turaida castle

This is easy to get to if you are willing to take the bus or the train. These leave regularly from Riga and are cheap and clean. The journey takes about an hour and ten minutes either way. We went on a dull, grey day when there was snow on the ground so I am sure that in the sunshine it is even better. Admission price was reasonable. The castle is in vast grounds but it was not really the sort of day for a long walk round sadly. We visited the castle and enjoyed the information and looking round. There are great views from the top of the main tower so worth the climb. We spent a couple of hours there and I am sure you could spend far more on a summers day. There are good clean toilet facilities and a gift shop. Café was not open but there was a great little café over the road by the bus stop and the prices there were really reasonable. Both castle and café worth a visit if you are in Riga.

Wonderful grounds and gardens, ypu will spend good few hours just walking around no problem. There are exhibitions on in the buildings all the time. If you are willing to climb the main tower you will be greatly rewarded with most spectacular views of Gauja valley.

Awesome place. wonderful landscape. easy to find the place. the river the tower is just amazing. the entrance fee is about 2.40 euros / adult. the place is highly recommended.

Turaida Castle is in Sigulda and is a very interesting walk back in time. The view from the tower over the Gauja Valley is beautiful. To get a full appreciation of the place one needs to spend at least 3 hours exploring the area. The souvenir shops offer many Latvian handcrafts and mementos. Parts of the complex are beautifully restored. This is a place to visit if holidaying in Latvia .

We made walking tour from cable car (krimulda) till turaida castle and back.there arw signs everywhere,so easy to get to.it's a €5 entrance for complex with several museums and you can also climb up tower top.whole walking trip from sigulda to castle and back would take you 3-4h and I'd suggest even beginners to do it-ypu can rent walking sticks in sigulda.

We took the bus to Sigulda and walked to Turaida, passing the new castle in Sigulda (not really worth a stop), across the river and up the other side to Krimulda. We would have taken the cable-car had it been open! A 3km walk along the road brought us to Turaida and the entrance to the park. Disabled access is free, with an accompanying person also free, which is good and not found everywhere. Just on the right near the entrance is the estate-manager's house, which is interesting although not much is in English. Further on is the memorial to Turaida Rose, killed near here by a soldier, and an attractive little church. The same distance again takes you to the castle. This has quite a lot to see, with castle rooms and explanatory exhibitions, and offers a steep climb up the tower with a good view from the top (I would have problems with this at busy times with people going up and down on a starway only wide enough for one). We walked back and found a bus directly to Riga at 1609 (there are not many of these, most going only to Sigulda and not very frequently at that).

Great place for an outdoor trip! Had a chance to try bow shooting, viewed some magnificent views from the top of the castle, learned more about history of Latvia, and had a nice walk around the woods! Great place to go with family of friends!

Visited as part of a small tour (just the two of us) while in Riga. The castle is part of a large complex which also has a series of 19th century farm buildings and the oldest wooden church in Latvia. As many reviewers have noted, the castle is a combination of rebuilt ruins and recreated areas. However, it does effectively depict how it must of looked. Those who criticise that need to do some research or pay attention during the tour. As for the cost...€5 is a fantastic price, much cheaper than much less appealing places in the UK, France, Germany etc. Can I suggest that some reviewers (mik) need to travel outside of Latvia which should help you appreciate what you have on your doorstep. Thoroughly enjoyed the day.

We were on a cruise through the Baltic Sea and had a stop at Riga, Latvia. From there we visited the town of Sigulda, which is simply beautiful. Small and old, but with lots of history.In there you can visit the Turaida Castle, which has a story or legend behind it. It is the story of a girl, who fell in love, but was killed because of jealousy. She is remembered as The Rose of Turaida.If you stop by Riga, be sure to book a tour to Sigulda and Turaida, you won't regret it.

If you go there by public transport, be prepare to walk about 6 kilometers from Sigulda bus / railway station. The local bus exists but I saw it only once in a whole day. Nice views from tower, nice place to learn about the local history, but nothing really special.

Pay 1.5 euro parking, pay 5 euro entrance and watch the worste crap castle you have seen in your life....

The castle is mostly rebuilt to a standing ruin so you get a good idea of how the castle used to be like. The castle grounds are beautiful and extensive. The climb to the tower for the panoramic view is well worth it.The museum is large, consisting of many buildings, but does a poor job at giving you an onverview or a narrative to follow. There are interesting sides to consider and details to think about, but it's hard to tie it all together. Some of the museum rooms don't have AC, which is a challenge in July heat. On the other hand, there is for the most part extensive English text - arguably too much of it, actually - and the museum rooms are very well designed and built.

Try not to on a very hot day as there is not a lot of shelter. It is very interesting though.If you have the energy, climb the 136 steps of the tower for a great view.

Probably the most important tourist site in Latvia. A very interesting experience exploring this great castle and its grounds.

The Castle is definitely over-hyped, over-rated, & over-priced! I felt that I had wasted my time & do not recommend as asite to visit.