Since traveling in continuous rain is not much fun, we keep an eye on the weather alongside our planned destinations and adjust our route spontaneously. Lately, it seems almost like clockwork: thunder storms roll in during the afternoon and it rains heavily.
So we decide on a long travel day from Vilnius to Riga. Along the way, we make a few exciting stops: At the Hill of Crosses, a unique place brimming with religious and political symbolism, thousands of crosses of all sizes are stacked together – a moving sight. Afterwards, we visit the magnificent Rundāle Palace, often dubbed the 'Versailles of the Baltics,' and take a quick look at the impressive Bauska Castle before heading toward the Latvian capital.
In the afternoon, we reach the marina in Riga and find our parking spot. The description sounded dreamy: right on the Daugava, quiet, central. In reality, we are parked next to a construction fence next to a storage area for portable toilets that are cleaned on-site. It is hot, we are tired, and the site manager is neither talkative nor willing to keep using the translator. For two nights, it will somehow work – Riga is calling.
The next morning, we set out on foot to the Old Town. We are greeted right away by Riga Castle, with its thick towers and striking façade. We don’t have a concrete plan, but that’s what the tourist information is for. Armed with a map and tips, we wander through the small streets, enjoy crumble cake and flat white, browse through shops and admire a beautiful church after another.
Particularly impressive: the many splendid Art Nouveau facades that make Riga a true architectural gem. In some streets, elaborately decorated house fronts line up next to each other – elegant figures, floral ornaments, curved balconies.
But then the familiar afternoon thunderstorm is announced. Under the awning of a restaurant, we watch during dessert as umbrellas are opened and ponchos are put on outside. Some guests are filming the spectacle.
When we find out that we arrived too late at the Maritime Museum because of the rain, we make our way back to the camp.
With Riga, we have nearly reached our daily 20-kilometer mark again. Training for the Kinarodden – but more on that later.
Wet Trails, Baltic Tales
Since traveling in continuous rain is not much fun, we always keep an eye on the weather alongside our planned route and adjust spontaneously when necessary. Lately, it’s been almost like clockwork – thunderstorms roll in every afternoon.
So we decide on a longer drive from Vilnius to Riga. Along the way, we make several interesting stops: At the Hill of Crosses, a unique and deeply symbolic place, thousands of crosses of all sizes stand closely packed – a moving sight. We continue to Rundāle Palace, often referred to as the “Versailles of the Baltics,” and finally stop briefly at Bauska Castle before heading on toward the Latvian capital.
In the afternoon, we arrive at the marina in Riga and find our designated parking spot. The description had made it sound like a dream: right on the Daugava River, peaceful, central. In reality, we're parked next to a construction fence beside a storage area for portable toilets, which are being cleaned on-site. It's hot, we're tired, and the attendant is neither talkative nor willing to continue using the translator. We'll manage for two nights somehow – Riga is calling.
The next morning we walk into the Old Town. We’re greeted right away by Riga Castle with its thick towers and impressive façade. We don’t have a clear plan yet, but that’s what tourist info is for. Equipped with a map and some recommendations, we stroll through the narrow streets, enjoy crumble cake and flat white, browse small shops and admire one beautiful church after another.
One highlight: Riga’s stunning Art Nouveau architecture. In some neighborhoods, ornately decorated building façades line the streets—graceful figures, floral details, curved balconies. The city’s architectural flair gives it a truly unique character and makes walking through it a delight, even with the looming rainclouds.
Sure enough, right on time, the daily thunderstorm rolls in. We take shelter under the awning of a restaurant and, while enjoying dessert, watch people rush by with umbrellas and rain capes. Some diners even film the whole scene.
Later, we find out that we’ve just missed the Maritime Museum due to the downpour, so we decide to head back to our campsite.
With Riga, we’ve nearly hit our daily 20-kilometer walking target again. Training for Kinarodden – but more on that soon.
