Jurmala is a seaside resort town in Latvia, about 20 km from Riga. It stretches along a 24 km beach of fine quartz sand, a third of the town is pine forest, and guests have come here to rest by the sea for about two hundred years. At the entrance to the town the big white Jūrmala sign among the pines tells you that the sea is very close.
In this guide you will find the easiest ways to get to Jurmala, the places worth seeing and ideas for a day by the sea in summer and in winter.
How to get to Jurmala: the quick answer
Riga Airport to Jurmala: about 16 km to Majori, around 20 minutes. Private transfer: sedan 35 EUR, minivan 45 EUR for the whole car.
Riga to Jurmala: train from Riga Central Station or a private driver in Riga from 30 EUR per hour.
Tallinn to Jurmala: private transfer door to door from 350 EUR.
Jurmala to Vilnius: sedan 330 EUR, minivan 430 EUR.
Riga Airport to Jurmala: transfer, train or rental car
Private transfer with meet and greet
Your driver follows your flight and waits for you in the arrivals hall with a name sign, helps with your luggage and drives you straight to your hotel, spa or apartment. No changes, no timetables and no driving after the flight. The price is fixed for the whole car and agreed in advance. See our Riga Airport to Jurmala transfer.
Flying into Riga? Your driver meets you at arrivals with a name sign, takes care of your luggage, and about 20 minutes later you are at your hotel in Jurmala. Sedan 35 EUR, minivan 45 EUR for the whole car. Send us your flight number on WhatsApp, we reply right away.
Train and bus from Riga
Trains to Jurmala leave from Riga Central Station towards Tukums, Kemeri or Sloka. The ride takes 20 to 50 minutes, and there are 14 stops in Jurmala, from Priedaine to Kemeri. From the airport you first travel to Riga with your luggage and change there.
Rental car, entry pass and parking
With a rental car you drive yourself straight after the flight. From 1 April to 30 September entering Jurmala by car requires a one time entry pass, from October to March entry is free, and parking in Jurmala is free all year.
What to see in Jurmala
The 24 km beach
Jurmala has 11 well kept beaches along a 24 km coastline. The sea stays shallow for a long way out, which makes the beach popular with families with children.
Jomas Street in Majori
Jomas Street is the pedestrian heart of Jurmala, with cafes, restaurants and shops a short walk from the sea. Its name comes from the Latvian word joma, a valley between sand dunes. Summer concerts in Majori began as early as 1870.
Dzintari Forest Park and Dzintari Concert Hall
Dzintari Forest Park is open all year and has a viewing tower above the pines. Next to it stands the Dzintari Concert Hall: the closed hall from 1936 seats 690 people, and the open air summer hall from 1960 holds 2,000.
Kemeri Resort Park and water tower
Kemeri was once a famous spa with sulphur springs, officially founded in 1838. Its landscape park was laid out from 1839, and the 42 m water tower was built in 1929.
Kemeri National Park and the Great Kemeri Bog Boardwalk
Kemeri National Park was established in 1997 and covers 38,165 hectares, the third largest national park in Latvia. The Great Kemeri Bog Boardwalk has a short loop of about 1.4 km and a long loop of about 3.4 km with an observation platform over the bog.
Ragakāpa Nature Park and the Open Air Museum
Ragakāpa Nature Park protects 150 hectares of dunes up to 17 m high, with two nature trails. Nearby in Buļļuciems, the Jurmala Open Air Museum shows a coastal fisherman's household from the late 19th and early 20th century.
Līvu Aquapark for families
Līvu Aquapark has more than 20 slides and 10 swimming pools, a good plan for a rainy day with children.
Travelling with children and luggage? A Mercedes minivan for up to 8 people costs 45 EUR for the whole car, about 6 EUR per person. Child seats are installed in advance on request, with no changes and no hunting for a taxi with a pushchair.
Jurmala in one day with a private driver
Start in the morning on the beach and on Jomas Street, walk up to the Dzintari tower before lunch and finish the day on the Kemeri bog boardwalk at sunset. With your own driver you do not need timetables, and the car waits while you explore. A private driver in Riga costs 30 EUR per hour with a sedan and 40 EUR per hour with a minivan, minimum 3 hours for a minivan.
Jurmala in winter
Jurmala is worth a visit in winter too. Dzintari Forest Park turns into a Park of Light with thousands of LED decorations, and in winter a 20 km cross country ski track runs along the beach when there is enough snow. From October to March entering Jurmala by car is free.
Jurmala for business guests and conferences
If you are attending a conference or meetings in Jurmala or Riga, book a car with a driver for the whole day. The driver waits between appointments, and companies can pay by invoice.
Continue your Baltic trip from Jurmala
Jurmala ↔ Vilnius
Sedan 330 EUR, minivan 430 EUR, door to door. From Riga to Vilnius: sedan 300 EUR, minivan 400 EUR. For a trip with stops, see our private tour from Tallinn to Vilnius via Riga and Trakai.
Jurmala ↔ Tallinn
Our Tallinn ↔ Jurmala transfer starts from 350 EUR, and the Tallinn ↔ Riga transfer from 330 EUR.
Continuing your Baltic trip? We drive you from Jurmala to Tallinn or Vilnius door to door, with stops wherever you like. The price for the whole car is calculated in advance and does not change. Send us your route, we reply right away.
Why travellers choose Artsantaxi
Fixed price for the whole car, agreed in advance.
Our cars and drivers are based in Riga, 24/7.
Flight tracking and meet and greet with a name sign.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class, Lexus ES, V-Class and Vito.
Child seats on request.
Payment in cash, by card, via PayPal or by invoice for companies.
Google rating 5.0.
More ideas for Latvia: our guide to Riga.
FAQ
How far is Jurmala from Riga Airport?
About 16 km to Majori, the centre of Jurmala, around 20 minutes by car.
How much is a transfer from Riga Airport to Jurmala?
35 EUR by sedan and 45 EUR by minivan for the whole car.
How do I get from Riga to Jurmala?
By train from Riga Central Station, 20 to 50 minutes, or with a private driver if you want to see several places in one day.
Do I need to pay to enter Jurmala by car?
From 1 April to 30 September a one time entry pass is required, from October to March entry is free. Parking is free all year.
How do I get from Tallinn to Jurmala?
The easiest way is a private transfer door to door, from 350 EUR for the whole car.
Can I book a child seat?
Yes, child seats are installed in advance on request.
Is Jurmala worth visiting in winter?
Yes, Dzintari Forest Park becomes a Park of Light, and with enough snow there is a 20 km ski track along the beach.
Booking 24/7:
Phone: +372 5802 4209
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Email: artsantaxi@gmail.com