Contents

• An active excursion in Dzintari
• The history and literature of Jūrmala in Majori and Dubulti
• Nature and fishing life in Buļļuciems
• Excursion to Ķemeri
• Free and budget-friendly ideas for a trip to Jūrmala
• Map of attractions

An active excursion to Dzintari

Dzintari is a great choice for a school class wishing to combine active recreation, a walk and exploring Jūrmala in a single excursion.

Dzintari Forest Park and observation tower

The 14-hectare Dzintari Forest Park features children’s playgrounds, tarmac paths, a skate park and streetball courts. One of the park’s most interesting features is the 33-metre-high observation tower, from which you can see Jūrmala from above.

Entry to the forest park and the observation tower is free, making this a great place both to start your day out and to take a break between other activities.

Jūrmala’s “Tarzan” Adventure Park

The Jūrmala Adventure Park “Tarzan” is located right there in Dzintari Forest Park. Schoolchildren can try out obstacle courses of varying levels of difficulty, whilst the activities at Jūrmala’s Net Park are also suitable for younger children.

This activity can be combined with a free walk in Dzintari Forest Park and a visit to the observation tower.

Rainis and Aspazija’s summer cottage

From Dzintari, you can continue on to Majori and visit the Rainis and Aspazija Summer House. The authentic setting offers a glimpse into the time when the poets lived and worked in Jūrmala.

Themed tours and workshops are available for schoolchildren, as well as a walking tour of the places in Jūrmala associated with Rainis and Aspazija’s lives and love.

The History and Literature of Jūrmala in Majori and Dubulti

In the Majori and Dubulti neighbourhoods, it is possible to organise a tour that can be explored almost entirely on foot, combining Jūrmala’s history, literature, art and urban environment.

Jūrmala City Museum

The Jūrmala City Museum’s collection contains exhibits that tell the story of the resort’s development from the late 19th century to the present day. The museum also displays Latvia’s largest collection of swimwear, vintage postcards of Jūrmala, works of art and underwater archaeological finds.

The museum offers a range of educational sessions for schoolchildren, including the quiz ‘I Love You, Jūrmala’, the session ‘What is a museum?’ and other educational activities.

Admission to the museum is free.

Aspazija’s House

In Dubulti, you can visit Aspazija’s House – a museum that preserves the poet’s living environment. Pupils can explore the drawing room, the dining room, antique objects and even virtual holograms of Aspazija’s cats.

Entry to the museum and exhibitions is free of charge, but school groups can also book themed lessons.

Art Station “Dubulti”

Right there at Dubulti railway station is one of the most unusual art spaces in Latvia – a contemporary art exhibition hall integrated into a railway station that is still in operation.

It hosts exhibitions by Latvian artists and international contemporary art projects.

Admission is free. Guided tours can also be booked.

The “Inner Light” light painting gallery

Majori is also home to the unusual ‘Inner Light’ light painting gallery. Under special lighting, the paintings change, revealing a different, initially hidden image to the viewer.

For schoolchildren, a visit to the gallery is listed in the Jūrmala school excursion guide for a nominal fee of 1 EUR per person.

Nature and fishing life in Buļļuciems

One of the most successful combinations of nature and cultural history in Jūrmala is Ragakāpa Nature Park and the Jūrmala Open-Air Museum. Both attractions are located practically next to each other.

Ragakāpa Nature Park

Ragakāpa is a wind-formed dune ridge approximately 800 metres long. The park is home to very old pine stands, some of which are around 340 years old.

The nature park features walking trails, viewing platforms, steps and information boards, which help schoolchildren learn about the nature of the coastal dunes and protected species.

Entry to the nature park is free of charge.

Jūrmala Open-Air Museum

The Jūrmala Open-Air Museum recreates a coastal fisherman’s homestead from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here, visitors can view historic buildings, fishing boats, anchors, craftsmen’s tools and objects associated with the daily life of fishermen.

Educational activities are also offered to schoolchildren, such as ‘A Day at a Fisherman’s Homestead’, ‘Boat Building’ and ‘Ropes and Twine’.

A walk in Ragakāpa Nature Park can easily be combined with a visit to the museum.

