2 countries! Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace and Bauska castle

Cross a border before lunch. This 8-hour trip from Riga packs three memorable stops into one day: the ruins and tower at Bauska Castle, elegant Rundale Palace, and Lithuania’s moving Hill of Crosses. I especially like the small maximum group of eight and the chance to explore each site at your own pace. The guides, including Jānis and Viesturs, are often praised for their humor, local stories, and careful timing.

I also like that the price includes the key admission tickets, parking, an air-conditioned vehicle, and the Rundale gardens. The main drawback is the amount of time spent on the road, and the day can feel rushed if you want a slow visit at every stop. Rain can also take the shine off the palace gardens and castle views, so pack proper weather gear.

Key points at a glance

• Two countries in one day: See important Latvian sites, then cross into Lithuania for the Hill of Crosses.
• A small group of up to eight: The shared vehicle feels far more personal than a large coach.
• Rundale Palace gets two hours: You have time for the rooms, gardens, and a possible lunch stop.
• Bauska Castle includes tower access: The 30-minute stop is short, but the viewing tower gives you a fine photo opportunity.
• The Hill of Crosses is personal and striking: You can walk among the crosses, take photos, and leave one of your own.
• Local guides add value: Jānis and Viesturs are praised for clear explanations, humor, snacks, and practical help.

Why this day trip works from Riga

Riga is a rewarding city, but Latvia’s story makes more sense once you leave the capital. This trip takes you south through the countryside, where castles, royal estates, borderlands, and religious traditions fit together in one long day.

You are not simply ticking off one attraction. You get a useful sample of two Baltic countries without arranging separate buses, museum tickets, or border transport yourself. That convenience is the main reason to consider it.

The day begins at 8:00 a.m. from Reformācijas Laukums in central Riga, a practical meeting point near the Old Town. You return to the same place after roughly eight hours, with driving time already included in the total.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the group is capped at eight people. That matters. You can ask questions without calling across a coach, and the guide can sometimes make small adjustments when the schedule allows.

Several guides receive especially warm praise. Jānis is often described as friendly, funny, punctual, and good at explaining Latvian customs as well as major historical events. Viesturs is also praised for his stories and personal attention, including helping a passenger with a sore knee in and out of the vehicle.

The guiding style is conversational rather than academic. You will hear about Latvia, local food, Easter traditions, daily life, and even mushrooms. If you want dates and names for every building, use the included audio guide at Rundale Palace and ask questions during the drive.

Bauska Castle gives the day a dramatic start

The first scheduled stop is Bauska Castle, where you have about 30 minutes. The visit is mainly a photo stop, but admission to the renovated viewing tower is included.

The castle combines a later residence with the remains of a medieval fortress. Its broken walls and compact position make it easy to photograph, especially from the tower. Some people compare its look to a fantasy television set, and you can see why: the ruins have a sharp, theatrical outline.

Do not expect a long museum visit here. Half an hour is enough to climb the tower, inspect the fortress remains, and take photographs, but not enough for a slow exploration of every corner.

That short stop works because Bauska Castle is a visual introduction rather than the main event. You get a sense of Latvia’s fortified past without using up the hours needed for Rundale Palace and the Hill of Crosses.

Wear shoes that can handle uneven ground. The tour information says most people can participate, but the castle ruins and tower still involve walking and possibly stairs. If mobility is a concern, ask the operator before booking.

Rundale Palace is the day’s grand interior

Rundale Palace receives the largest block of time, about two hours. This is the place where you can slow down a little.

Often called Latvia’s little Versailles, Rundale is an ornate palace with formal gardens and restored interiors. The contrast with Bauska is part of the pleasure. At the castle, you see defensive walls and ruins. At Rundale, the mood changes to court life, ceremony, decoration, and carefully planned rooms.

The included ticket covers the palace and gardens. You can choose how to use your time. Walk through the palace rooms, visit the gardens, or split the visit between both.

An audio guide is available at the palace, and the operator advises bringing headphones. That is useful if you want more detail than the guide can provide while also keeping the group on schedule.

Two hours is a fair compromise, but it is not generous for someone who wants to examine every room and walk every garden path. In pleasant weather, I would visit the palace first, then head outside. In rain, you may prefer to spend more time indoors, though the gardens remain part of the visit.

Lunch is not included. You may have time to eat at the palace, but food advice is mixed. Some people find the restaurant convenient and reasonably priced, while others find the menu heavy and the lighter choices limited. I would bring a small backup meal or snacks, especially if you have dietary preferences.

The guides may also provide bottled water, snacks, or small local treats. These extras are not presented as a formal meal, so do not rely on them for lunch. They are a pleasant touch during a long day in the vehicle.

A five-minute border stop in Eleja

The stop at Eleja is brief, about five minutes, and admission is free. It gives you the chance to photograph the Latvia-Lithuania border signs.

This is not a major sightseeing stop. Think of it as a quick geographical marker and a fun travel photograph. You will not have time for a long walk or a meal here.

The border stop is valuable because it makes the two-country promise visible. You are not merely hearing that Lithuania is nearby. You can take a photograph showing exactly where you cross from one country to the other.

The order can change. The Hill of Crosses may come before Rundale Palace rather than after the border stop shown above. That flexibility helps the operator manage opening times, traffic, and daylight, but it means you should not plan a meal or personal activity around the advertised sequence.

