About Jurmala                             Information
Souvenirs                                      Transport

The largest resort-town JURMALA is situated some 20 km from Riga, on the coast of the Gulf of Riga.
Jurmala is famous for its natural curative features – mild climate, sea and salubrious air, medical mud and spa water. The resort has a unique 32 km long golden sandy beach, vast pine forests and a blue natural border – the Lielupe River.
Wooden summer cottages, built in the beginning of the last century, rich decorated with carvings successfully co-exist with the more recent buildings of spas.
The EU Blue Flag is awarded to the beaches, acknowledging high quality of the swimming waters, security, First Aid and good service. The whole 32 km long territory of Jurmala is covered by springs of different mineralization. These waters are used for inner treatments as well as baths and pools. Nowadays numerous Jurmala spa –hotels welcome their guests to undergo various combinations of spa-treatments and climatotherapy.

PRIEDAINE - the gate to Jūrmala. This calm place is located just 14 km from the Capital of Latvia - Rīgas. Indeed, the name of Priedaine is translated like “the pine-forest area”. One of the greatest Jūrmala nature attractions, the 15-17m high, 800m long and 100m wide Baltā kāpa (the White Dune) is located in Priedaine. In summer one can view it comfortably from aboard the Rīga – Majori – Rīga weekend ferry. This picturesque sand dune is an outcrop of the right bank of the Lielupe River and was formed in the middle of the 18th c.

Contacts
JURMALA TOURISM BUREAU -
52 Jomas Street (entrance from Smilsu Street), Jurmala, LV-2015
(+371) 29027775, 67764493
jurmalatour@apollo.lv (read more)

Excursions - for individuals, for groups and school pupil
Trips - theatre and concerts visiting with excursions
Services - scanning, copy, visas, insurance
Journeys - by bus, by airplane
Hotels - guest houses, apartments, camping

Jurmala Tourism Bureau offers:
– airplane tickets,
– bus tickets for international buses,
– ferry tickets,
– insurance.

We offer guide services - in English, Russian, Latvian and other languages.

With Latvian tour operators we offer travels around the world and a rest on the South resorts.

LIELUPE – where history greets nowadays. Being a fishermen's village once, Lielupe is an elegant summer cottages and dwelling houses area, where numerous architectural monuments of state significance can be viewed. Lielupe Railway Station was built in 1913 and has maintained its appearance and functions till nowadays. Stop for a while at the Lielupe Cemetery. The first burials date back to the 1880. Several Latvian celebrities are buried here (writers, publishers etc.). The National Tennis Centre “Lielupe” is visible in a short distance. Visiting the Jūrmala Open-Air Museum (1a Tīklu Street). See, touch and photograph the authentic buildings and equipment belonging once to the Jūrmala fishermen. Nearby, the Ragakāpa Nature Park is located. A comfortable trail leads through the centuries old pine forest. Admire the 18,2m high dune Raga kāpa and feel Yourself a part of the Nature!

BULDURI – a home for the largest Northern European aquapark.
Likewise other parts of Jūrmala, Bulduri has a centuries long history, but the newest history dates back to 1833 when land was sold for building summer cottages. In the beginning of the 20th century, Bulduri became a favourite recreation area for rich Rīga citizens, mostly Germans.
Opened in the end of 2003, the Aquapark “Līvu Akvaparks” has deservedly become one of the symbols of Jūrmala. It guarantees extreme feelings to the young and courageous as well as safe pools and entertainments to kids and elderly people.
 

DZINTARI – the cultural centre of Jūrmala
At first the name of this area was “Edinburga” regards the marriage of Maria, the Daughter of Russian Tsar Alexander II, and Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh (Scotland). The up-to-date name of “Dzintari” was given to this place only in 1922. Undoubtedly, the greatest summer attraction is the Dzintari Concert Hall (1 Turaidas Street, opened in 1936, enlargened in 1960). Famous orchestras, choirs and soloists perform here.
Do not miss the opportunity of visiting the Exhibition of Old Machinery (11 Turaidas Street) with numerous samples of old cars, motor-cycles, bicycles, radio-sets etc.

