Sigulda

A picturesque town in the Gauja River valley often called the Switzerland of Latvia, surrounded by forested hills and medieval castles. Visitors come for cable cars over the valley, adventure sports, and the ruins of Sigulda Medieval Castle.

Things to do

• Turaida Castle — Explore the striking red-brick medieval castle and museum reserve with its tower offering sweeping views over the Gauja valley.
• Sigulda Medieval Castle ruins — Wander the atmospheric stone ruins of the 13th-century Livonian Order castle and enjoy the open-air stage set among the walls.
• Aerial cable car over the valley — Ride the open cable car strung high across the Gauja River between Sigulda and Krimulda for panoramic forest views.
• Gutmanis Cave — Visit Latvia's largest cave, covered in centuries-old inscriptions and tied to the romantic legend of the Rose of Turaida.
• Sigulda Bobsleigh Track — Try the adrenaline-charged summer or winter bob run on this Olympic-standard track, one of few open to the public in Europe.
• Krimulda Manor and cable trails — Take the funicular or hike down to the historic manor and follow trails along the sandstone cliffs of the river.
• Cross the Gauja by bungee or zipline — Adventure seekers can bungee jump from the cable car or zipline across the valley near the aerial tramway.
• Walking stick tradition and Autumn colours — Stroll the Gauja National Park trails, especially stunning in autumn when the forested hills blaze red and gold.

Food to try

• Sigulda walking sticks — Buy a hand-carved wooden walking stick, a local craft souvenir traditionally used by hikers exploring the valley trails.
• Grey peas with bacon (pelēkie zirņi) — Latvia's hearty national dish of stewed grey peas fried with onion and speck, served in local taverns.
• Rye bread and sklandrausis — Sample dense dark Latvian rye bread and sklandrausis, a sweet carrot-and-potato tart of Baltic heritage.
• Fresh forest berries and mushrooms — Seasonal market stalls sell bilberries, cranberries and wild mushrooms foraged from the surrounding Gauja forests.
• Local craft beer and kvass — Try Latvian craft ales or kvass, a lightly fermented rye-bread drink popular in summer.

Local customs & good to know

• Gauja National Park entry — Many sites lie within Latvia's oldest national park, so stay on marked trails and respect protected nature areas.
• Visit in autumn — Sigulda is famous for its autumn foliage festival, when the town is busiest and most photogenic in September and October.
• Buy a combined ticket — Castle and cable car attractions are spread across the valley, so plan transport and check combined tickets to save time.
• Cash for small vendors — While cards are common, carry some euros for craft stalls, walking-stick sellers and rural cafes.

Nearby

• Krimulda Manor and Cable Car — 2 km
• Gutmanis Cave — 2 km
• Turaida Castle — 4 km
• Gauja National Park — 14 km