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
• One-day excursion routes
• Excursion destinations on the map

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.

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 view Jūrmala from above.

Entry to the forest park and the observation tower is free of charge. It is a good place both to start an excursion and to take a break between other activities.

The Jūrmala adventure park “Tarzan” is also located 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.

From Dzintari, you can continue on to Majori and visit the summer cottage of Rainis and Aspazija. The authentic setting offers an insight into the time when the poets lived and worked in Jūrmala.

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

Jūrmala’s history and literature in Majori and Dubulti

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

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 houses Latvia’s largest collection of swimwear, vintage postcards of Jūrmala, works of art and underwater archaeological exhibits.

The museum offers a range of activities for schoolchildren, including the quiz “I Love You, Jūrmala”, lessons on art and museum work, as well as other educational activities.

Admission to the museum is free.

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

Admission to the museum and exhibitions is free, 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 to the exhibition is free.

School groups can also book the game ‘Be the Young Curator’. During the game, the class splits into teams, is given a concept for their exhibition, selects artworks and, finally, presents the exhibition they have created. The cost of the game is 20 EUR per group.

“Inner Light” Light Painting Gallery

Majori is home to the unusual “Inner Light” light painting gallery, where artworks change, shimmer and reveal initially hidden images and stories under special lighting. The gallery combines art, technology and lighting effects to create an unusual artistic experience for pupils of all ages.

A visit to the gallery costs 3 EUR per pupil, whilst admission is free for up to two teachers. The visit lasts approximately 20–30 minutes.

It is also possible to book creative workshops at the gallery – a class can work together to create a single light painting under the artist’s guidance, or each pupil can create their own piece.

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 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 the protected species found there.

Entry to the nature park is free of charge.

The Jūrmala Open-Air Museum features a coastal fisherman’s homestead dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here you can see historic buildings, fishing boats, anchors, craftsmen’s tools and objects related to the daily life of fishermen.

Educational activities are also offered to schoolchildren, such as ‘A Day at the Fisherman’s Homestead’, ‘All Aboard’, ‘Boat Building’ and ‘Ropes and Tows’.

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

A trip to Ķemeri

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

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 a guided tour for schoolchildren is available for a small fee.

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, visitors can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Ķemeri and the surrounding area. A prior booking is required to visit the upper panoramic viewing platform.

Entry to the water tower is free of charge.

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. There is no charge for visiting the nature trails in Ķemeri National Park.

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 bog. The adventure 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 day out in Jūrmala

It is also possible to organise an excursion in Jūrmala at very little cost. Several locations and activities 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.

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

Educational city tours in Jūrmala

Jūrmala can also be explored on a guided walking tour, where pupils learn about the city’s history, architecture, nature and lesser-known places. The tours make use of visual aids, games and activities.

Several routes are available:

• Ķemeri Spa – miraculous springs and the secrets of the spa;
• Vecbulduri – winding streets and legends;
• Bulduri – wooden architecture and picturesque avenues;
• Dzintari – the sea, architecture, the forest and the observation tower.

The tours are suitable for Years 3–12 and last approximately 1.5 hours. The fee is €4 per person. Advance booking is required.

Further information: Travel with Ineta.

Stories of Jūrmala’s railway stations

An interesting excursion idea for schoolchildren is a walking tour of Jūrmala’s railway stations. During the tour, you can learn about the origins of the Riga–Tukums railway line, the station buildings in Jūrmala, the names of the stops and their history.

The route involves a walk of approximately 10 km and several train journeys. It starts at Lielupe station and ends at Vaivari station.

Age group: Years 4–12; duration: approximately 4 hours. Tour fee: €3 per person; train tickets are not included in the prices.

Booking in advance: Latvian Railway History Museum, tel. +371 20032331, muzejs@ldz.lv.

Kauguru Park

Spanning 3.8 hectares, Kauguru 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 of charge.

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 fitness 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. School groups can also book educational art workshops.

The Elektrum Energy Centre in Jūrmala is an educational destination where children and pupils learn about the world of energy in a hands-on way – they learn how electricity is generated, how to use renewable energy sources, and how to use energy wisely and responsibly in their daily lives.

The content of the sessions is tailored to the pupils’ age:

• Pre-school and Years 1–3 – ‘Defeat the Energy Monsters’: games and creative activities on the smart use of electricity, water and heat;
• Year 4 – ‘Light and Sound’: practical experiments on the properties of light and sound;
• Years 5–6 – ‘Energy Detectives’: the journey of electricity from the energy source to the electrical appliance and the responsible use of energy;
• Years 7–9 – “Discover Renewable Energy”: experiments and data analysis on solar, wind and hydro energy;
• Years 10–12 – “Sustainable City”: pupils take on the roles of energy and urban planning experts and develop renewable energy solutions for the city.

The lessons are designed in line with the Skola2030 approach and develop research, analytical, collaborative and problem-solving skills.

The lessons are free of charge. Advance booking is required at least 5 working days in advance.

How to organise a one-day class 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 sea.
• For a history and literature excursion: Jūrmala City Museum + Rainis and Aspazija’s summer cottage + Aspazija’s house.
• For an art excursion: “Dubulti” Art Station + Aspazija’s House + “Inner Light”.
• Nature excursion: Ragakāpa Nature Park + Jūrmala Open-Air Museum.
• For a day in Ķemeri: Ķemeri Spa Park + Ķemeri Water Tower + Sloka Lake walking trail.
• For a low-cost excursion: an orienteering game + the Jūrmala City Museum + a walk through the city or along the seafront.
• For older pupils: “Stories of Jūrmala’s railway stations” + a walk along the seafront.

Excursion destinations in Jūrmala on the map

When planning a school trip, take a look at the map of Jūrmala’s attractions. This will help you choose nearby attractions and make it easier to plan a one-day itinerary.

View excursion destinations on the map →

Before the excursion, we recommend checking the current opening hours of your chosen attractions and finding out whether your group of pupils needs to book in advance.