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

The day’s big trick is simple: you leave Riga in the morning and see two countries in one outing. Bauska Castle, Rundale Palace, and Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses give you three very different reasons to get out of the city, all without arranging separate buses or border transport.

I like the small group size of up to eight, which keeps the ride more personal than a large coach tour. I also like the freedom at each stop. You get useful guidance from people such as Jānis or Viesturs, then time to explore on your own, take photos, visit the palace gardens, or add a cross at the hill.

The main drawback is the pace. Eight hours is a full day, and the time includes driving, so you will not linger everywhere. Weather matters, too. Rain can make the palace gardens and Hill of Crosses much less comfortable, so bring proper rain gear rather than trusting a hopeful forecast.

Key points at a glance

• Two countries in one day: See key sights in Latvia and cross into Lithuania for the Hill of Crosses.
• A moving final stop: The Hill of Crosses is a large, personal collection of crosses where you may leave one of your own.
• Rundale Palace included: Your ticket covers both the palace and its gardens, with free time to explore.
• Small shared ride: The group is limited to eight people, making conversation and questions easier.
• Useful local touches: Guides such as Jānis and Viesturs have added Latvian snacks, drinks, stories, and extra photo stops.
• Plan your food: Lunch is not included, and the palace cafe may not suit every appetite.

Leaving Riga for two countries

This is a practical choice if Riga is your base and you want more than an urban break. The meeting point is Riga Free Tours at Reformācijas Laukums in the city center, with an 8:00 am start and a return to the same spot after roughly eight hours.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, parking is covered, and the shared group has no more than eight people. That size matters. You are not disappearing into a busload of strangers, and it is easier to ask a question, hear the guide, or make a quick photo stop when conditions allow.

The journey itself is part of the day. Guides such as Jānis have filled the drive with stories about Latvian life, food, traditions, local words, and the countryside. Viesturs has also been praised for his humor and easy company. Some departures include bottled water, snacks, small drinks, and a coffee stop before the first major sight, though these extras should be treated as pleasant surprises rather than guaranteed inclusions.

Do not expect a formal lecture from the front of a coach. The guiding style is conversational. You receive context while moving between places, then explore the main sites at your own pace. At Rundale Palace, an audio guide is available for visitors who want more detailed information than the group commentary provides.

Bauska Castle and its tower views

Bauska Castle is usually a short opening stop, with about 30 minutes set aside. The castle sits where two rivers meet, and its mix of fortress ruins and later palace buildings gives you more than one architectural mood in a small area.

The included admission covers the freshly renovated viewing tower. If you climb up, you get a wider view of the surrounding countryside and a good chance to take photographs. The ruined walls also make strong pictures, especially if you enjoy old stone, sharp rooflines, and the slightly theatrical look that has led some visitors to compare the setting to a fantasy film set.

Thirty minutes is enough for a quick look and the tower, but not enough for a slow museum visit. That is the tradeoff. You are getting a taste of Bauska rather than a full study of the site. Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking, and keep an eye on the meeting time. The schedule depends on the group moving together.

Bauska works well as the first stop because it gives you a compact introduction to Latvia’s fortified past before the day turns toward grand palace rooms and the more unusual religious site across the border.

Rundale Palace, Latvia’s grand showpiece

Rundale Palace receives the longest stop, about two hours, and it deserves the extra time. Often called Latvia’s little Versailles, the palace offers ornate rooms, formal gardens, and a very different scale from Bauska’s fortress remains.

Your admission includes the palace and gardens. You can choose how to divide the time. Spend longer inside with the included audio guide, walk through the gardens when the weather is pleasant, or slow down for photographs. This flexible arrangement is one of the best features of the day because not everyone wants the same palace visit.

The interior is the safer choice in poor weather. The gardens are a major part of the appeal on a dry day, but rain can turn them into a wet and hurried stop. The tour continues in rain or snow, so pack an umbrella or waterproof jacket if the forecast looks doubtful.

Lunch is not included. You may have time to eat at the palace, but the food choices have not suited every visitor, particularly if you want a light meal. I would bring a small packed lunch or snack as a backup. That is especially sensible if you have particular dietary needs or do not want to spend valuable palace time waiting for food.

Two hours sounds generous, but it passes quickly. If you want both the rooms and the gardens, resist spending the whole stop indoors. Ask the guide about the return time before you wander off, and remember that the group must leave together.

A five-minute border photo in Eleja

The stop at Eleja is brief, about five minutes, and entirely optional. It gives you a chance to photograph the Latvia-Lithuania border signs, a small but satisfying reminder that this is not simply a collection of Latvian sights.

Do not expect a long border visit or a town tour. This is a quick photo opportunity between larger stops. It works best if you have your camera ready and keep the stop light. For many people, the appeal is the simple fact that you can say you visited two countries in one day.

The order of the stops can change. Some departures have visited the Hill of Crosses first, then returned through Latvia. That is not a problem for the sights themselves, but it means you should avoid planning around an exact sequence. If you hoped to stop for a Lithuanian drink at a particular hour, the changing order and opening times may foil that plan.

