended!

Visited April 2014

"Charming country"

Reviewed May 5, 2014
Manuela from Cluj-Napoca, Romania

With the help from Discover Latvia tours we found that Latvia it's not only about Riga,as beautiful city as it is, but has also small, nice, peacefull towns and villages, impressive and romantic castles,beautiful river valleys,and very interesting history. Our guide Rihards was everything you expect from a guide, right on time, polite, openminded, friendly, he gave us plenty of interesting information so we found out a lot about this country on our tour. We took the tour to Cesis, Sigulda and Turaida but it was no problem at all adding another destination at our request, that was Amatciens, and it was at least as beautiful as the other three destinations visited. We would go back to Latvia if we could, and we would surely take another tour with Discover Latvia.
Thank you, Rihards!

Visited April 2014

"It's a 11 hours tour and it worths both the time and the price"

Reviewed June 6, 2012
Oscar from Barcelona, Spain

I recommend tour to Sigulda in fall. The season makes the environment one of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen. We walked in the Gauja National Forest, in the caves of Sigulda, visited castles and met some of the history of Latvia. In addition, Rihards and Sergejs are friendly, pleasant and very funny. I really loved the tour.

Visited June 2012

"It's a 11 hours tour and it worths both the time and the price"

Reviewed June 6, 2012
Oscar from Barcelona, Spain

I recommend tour to Sigulda in fall. The season makes the environment one of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen. We walked in the Gauja National Forest, in the caves of Sigulda, visited castles and met some of the history of Latvia. In addition, Rihards and Sergejs are friendly, pleasant and very funny. I really loved the tour.

Visited June 2012