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

Castles, palace rooms, and a forest of crosses await. This two-country day trip from Riga packs Latvia’s Bauska Castle and Rundale Palace together with Lithuania’s moving Hill of Crosses, all in roughly eight hours. I like the mix of grand architecture and unusual local culture. I also like the small-group format, which keeps the day more personal than a large coach tour.

The main tradeoff is time. You cover a lot of ground, and the day includes several hours in the vehicle. Weather matters, too. Rain can make the palace gardens less inviting and the outdoor stops less comfortable, so bring proper rain gear rather than hoping the Baltic forecast will show mercy.

The day at a glance

• Cross the Latvia-Lithuania border: Stop in Eleja for a quick photo with the country signs.
• See Bauska Castle: Use your included tower access for views over the surrounding countryside and castle ruins.
• Visit Latvia’s little Versailles: Rundale Palace gives you grand rooms, gardens, and time for lunch.
• Walk among thousands of crosses: At Kryžių Kalnas, you can explore freely and leave your own cross.
• Ride in a small shared group: The vehicle holds no more than eight people, making conversation and flexible stops easier.
• Get local color from the guide: Guides such as Jānis and Viesturs have been praised for history, humor, snacks, and practical help.

Why this makes a strong day trip from Riga

Riga is a rewarding city, but Latvia’s countryside gives you a better sense of the country’s scale and past. This tour reaches two major Latvian sights, then adds a short taste of northern Lithuania. You do not need to arrange border transport, compare bus timetables, or work out how to connect three scattered sights on your own.

At $157.28 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the region. Still, the price includes transport, parking, the Bauska Castle tower, and admission to Rundale Palace and its gardens. You are paying for convenience as much as entry tickets. For a first visit to Riga, that can be fair value, especially if you want to see beyond the capital without renting a car.

The small maximum of eight people is important. It is still a shared ride, so you will not have complete control over the schedule, but it should feel far less cumbersome than a full-size bus. Several guides have also added snacks, water, coffee stops, or a short extra stop when time allowed. Those touches are not guaranteed, but they help explain why the experience is praised so highly.

Bauska Castle: a quick look at Latvia’s medieval past

Bauska Castle is the first listed stop, with about 30 minutes to explore. The site combines fortress ruins with a more complete section of the castle, giving you a compact introduction to Latvia’s medieval and early modern past.

The viewing tower is included, and that is the best use of your limited time. Climb up for views of the castle grounds and the surrounding countryside, then use the remaining minutes for photographs around the stone walls. The castle has the sort of dramatic outline that can remind you of a television fantasy set, though the real appeal is its position and age rather than any movie connection.

Thirty minutes goes quickly. You will not have time for a slow, detailed visit, and the schedule may prioritize the tower and outdoor views over a full examination of every ruin. If Bauska is your main interest, a separate visit would give you more breathing room. On this day, think of it as a sharp, attractive introduction rather than a full castle tour.

Wear shoes that handle uneven ground. The tour includes several outdoor stops, and Bauska is more enjoyable when you can move around the ruins comfortably.

Rundale Palace: grand rooms and garden time

Rundale Palace receives about two hours, making it the centerpiece of the Latvian portion of the day. Often compared with the great palaces of St. Petersburg, Rundale offers ornate interiors, formal rooms, and gardens that give the visit a very different mood from Bauska’s rough stone ruins.

Your admission includes the palace and gardens. You can move at your own pace, which is useful because people naturally spend different amounts of time in the rooms and outside. The palace also has an included audio guide, so bring headphones if you want a more detailed explanation while exploring. This is especially helpful because the shared tour provides a broad introduction, not a room-by-room lecture.

Two hours is enough for a satisfying visit, but you will need to make choices. On a pleasant day, allow time for the gardens. Their formal design is an important part of the palace experience, not just an optional photo area. In wet weather, you may prefer to stay indoors, though the gardens remain available.

Lunch is not included. You can eat at the palace, but food choices have been described as limited, with heavier meals and fewer light options. I would bring a small lunch or snack if you have particular dietary needs or want to save time. Some people have found the palace restaurant perfectly useful, but it is best not to count on a long, leisurely meal.

Rundale is also the stop where schedule awareness matters most. Listen carefully when the guide gives the return time and meeting instructions. The tour allows independent exploration, which is a plus, but you need to keep an eye on the clock.

Eleja and the border: a five-minute photo stop

The stop at Eleja lasts only about five minutes, but it gives the day its two-country character. You can photograph the Latvia-Lithuania border signs and mark the moment you move from one Baltic state to another.

This is not a border museum or a long cultural visit. It is a quick roadside photo opportunity. Still, these small geographical moments add fun to a touring day. You can say you visited two countries before lunch or dinner, depending on the order used that day.