The Hill of Crosses is the emotional center

The Hill of Crosses, or Kryžių Kalnas, is unlike the other stops. You have about an hour to walk among thousands of crosses placed across the hill.

There is no single viewpoint that explains the site. You need to move slowly through the paths, look at the names and inscriptions, and notice the way new crosses continue to appear among the older ones. The sheer number can feel overwhelming, but the experience is also quiet and personal.

You are welcome to leave your own cross, though you do not need to bring one. Taking photographs is allowed, and one hour gives you enough time to look around without turning the visit into a hurried photo stop.

This is the point where the tour shifts from architecture to feeling. Rundale Palace shows wealth and royal taste. Bauska tells a story of fortifications. The Hill of Crosses connects faith, memory, grief, hope, and national identity in a much less formal way.

I would be respectful here. It is an active place of devotion, not just an unusual outdoor attraction. Read the inscriptions, avoid treating the crosses as props, and give yourself a few quiet minutes away from the main path.

The ground may be uneven, and wet weather can make the visit less comfortable. Good walking shoes and a waterproof jacket will help. The tour runs in rain or snow, so weather should be part of your booking decision.

How much value do you get for $157.28?

At $157.28 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see one attraction. It is a reasonable price for a full shared day that combines transport, parking, a small group, and admission to Bauska Castle Tower, Rundale Palace, and the gardens.

The value improves if you want to see the Hill of Crosses but do not want to arrange a cross-border journey yourself. Public transport connections may require more planning, and separate admissions and parking costs would add up. Here, the major pieces are handled in one booking.

The small group also changes the experience. A maximum of eight people is large enough to keep the price below a private tour, but small enough for direct conversation with the guide. You may also get a little extra flexibility when everyone returns promptly.

The price does not include lunch. That is normal for this kind of day trip, but budget for food and bring something along if you do not want to depend on the palace restaurant.

This is good value for a first visit to the region beyond Riga. It is less attractive if you have several days and prefer to spend an entire morning at one palace or castle.

The pace, vehicle, and guide make a difference

Eight hours sounds manageable, but this is a packed day. You will spend a significant portion of it driving between Riga, southern Latvia, Lithuania, and the return route.

The upside is that the driving becomes part of the experience. Guides such as Jānis and Viesturs use the road time to explain Latvian culture, food, history, and ordinary life. They also keep an eye on the clock, which matters when four separate stops must fit into one day.

The downside is that each stop has a fixed feel. Bauska gets 30 minutes. The border gets five. Rundale and the Hill of Crosses receive more time, but you still need to return to the vehicle promptly.

Bring water, snacks, headphones for the Rundale audio guide, and comfortable walking shoes. A rain jacket or umbrella is especially important. One wet day made the gardens difficult for one passenger, even though the sites remained open and the schedule continued.

Some guides add small surprises, local snacks, coffee breaks, or an extra stop when time permits. Treat those as bonuses, not guaranteed features. The advertised four stops are the reliable core of the day.

Who should book this Riga excursion?

I would choose this tour if you want a broad taste of southern Latvia and northern Lithuania in one day. It suits first-time visitors, solo travelers, couples, and small groups who value convenience but do not want a large coach.

It is also a strong choice if the Hill of Crosses is high on your list. Reaching it from Riga is the hardest part of the day, and this tour pairs it with two substantial Latvian sites instead of making the long drive for one stop alone.

You will likely enjoy it if you like:

• Castles, palace interiors, and formal gardens
• Short cross-border excursions
• Local stories during long drives
• Small shared groups
• Free time rather than a guide speaking at every site
• A full day outside Riga

You may want something else if you dislike long drives, need a slow pace, or want a formal lecture at every attraction. The shared format gives you a friendly introduction, but the guide will not necessarily lead you through every room or cross-covered path.

Most people can participate, service animals are allowed, and the starting point is near public transportation. Still, anyone with mobility limits should ask about the vehicle, castle tower, palace grounds, and Hill of Crosses paths before booking.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. The experience requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation by the operator may lead to another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Bauska, Rundale, and Hill of Crosses tour?

Book it if you want maximum variety in one day. You will see a castle ruin, a grand palace, a national border, and a powerful religious site without changing hotels or arranging complicated transport.

The best reasons to go are the small group, included admissions, and strong local guiding from people such as Jānis and Viesturs. The main compromises are the long road time, the fixed schedule, and the need to prepare for Baltic weather.

My practical advice is simple: bring lunch insurance, headphones, good shoes, and rain gear. Keep your schedule flexible in case the order changes. If you do that, this is an efficient and memorable way to experience far more than Riga alone.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours, including travel time between Riga, Bauska, Rundale Palace, Eleja, the Hill of Crosses, and the return to Riga.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at 8:00 a.m. at Riga Free Tours, Reformācijas Laukums, Centra rajons, Riga.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the same meeting point in central Riga.

Which countries does the tour visit?

The tour visits Latvia and Lithuania. The main Lithuanian stop is the Hill of Crosses, and there is also a short photo stop at the Latvia-Lithuania border in Eleja.

What admissions are included?

Admission to the Bauska Castle viewing tower, Rundale Palace, and the Rundale gardens is included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. You may have time to eat at Rundale Palace, but bringing snacks or a packed lunch is sensible.

How many people are in the group?

This is a shared ride with a maximum of eight participants.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund, and the operator may cancel if the minimum number of participants is not reached.