Sigulda
A wooded valley of red sandstone cliffs and castle towers on the Gauja, sixty kilometres from Riga’s runway.
- Arrival
- Riga International · RIX
- To the town
- About 60 km north-east of the airport, in a straight line
- Private jets
- Business Aviation Center at RIX, open 24 hours
- Best time
- June to August
The city
Castles above the Gauja.
Sigulda stands on the rim of the Gauja valley, at the edge of Gauja National Park. Across the river the brick tower of Turaida rises out of the trees, the sandstone banks open into caves, and a cable car crosses the gorge to the manor at Krimulda.
Fifteen kilometres up the valley, in the village of Līgatne, Pavāru māja holds a MICHELIN Green Star for cooking from its raised beds, the forest and nearby farms. From June to August the afternoons reach twenty or twenty-one degrees and the valley is at its greenest.
- Turaida Castle A red-brick castle on the ridge above the Gauja, with its round tower looking down the valley.
- Gūtmaņa Cave A broad sandstone cave in the valley wall, its sides carved with centuries of names.
- Cable car to Krimulda A cabin that crosses the Gauja gorge from Sigulda to the far bank.
Arriving
Land in Riga, drive up the valley.
Sigulda has no airfield for jets. Riga International, about sixty kilometres to the south-west in a straight line, has a 3,200-metre runway, customs and round-the-clock opening.
- Stockholm 1 h 00
- Brussels 2 h 15
- Palma de Mallorca 3 h 35
- Marrakech 5 h 15
- Shanghai 10 h 00 long-range jet
When to go
June to August.
June to August bring the warmest afternoons, at twenty or twenty-one degrees, though late summer is also the wettest stretch. From December to February the highs stay near freezing.
- -2° J 36
- -2° F 27
- 3° M 32
- 10° A 41
- 17° M 48
- 20° J 58
- 21° J 77
- 21° A 76
- 16° S 73
- 11° O 61
- 4° N 61
- 0° D 49
Where to stay
A spa hotel in town.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
A Green Star up the valley.
From the MICHELIN Guide Latvia 2026, shown for information. We have no arrangement with this restaurant.
- Pavāru māja MICHELIN Green Star Modern, regional €€€€ Līgatne, about 15 km from Sigulda
Flying to Sigulda?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.