MAJORI – the heart of Jūrmala.
Majori is the very centre of Jūrmala – a place every tourist considers to be a must for visiting any time of the year. Majori has always attracted the attention of wealthy and popular people, so we find nice houses belonging once to Latvian press-magnates, writers, poets. Visit museums and exhibitions while in Majori!
Start with the Jūrmala City Museum (29 Tirgoņu Street) and see the regularly changing art exhibitions. Go to the Rainis and Aspazija Summer Cottage (5/7 J. Pliekšāna Street). It will give an insight into the lives and literary activities of

Latvian poets Rainis (1865-1929) and Aspazija (1865-1943). Take a picture and put some flowers at the Rainis and Aspazija monument (35 Jomas Street). Peace of mind can be obtained at the Art-Residence “Inner Light” – a theatre of Vitaly Yermolayev pictures, light and relaxing music. The place features also a studio of meditative drawing for everyone and exhibition shop of floristic design and light fittings.It is a real pleasure to stroll along the pedestrian Jomas Street ! It is a promenade where people meet, dine, watch and demonstrate fashionable gowns. Gourmands find here lovely cafes and various national cuisines (Armenian, Russian, Ukrainian, Indian/Thai/Chinese etc.).
The Blue Flag - an internationally known acknowledgement of clean swimming water and good beach infrastructure is awarded to the Majori beach for many years in turn.

DUBULTI – where the river flirts with the sea
Between Majori and Dubulti You find the two narrowest things in Jūrmala.The curve coquettishly separating the river from the sea is only 320m wide! The first inscriptions about Dubulti are dated with the 16th century, when the Dubulti Inn was mentioned.
Dubulti is the oldest bathing place in Jūrmala – the first summer residents arrived in 1810. In 1844 steamboat traffic connected Rīga and Dubulti. For many years Dubulti has been the administrative centre of Jūrmala. Numerous State and Municipal institutions are found here now. Worth visiting is the Aspazija House (20 Z. Meierovica Prospect), where the beloved Latvian poetess created and lived the last years of her life.

JAUNDUBULTI and PUMPURI – feel the silence!
The calmness of Pumpuri attracted rich Germans in the middle of the 19th century and construction works started here. Till the World War I there were the highest rent prices.

MELLUŽI and ASARI – taste the strawberries
Melluži were indicated on the maps as an inn and fishermen´s village in the 17th century. When a resort-house with 12 rooms, dining-room, billiards hall and dancing floor was built in 1827, the area was called “Karlsbad” after the name of Baron Carl Fircks, the Owner of the estate. Open-Air Stage, surrounded by the Melluži Park, was one of the first places where the locals organized theatre performances in Latvian. Popular dance music was often played by a brass band.
Melluži and Asari have always been known for gardening traditions. Strawberries and raspberries grown here are famous for excellent taste and smell.

VAIVARI – make friends with a horse.
Vaivari gained the significance of a district of Jūrmala after 1959 when Jūrmala town was founded. Though, the name of Vaivari appeared in 1938 when the Asari II railway station was renamed. The camping and open-air water attraction park “Nemo”, located on the very sea-coast, attracts young and active travellers promising accommodation and pleasant holidays for reasonable prices. Another special offer of Vaivari is horse-riding facilities in the neighbourhood of the National Rehabilitation Centre “Vaivari”. Reittherapy and riding lessons help kids and adults to regain physical balance and self confidence.

KAUGURI - the largest dwelling area
Look back at the Latvian Battles of Liberation (1918-1920) and visit the monument to Captain Pauls Zolts and his soldiers, erected in 1934 and renewed in 1989. Located in the dunes of Kaugurciems, it keeps the memory of those fallen during one of the bloodiest battles on May 18,1919. Being the largest dwelling area, Kauguri is getting ready for meeting tourists.
there are Saunas and Russian baths, new supermarkets, restaurants, cafes and vegetables markets. If You do not have the opportunity to cook, go to the ethnographically-styled cafe “Kūriņš”. The interior items remind of fishermen's life.

JAUNĶEMERI – the oasis of health
The nearness of the sea, vast pine forests, fresh air, mineral waters and curative muds in combination with modern methods of diagnostics and treatments explain why Jaunķemeri is so popular among people suffering from cardio-vascular illnesses, support-movement apparatus problems, central and peripheral nervous systems´ ailments, metabolism and gynaecological disorders. Two large and famous health centres are located in Jaunķemeri.

ĶEMERI – great future expectations
Ķemeri met its first inhabitants later than the other districts of Jūrmala. Located far from other villages and towns, surrounded by bogs, the place did not look attractive. The first documents mentioning the place date back to 1561 when the peasant Kaspars Ķemeris was given a piece of land here. But the legend about Ķemeri hydrogen sulphide water springs has a long history. One of them has been called “The Holy Spring”. Since the 19th century Ķemeri springs became popular in the medical circles. 1838 is considered to be the year of the health resort's establishment as the first state baths were opened in Ķemeri and the resort developed rapidly after that. In 1920-1930´s Ķemeri was one of the most up-to-date European balneological resorts.
Today many components of the Ķemeri resort are under reconstruction. Fill a bottle for takeaway at the curative sulphur water source “Ķirzaciņa” (“The Little Lizard”). Sprinkle Your face and feel the difference