The Hill of Crosses in Lithuania

The Hill of Crosses is the emotional center of the day for many people. It is not a polished monument with a single viewpoint. It is a hill covered with crosses of many sizes, placed by people over decades and continuing to grow.

You receive about an hour here. That is enough time to walk among the crosses, take in the scale, and look at the details. Some crosses are large and formal. Others are small, handmade, or marked with personal messages. The power of the place comes from the accumulation. One cross is easy to understand. Thousands create something harder to describe.

You are welcome to bring your own cross and add it to the collection. This is optional, not a required part of the visit. If you want to do it, bring one from home or buy one beforehand. The supplied details do not promise that crosses are sold at the site, so do not rely on finding one there.

The hill can feel moving even if you are not religious. You may find yourself paying attention to small objects and individual gestures rather than simply taking a wide photograph. Give yourself time to walk slowly. The ground may be uneven or wet, so sturdy shoes are a good idea.

This stop also shows why the tour is more than a castle-and-palace day. Bauska and Rundale are formal historic attractions. The Hill of Crosses is personal, spontaneous, and still changing. Together they give you a broader look at the region.

A guide-led day with room to wander

The best guides on this route do more than point out buildings. Jānis has been praised for clear explanations, humor, personal stories, and useful advice about food and local customs. Viesturs has also been noted for looking after the group, answering questions, and helping visitors who need a little extra care getting in and out of the vehicle.

That local conversation can make long driving stretches worthwhile. You might hear about Latvian Easter customs, traditional dishes, everyday life, or even mushrooms. The details help connect the grand places to the country around them.

Still, the guiding style is not equally detailed at every site. If you want every date, architect, and name explained at length, use the Rundale audio guide and ask questions during the drive. A shared tour has to balance different interests. One visitor may want a full historical lecture, while another wants a quick orientation and time for photographs.

The schedule is generally handled carefully, but flexibility has limits. An extra stop may sometimes be added if time allows, yet you should not count on it. The promised route is already a full day.

Is $157.28 a fair price?

At $157.28 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see a single attraction. It becomes better value when you consider what is bundled together: return transport from central Riga, an air-conditioned vehicle, parking, the Bauska Castle tower, Rundale Palace, the gardens, the border stop, and the Hill of Crosses.

Arranging the same day independently would require working out transport across rural Latvia and into Lithuania, coordinating opening times, and returning to Riga without a missed connection. The small group and local commentary add value, especially if you are visiting Riga without a car.

The price makes less sense if you want to spend half a day at Rundale alone, or if you prefer to explore each site at a museum pace. It is built for breadth. You see several important places in one day, but none receives unlimited time.

The tour is often booked well ahead, with an average booking point of about 34 days in advance. That suggests you should reserve early if the date matters to you, particularly during busy periods.

What to pack and how to prepare

A few small choices will make the day smoother:

• Wear solid walking shoes. You will walk at the castle, palace, gardens, and Hill of Crosses.
• Bring rain protection. The tour runs in rain or snow, and the gardens are much less enjoyable when you are soaked.
• Pack lunch or snacks. Food at Rundale may not offer the light choices you want, and lunch is not included.
• Bring headphones for Rundale. An audio guide is available, and headphones make it easier to listen at your own pace.
• Keep your phone charged. There are several good photo stops, including the border signs and Bauska tower.
• Watch the time. Free exploration does not mean an open-ended stop. You must return when the guide asks.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The vehicle is shared, so expect to travel with other people rather than receiving a private, fully customized schedule.

Who should book this day trip?

I would choose this for a first visit to Latvia when you want a strong sample of the country beyond Riga. It also suits solo visitors, couples, and small groups who like a social ride but do not want a large coach.

It is especially good for anyone interested in castles, palace interiors, unusual religious sites, photography, and local stories. The Hill of Crosses adds a memorable emotional note, while Rundale supplies the polished architecture and gardens.

I would think twice if you dislike long road days, need extensive time at each attraction, or want a highly academic guide at every stop. The route covers a lot of ground, and the shared format requires you to follow the group schedule.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to turn one Riga day into a compact Baltic sampler. The combination of Rundale Palace and the Hill of Crosses is hard to match, and the border photo gives the day a playful two-country bonus.

The strongest reason to choose it is the balance between structure and freedom. You get admissions, transport, and a guide such as Jānis or Viesturs, but you are not marched through every room or forced to stay beside the guide.

Bring lunch, dress for the weather, and accept that the order may change. If you do that, the $157.28 price is reasonable for a small-group day that reaches places you would find awkward to connect on your own.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Riga Free Tours, Reformācijas Laukums, in Riga’s central district.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 am.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Riga.

How long does the tour last?

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

How many people can join the shared ride?

The maximum group size is eight people.

Which countries does the tour visit?

The route visits Latvia and Lithuania, including a stop at the Latvia-Lithuania border.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes. Bauska Castle tower admission and the Rundale Palace and gardens ticket are included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so bringing your own food is a practical idea.

Can I leave a cross at the Hill of Crosses?

Yes. You are welcome to bring and leave your own cross at the site if you wish.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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