Riga: Hill of Crosses & Guided Rundale Palace with Bauska Castle

The Hill of Crosses is the reason this trip feels different from an ordinary palace-and-castle outing. Thousands of crosses crowd the site, creating a quiet, striking place of pilgrimage. I like that you get a guided introduction, then about an hour to walk alone, take photographs, and visit the nearby Franciscan Monastery if its chapel is open.

I also like the way the day balances grand interiors with open-air history. Rundale Palace brings Rococo ceremony and court life into focus, while Bauska Castle gives you a more rugged medieval stop and a tower view over the surrounding rivers. Guides such as Erlens and Orlando add local stories, practical help, and small touches such as bottled water, chocolate, and, on one occasion, a birthday cake.

The trade-off is simple: this is a long day, about eight hours, with several hours on the road. Bauska Castle can also be affected by holiday or seasonal closures, so confirm what will be open on your date. The tour has handled such changes before, but you should not book it expecting every indoor display to operate every day.

Key points at a glance

• The Hill of Crosses is in Lithuania: You briefly cross the Latvia-Lithuania border, making this a two-country outing from Riga.
• Rundale Palace receives the most detailed treatment: An official certified palace guide leads you through the ceremonial rooms and the Duke and Duchess’s private apartments.
• Bauska includes tower access: The medieval castle visit is guided, and you can climb the tower for views of the rivers and countryside.
• Lunch is arranged but not included: You stop at a local restaurant after the palace and choose and pay for your own meal.
• The group is capped at 19 people: Transport is by air-conditioned bus, minibus, or minivan, with Wi-Fi and bottled water provided.
• The guides make a difference: Erlens is frequently praised for his warmth, humor, and detailed local commentary, while Orlando has also led the trip in English and Italian.

Why the Hill of Crosses makes this day memorable

Your first major stop is the Hill of Crosses, north of the Latvia-Lithuania border. Before reaching it, the vehicle pauses for about ten minutes at the border. This is mainly a photo stop, with a short explanation from the guide. Do not expect a border museum or a long visit. It is a useful marker, though: you are leaving Latvia for a distinctly Lithuanian religious site.

The Hill of Crosses is not a vast complex. Its power comes from concentration. Crosses of many sizes fill the paths and slopes, along with religious symbols, memorials, and personal offerings. The effect can be quiet and moving, even if you are not religious. Your guide explains the site’s history, religious meaning, and traditions before giving you roughly an hour to explore at your own pace.

That free time matters. A tightly guided walk would not suit this place. You need a few minutes to look closely, take photographs, and decide how much time you want to spend in silence. You can also visit the nearby Franciscan Monastery, whose chapel is open to visitors when operating.

Wear shoes with good soles. The Hill of Crosses is an outdoor stop, and weather can change the feel of it completely. One person completed the day in temperatures of minus 21 degrees Celsius and still found the visit rewarding, but that sort of weather requires proper winter clothing. In warmer months, the stop should be easier physically, but you should still expect uneven ground and regular walking.

Inside Rundale Palace with a certified guide

Rundale Palace is the main architectural event of the day. It was built for the Dukes of Courland and is known for its Rococo interiors. The visit covers the exhibition rooms open to the public, including the ceremonial halls and the private apartments of the Duke and Duchess.

The key advantage here is that the palace visit is not a loose wander with an audio device. A certified palace guide leads you inside, as required by the museum. That guide explains the building’s history, the decorative details, and the way court life functioned. You get context for the ornate rooms rather than simply moving from one decorated space to the next.

Look for the contrast between public and private areas. The ceremonial halls show how the ducal court presented power and taste. The private apartments offer a more personal view of palace life. The Rococo style can be full and decorative, so having a live guide helps you sort the important details from the visual overload.

Several people consider Rundale the highlight of the trip, and I understand why. It gives you a strong indoor experience after the open-air Hill of Crosses, and it is also the place where the guiding is most formal and focused. The palace guide is separate from your main tour guide, which means you benefit from someone assigned specifically to the building.

The palace portion, including lunch arrangements and the garden visit, takes about two hours in the schedule. The precise balance between the interior tour and the meal may vary, but the plan gives you enough time to see the rooms without turning the visit into a rushed corridor walk.

Lunch after the palace

Lunch is not part of the $119.18 price. Your guide organizes a stop at a local restaurant after the palace, but you choose your meal and pay directly.

That arrangement is practical. You are not tied to a fixed menu or forced to pay for a meal you do not want. You also get a proper pause in the middle of a long outing. This is a good time to ask the guide about the next stop, stretch your legs, and reset before returning outdoors.

Budget for lunch separately. The supplied tour details do not give a set cost or menu, so I would not assume that food is covered simply because the stop is arranged. One account praised the meal experience, but the stated inclusions clearly separate lunch from the tour price.

A short walk through the French Garden

After eating, you have about 15 minutes to explore Rundale’s French Garden independently. This is a short stop, not a full garden tour.

The garden uses formal symmetry and acts as an outdoor extension of the palace. You can take photographs, look back toward the building, and appreciate the relationship between the formal rooms and the ordered grounds. Fifteen minutes is enough for a taste, but not enough for a slow garden visit.

If gardens are your main interest, keep your expectations in check. The palace interiors receive the more serious treatment. The garden is best viewed as a pleasant pause and a chance to see the estate from another angle.