The order of the stops can change. One reported schedule visited the Hill of Crosses first, then the Latvian sights. That is not a problem, but it means you should avoid planning around an exact lunch hour or expecting to buy a Lithuanian drink at a particular time. Keep your day flexible and follow the guide’s instructions.

Hill of Crosses: the emotional heart of the trip

Kryžių Kalnas, or the Hill of Crosses, is the most unusual stop. You get about an hour to walk through the site, look closely at the crosses, take photographs, and think about why people continue to add to the collection.

There are too many crosses to count, with large crucifixes, small wooden pieces, rosaries, memorials, and personal offerings packed across the hill. The effect can be startling. It is not simply an attraction to photograph. Many people find the place quiet, personal, and unexpectedly emotional.

You may bring your own cross and add it to the collection if you wish. That option gives the visit a more personal meaning, though there is no pressure to do so. You can also simply walk around and observe. Take your time with the details rather than rushing around for a single wide photograph.

The ground can be uneven, and the stop is outdoors. Good walking shoes are useful, especially after rain. An hour gives you enough time for a thoughtful visit, but not for lingering over every section. The site rewards attention, so resist the temptation to treat it as only a quick photo stop.

For me, this is the strongest reason to choose the tour over a standard castle-and-palace outing. Rundale is beautiful, and Bauska is atmospheric, but the Hill of Crosses offers something you will not find in an ordinary European sightseeing loop.

The guides make the long drive worthwhile

The quality of the day depends heavily on the guide. Jānis has been especially praised for clear explanations, humor, local stories, and keeping the schedule on track. Viesturs has also been singled out for being friendly, attentive, and helpful with practical needs, including assisting someone with a sore knee.

The best guide style here is conversational. You may hear about Latvian food, Easter customs, mushrooms, daily life, local words, and places to eat, not only dates and names. That wider context helps the countryside make sense as you drive between the stops.

Do not expect a formal lecture at every site. The tour is designed to give you local background, then let you explore independently. At Rundale, the audio guide fills in extra detail. At the Hill of Crosses, you have space to form your own impression.

The small vehicle helps. With up to eight people, it is easier to ask questions, hear the guide, and make a short unscheduled stop if the timing allows. Some guides have offered bottled water, local snacks, or a coffee break. Treat those as welcome extras, not promised inclusions.

Timing, comfort, and what to pack

The tour starts at 8:00 a.m. from Reformācijas Laukums in central Riga and returns to the same meeting point. Since the eight-hour duration includes driving time, this is a full day rather than eight hours spent at the sights.

You should pack:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• A raincoat or umbrella
• Water
• Snacks or a packed lunch
• Headphones for the Rundale audio guide
• A small cross, if you want to leave one at the Hill of Crosses

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and parking fees are included. Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The tour runs in English and uses mobile tickets.

Weather deserves a clear warning. Rain can reduce the pleasure of Rundale’s gardens and make Bauska and the Hill of Crosses less comfortable. The stops still go ahead in rain or snow, so check the forecast before leaving Riga and dress for the conditions.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this tour if you have one free day in Riga and want a broad introduction to the surrounding region. It suits solo visitors, couples, and small groups who prefer local conversation over a large coach and who like having free time at the sights.

It is also a good fit if you want to see Lithuania but do not have enough time for a full Vilnius visit. The Hill of Crosses gives you a memorable Lithuanian stop without requiring a separate overnight trip.

I would hesitate if your priority is a slow palace visit, detailed castle archaeology, or long time in the gardens. The itinerary covers a lot, and the stops are carefully timed. People with mobility concerns should also consider the uneven outdoor surfaces and tell the guide what help they need.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached and the company cancels, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. Otherwise, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Is the $157.28 price fair?

The price is easiest to justify when you add up what is included: round-trip transport from central Riga, parking, the Bauska tower, and Rundale Palace and garden admission. You also avoid the planning burden of reaching remote sights by public transport.

It is less compelling if you only want one attraction. A separate visit to Rundale or Bauska may suit you better if you dislike long drives or prefer to set your own pace. But for four connected stops, two countries, and a small group capped at eight, the price is reasonable for a convenient day outside Riga.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an efficient, friendly day that combines Latvian palaces and castles with the quietly powerful Hill of Crosses. The strongest features are the small group, capable guides such as Jānis and Viesturs, and the chance to explore rather than follow a guide every second.

Skip it if you want a relaxed, single-site visit or cannot tolerate a full day of driving. Pack food, wear good shoes, prepare for rain, and keep your schedule flexible. Do that, and this is one of the better ways to see what lies beyond Riga in a single day.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours, including travel time between the stops.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Riga Free Tours, Reformācijas Laukums, in central Riga, and returns to the same meeting point.

What attractions are included?

The tour includes Bauska Castle, Rundale Palace and its gardens, a photo stop at the Latvia-Lithuania border in Eleja, and the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. You may have time to eat at Rundale Palace, but bringing your own food is recommended if you want more choice.

How many people are in the group?

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

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted.