You can spend the morning walking through forested river valleys, the afternoon exploring a medieval castle or historic town, and the evening enjoying local food or a traditional Latvian sauna experience.
Whether you are looking for an active holiday, a cultural break or a slower journey through Latvia, there are many ways to experience the region.
The Gauja River and its valleys shape much of the national park. Forest trails, sandstone cliffs, caves, riverbanks and scenic viewpoints create a varied landscape for walking and outdoor exploration.
Hiking routes around Sigulda, Līgatne, Cēsis and the Amata Valley range from short walks to longer day hikes. The park can also be explored by bicycle, allowing you to connect natural sites, small towns and countryside areas at your own pace.
Try: hiking, cycling, nature walks, viewpoints and seasonal outdoor experiences.
The Gauja River offers a completely different perspective on the landscape.
Kayaking, canoeing and SUP trips take you past forested banks, sandstone cliffs and quiet stretches of river that feel far removed from the cities and towns nearby.
Water-based experiences can range from relaxed day trips to longer journeys through the national park.
Try: kayaking, canoeing, SUP and guided river experiences.
In Gauja National Park, history is not hidden behind museum glass — it is part of the landscape. Medieval castles rise above the Gauja Valley, cobbled streets lead through old towns, and manor houses, archaeological sites and historic villages reveal different layers of Latvia’s past.
Begin in Turaida Museum Reserve, where the red-brick medieval castle towers above the forested Gauja Valley. The wider reserve brings together archaeology, architecture, folklore and the story of the Gauja Livonians, while Dainu Hill adds another distinctly Latvian dimension through its sculpture garden and connection to folk traditions.
In Cēsis, history stretches back more than 800 years. Walk through the cobbled Old Town, explore the atmospheric Cēsis Medieval Castle and continue into the New Castle, where the story of the town and the wider Vidzeme region unfolds. St John’s Church and the historic streets around the castle make Cēsis one of the places where medieval heritage still feels closely connected to everyday life.
Around Sigulda, several historic landmarks stand within the dramatic Gauja Valley landscape. The Livonian Order Sigulda Castle, Sigulda New Castle and nearby Turaida create an unusual concentration of heritage surrounded by forests and river views.
For a different period of history, visit Āraiši Archaeological Park, discover the industrial heritage of Līgatne Village, or step into the quieter atmosphere of historic manor estates such as Bīriņi Castle and Mālpils Manor.
Experience: medieval castles · historic towns · manor houses · archaeology · museums · Latvian cultural heritage
Some of the most memorable experiences come from meeting local people and discovering traditions that are still part of everyday life.
You can visit craftspeople and workshops, join a guided experience with a local expert or discover Latvian sauna culture. A traditional sauna ritual combines heat, steam, plants, natural materials and rest, offering a deeply local approach to wellbeing.
Try: craft workshops, local guides, sauna rituals and rural experiences.
Food in the Gauja region is closely connected to landscape, season and place. Here, a meal can take you from a manor dining room to a craft brewery, from forest-picked berries to contemporary interpretations of Latvian cuisine.
At Valmiermuiža Beer Kitchen, local farmers, hunters and fishermen provide the ingredients for a modern take on Latvian flavours. Next door, Valmiermuiža Craft Brewery continues the traditions of manor hospitality and slow brewing, making this one of the region’s strongest combinations of gastronomy, craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
Near the Amata Valley, Kārļamuiža Country Hotel Restaurant brings the surrounding landscape directly onto the plate. Its kitchen uses local produce as well as ingredients grown by the hosts, with mushrooms and berries gathered from nearby forests and apples from the manor orchard appearing in seasonal dishes.
For a more refined historic setting, Mālpils Manor Restaurant combines seasonal ingredients with elegant presentation in the atmosphere of a restored manor, while H.E. Vanadziņš North Restaurant brings contemporary dining into the heart of Cēsis Old Town.
There are smaller tastes to discover too. Stop at Siguldas Saldējums in the Sigulda Castle Quarter for handmade ice cream created from carefully selected ingredients and Latvian-inspired flavours, or visit Līgatne Winery, where fruits and berries grown in Latvia are transformed into wines, liqueurs and other local products.
The result is not one single “Gauja cuisine”, but a collection of experiences rooted in the forests, farms, orchards, towns and traditions of the region.
Taste: seasonal Latvian cuisine · manor dining · craft beer · local produce · berry and fruit wines · handmade ice cream
The landscapes of Gauja National Park are not only beautiful to look at — they are made to be experienced.
The Gauja River invites you onto the water for canoeing, kayaking and SUP, while forest roads and trails open up the region for hiking and cycling. In Sigulda, the steep Gauja Valley has also become one of Latvia’s best-known centres for adventure.
Ride the Sigulda Cable Car high above the valley or take things further with Zērglis — a zipline experience running along the cable-car route. The newer Turbo Zērglis can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h while crossing the ancient Gauja Valley. EnterGauja
At AERODIUM Sigulda, experience the sensation of free flight inside a vertical wind tunnel. For a completely different kind of adrenaline, head to the Sigulda Bobsleigh and Luge Track — one of a small number of tracks of its kind worldwide and unusual in allowing visitors to experience attraction rides themselves. EnterGauja
If you prefer your adventures at a slower pace, choose a cycling route, walk deep into the forest, paddle along the river or simply take the cable car across the valley and enjoy the landscape from above.
Experience: kayaking · canoeing · cycling · hiking · ziplining · free flight · bobsleigh · cable-car views
The region works best when you give it more than a single day.
Choose from countryside hotels, manor houses, guesthouses, campsites and accommodation in Sigulda, Cēsis, Valmiera and other towns.
A two- or three-day stay already allows you to combine several experiences: nature, culture, local food and wellness. A longer stay gives you time to explore quieter parts of the region and travel at a slower pace.
Start with the kind of experience you want most, then build your trip around it.
If nature is your priority, begin with hiking routes, river experiences and viewpoints. If you are more interested in culture, combine Sigulda, Turaida, Cēsis and Āraiši. For a more relaxing journey, add local gastronomy, countryside accommodation and a Latvian sauna experience.
Many of the main destinations in Gauja National Park are within roughly one to one and a half hours of Riga, making the region easy to include in a wider trip through Latvia.
Use Enter Gauja to explore:
Things to do
Nature, culture, adventure, wellness and family experiences.
Routes
Ideas for exploring the region on foot, by bicycle, car or water.
Places to stay
Hotels, manor houses, guesthouses, countryside accommodation and camping.
Food & drink
Restaurants, cafés, local producers and regional flavours.
Getting here
Practical information for travelling from Riga and between destinations within the region.
There is no single way to experience Gauja National Park.
Come for the forests and river valleys. Stay for the castles, towns, local flavours and traditions. Combine the experiences that interest you most and create your own journey through one of Latvia’s most diverse regions.
Explore Gauja National Park and start planning your trip with Enter Gauja.
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