Bauska Castle and the medieval tower

Bauska Castle closes the sightseeing portion of the day. The guided visit focuses on the medieval part of the castle, not every possible museum room or later addition.

Your guide explains the castle’s strategic role and medieval life in the region. The most appealing feature is tower access. Climbing with the guide gives you views over the rivers and surrounding countryside, and it adds a physical element to a day that otherwise includes plenty of looking and listening.

Bauska is a different kind of stop from Rundale. Rundale is polished, decorative, and courtly. Bauska is more about defensive purpose, stone walls, elevation, and the practical realities of medieval power. One useful opinion is that the castle has strong historical interest but is less scenic than the palace. That is fair. You should visit it for the contrast and the story, not because it will rival Rundale’s interiors.

Check opening arrangements before booking, especially around Christmas and other holidays. On one date, the castle museum was closed because of the Christmas period, although the tour operator arranged access to the medieval section. Another alternative experience was offered at Rundale Palace. That shows some flexibility, but it also confirms that opening conditions can affect the exact day.

How the transport and group size shape the day

The tour begins at 8:00 am outside Riga Cathedral on Herdera laukums. It returns to the same meeting point at the end. Allow time to reach the cathedral area before departure, since the day begins early and the vehicle will leave on schedule.

Transport is provided in an air-conditioned bus, minibus, or minivan. The maximum group size is 19 people, so this is not a private tour, but it is also not a large coach excursion. A smaller group gives the guide a better chance to answer questions and keep the day moving.

Wi-Fi is provided onboard, along with bottled water. Those details matter on a long route with several driving sections. The water is especially welcome because there is a fair amount of walking at the Hill of Crosses, the palace, and the castle.

The tour is offered in English. Erlens is the guide most often associated with the experience, and his approach seems to combine history with personal stories about Latvia and life under the Soviet regime. Orlando has also led the trip in English and Italian, with careful driving and detailed explanations. If a particular guide matters to you, ask the operator when booking, since guide assignment can change.

Is $119.18 a fair price?

At $119.18 per person, the price is reasonable for a cross-border day trip that includes transport, a professional English-speaking guide, palace entry, castle entry, and guided access at both major historic sites.

The value comes from the distance covered and the organization. Planning the Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace, and Bauska Castle independently would require checking border travel, arranging transport, buying admissions, and fitting three stops into one day. Here, the route is handled for you.

The price does not include lunch or personal spending. That is normal for this type of excursion, but include it in your budget. You might also want money for small purchases during the day, although no shopping stop is listed.

The tour is strongest for someone who wants to see several important places outside Riga without renting a car. It is less compelling for someone who prefers to spend half a day at one palace, linger over every garden path, or travel at a slow pace. You get breadth, context, and convenience in exchange for a full schedule.

Who should book this Riga day trip?

I would choose this tour if you have several days in Riga and want one day devoted to southern Latvia and northern Lithuania. It gives you three different experiences: a living pilgrimage site, an aristocratic palace, and a medieval fortress.

It also suits you if you value guiding. The Hill of Crosses can be visited alone, but its traditions and historical meaning are easier to understand with an introduction. Rundale Palace requires a certified live guide, and Bauska’s tower and medieval story benefit from someone explaining what you are seeing.

Families can participate, provided children are accompanied by an adult. Most people can take part, but you should be comfortable walking outdoors, climbing at Bauska Castle, and spending a substantial part of the day in transport. Bring walking shoes, layered clothing, and weather protection.

This is not the right choice if you dislike early starts, scheduled meal breaks, or a day with several distinct stops. It is also not ideal if you need guaranteed access to every castle museum room during a holiday period. The operator may adjust the plan, but building your day around fixed opening hours is safer in that situation.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

You receive confirmation when booking, and the activity is offered with a mobile ticket. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 8:00 am start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels because that number is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The experience is booked, on average, about 61 days ahead. That does not guarantee that every date sells out, but it is a useful sign that advance planning is sensible, especially if your Riga visit is short.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an efficient, well-guided day beyond Riga and you enjoy variety more than a slow pace. The Hill of Crosses gives the day its emotional force, Rundale Palace supplies the grand interiors, and Bauska Castle adds medieval atmosphere and a tower climb.

I would be especially comfortable recommending it to first-time visitors who do not want to drive across two countries. The price covers the main transport and admissions, the group is limited to 19, and the guides appear to take personal care with the details.

Skip it if your priority is an unhurried palace visit or if a long day in a vehicle sounds tiring. Also confirm Bauska’s opening status for your date. With those points understood, this is one of the more useful ways to connect Riga with the historic sites beyond the capital.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Riga Cathedral, Herdera laukums 6, at 8:00 am, and returns to the same meeting point at the end of the activity.

Does the tour visit two countries?

Yes. The route includes a short photo stop at the Latvia-Lithuania border, followed by the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. The guide organizes a stop at a local restaurant after Rundale Palace, but you select and pay for your own meal.

Are Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle admission tickets included?

Yes. Entrance to Rundale Palace Museum and Bauska Castle is included. The palace visit is led by an official certified palace guide, and the Bauska visit includes the medieval section and tower access.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children can take part, but they must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can participate, and walking shoes are recommended.

What happens if I need to cancel?

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