Ķemeri National Park

Ķemeru nacionālais parks

A protected mosaic of bogs, forests, lakes and mineral springs famous for its Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk trail. Visit for sunrise over the bog pools, birdwatching and the faded grandeur of the old spa town.

Things to do

• Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk — Walk the large or small loop of the wooden boardwalk winding past dark bog pools and stunted pines, ideally at sunrise.
• Sunrise over the bog pools — Arrive before dawn to see mist rising off the mirror-like pools and reflections of the pink sky.
• Birdwatching at Lake Kaņieris — Climb the observation tower over this reedy lagoon lake to spot cranes, bitterns and migrating waterfowl.
• Explore the old Ķemeri spa town — Wander the faded grandeur of the neoclassical Ķemeri Sanatorium and surrounding overgrown resort park.
• Ķemeri Water Tower — Visit the restored 1926 water tower for panoramic views over the town and forests.
• Sulphur springs and Forest Spring — Follow the healing-springs trail through the spa park to sniff the distinctive rotten-egg mineral waters.
• Meža māja visitor centre — Start at the national park's Forest House to pick up trail maps and learn about the bog ecosystem.
• Cycle the forest trails — Rent a bike to link the bog, lakes and spa town along quiet pine-forest paths.

Food to try

• Rupjmaize (dark rye bread) — Dense sour Latvian rye bread served with nearly every meal, sometimes as a sweet dessert with cream.
• Skābeņu zupa (sorrel soup) — A tangy green spring soup made with wild sorrel, boiled egg and a spoon of sour cream.
• Foraged bog berries — Seek out cranberries, bilberries and cloudberries gathered from the surrounding bogs, sold fresh or in jams.
• Grey peas with bacon — Pelēkie zirņi ar speķi is the hearty national dish of stewed grey peas with fried onion and bacon.
• Smoked fish from the coast — Nearby Gulf of Riga villages smoke flounder and herring worth picking up for a picnic.
• Kvass (kvass) — A lightly fermented rye-bread drink sold chilled as a refreshing summer thirst-quencher.

Local customs & good to know

• Stay on the boardwalk — The bog is a fragile protected habitat, so never step off the marked wooden paths.
• Come early or midweek — The bog boardwalk gets busy on summer weekends, so dawn visits give both solitude and the best light.
• Bring cash and supplies — Ķemeri town has few shops and limited services, so stock water and snacks before heading in.
• Reach it by train — The Riga–Tukums line stops at Ķemeri station, a walkable and eco-friendly way to arrive.

Nearby

• Jūrmala — 18 km
• Kalnciema Quarter (Riga) — 36 km
• Jelgava (Zemgale) — 36 km
• National Library of Latvia (Riga) — 37 km