Excursion to Ķemeri

Ķemeri is ideal for a class wishing to spend more time in nature whilst learning about the history of the Jūrmala resort. Several places of interest are situated relatively close to one another.

Ķemeri Spa Park

Ķemeri Spa Park is the oldest and largest public garden in Latvia outside Riga. In the park, you can see historic bridges, the Island of Love with its rotunda, the ‘Ķirzaciņa’ sulphur spring, the Ķemeri Hotel and the restored water tower.

You can explore the park on your own, whilst the guidebook also lists a guided tour available for a small fee.

Ķemeri Water Tower

Built in 1929, the Ķemeri Water Tower is a 42-metre-high architectural monument of national importance. The tower houses an exhibition on the history of the Ķemeri spa and its notable figures.

From the viewing platforms, you can admire Ķemeri and the surrounding area from above. A prior booking is required to visit the upper panoramic viewing platform.

Entry to the water tower is free of charge.

Sloka Lake Nature Trail

The Sloka Lake nature trail is approximately 4 kilometres long and begins at Sloka Lake. The route runs along the lake’s shore and through the forest, and there is also a birdwatching tower by the lake.

The trail is suitable for school trips and exploring nature. Entry to the nature trails in Ķemeri National Park is free of charge.

Boards You – an adventure in the Ķemeri Moor

For classes wishing to add a more active adventure to their excursion, there is the option of choosing an expedition organised by ‘Boards You’ in the Ķemeri Moor. This combines travelling by SUP boards or boats, exploring the bog and sharing a meal in the great outdoors.

Free and budget-friendly ideas for a school trip to Jūrmala

It’s also possible to organise a school trip in Jūrmala at very little cost. Several locations can be combined into a single-day itinerary.

Orienteering games in Jūrmala

Pupils can explore Jūrmala using maps with tasks and by searching for checkpoints in Bulduri, Majori and Kauguri.

Orienteering games are available free of charge on the VisitJurmala.lv website.

Kauguri Park

Spanning 3.8 hectares, Kauguri Park features children’s play areas, outdoor exercise equipment, a streetball court and a large skatepark. The park is also home to the Youth Centre.

Entry to the park is free.

Wellbeing Nature Trail from Dubulti to Pumpuri

This walking trail, approximately two kilometres long, runs along the coastal dune area of Jūrmala from Dubulti to Pumpuri. Along the route there are picnic areas, a viewing platform, outdoor exercise equipment and a section where you can experience different natural materials – sand, pebbles and pine cones.

You can combine the walk with a visit to the “Dubulti” Art Station.

Bulduri Exhibition Hall

The Bulduri Exhibition Hall is housed in a historic wooden building in Jūrmala. It regularly hosts exhibitions of various art genres, whilst on the second floor you can explore the studio and artworks of the painter Valdis Bušs.

Admission to the exhibition hall is free.

Elektrum Energy Centre

At the Elektrum Energy Centre, pupils can learn about the efficient use of electricity, water and heat, and discover how everyday habits affect the environment and the family budget.

Primary and secondary school pupils can take measurements of electrical appliances, calculate energy consumption and complete tasks on environmentally friendly electricity generation. Pupils in the upper years have the opportunity to step into the shoes of an energy planner and design solutions for solar and wind farms.

The sessions are free of charge, but advance booking is required.

How to organise a one-day school trip to Jūrmala?

Depending on the pupils’ age and interests, various combinations are available:

• For an active class: Dzintari Forest Park + Jūrmala’s ‘Tarzan’ + a walk to the seaside.
• For a history and literature excursion: Jūrmala City Museum + Rainis and Aspazija’s summer cottage + Aspazija’s house.
• For a nature excursion: Ragakāpa Nature Park + Jūrmala Open-Air Museum.
• For a day out in Ķemeri: Ķemeri Spa Park + Ķemeri Water Tower + Sloka Lake walking trail.
• For a low-cost excursion: an orienteering game + the Jūrmala Museum + a walk through the town or along the seafront.

Before the excursion, we recommend checking the opening hours of your chosen attractions and finding out whether advance booking is required for school groups.