Vilnius to Riga Day Trip: Hill of Crosses & Castles Tour

Three countries' worth of history in one day: crosses, palaces and medieval stone

A full-day tour from Vilnius to Riga that starts with hotel pickup, takes you to Lithuania's Hill of Crosses, then crosses into Latvia to explore Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle before dropping you at a central Riga hotel. The tour includes entrance to Bauska Castle, a driver-guide speaking English, and about 2.5 hours to walk the palace grounds. Entrance to Rundale Palace is available as an add-on at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Vilnius to Riga with key stops

• Pick up from Vilnius hotel
• Transfer to Siauliai area
• Visit the Hill of Crosses
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Explore Rundale Palace
• Visit Bauska Castle
• Arrive and drop off at Riga hotel

The experience

The tour leaves your Vilnius hotel and heads toward Siauliai, where the Hill of Crosses rises from a hillside covered in thousands of wooden crosses left by pilgrims over centuries. After time there, you stop for lunch at a local restaurant before moving into Latvia. Rundale Palace, one of the grandest Baroque estates in the Baltics, gets about 2.5 hours: enough to walk the formal gardens and the state rooms without rushing. Bauska Castle, a medieval stronghold built where two rivers meet, comes next, with entrance included. The day ends with drop-off at your hotel in central Riga.

The route covers roughly 300 kilometers and takes 10 hours total, so this is a full commitment. You leave early and arrive in Riga in the evening. Your guide speaks English throughout and handles all the driving. You sit back and move between sites without arranging transport or worrying about directions. The itinerary is fixed, so everyone on the tour follows the same stops and timing. Rundale Palace entry is optional and priced separately, so you decide at checkout whether to add it. Bauska Castle entry is already included.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Vilnius and drop-off at a central Riga hotel.
• English-speaking driver-guide for the full day.
• entrance to Bauska Castle.
• transportation between all stops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transport

Operated by Discover Lithuania

Is this one for you?At 10 hours, this tour fills your entire day and leaves no room for other activities in either city, so book it when you're ready to commit the day to the journey itself. The fixed schedule and shared group mean you move at one pace with other travelers. If you prefer to linger at one site or skip another, a private tour would give you that flexibility.

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Top questions

What is the Hill of Crosses and why do people leave crosses there?

The Hill of Crosses is a pilgrimage site in Lithuania where visitors have placed wooden crosses for generations as an act of devotion. The crosses cover the hillside, and the site is one of the most visited places in Lithuania. The tour includes time to walk among them and understand their significance.

How much time do I get to explore Rundale Palace?

Rundale Palace gets about 2.5 hours, which is enough to walk the formal gardens and tour the state rooms at a comfortable pace without feeling rushed through the building.

Is lunch included in the price?

Lunch is not included, but the tour stops at a local restaurant where you can order and pay separately. This gives you time to eat before heading to Rundale Palace.

Do I need a passport for this tour?

Yes, a current valid passport is required on the day of travel because the tour crosses from Lithuania into Latvia.

What if I don't want to visit Rundale Palace?

Rundale Palace entry is optional and added at checkout. If you skip it, the tour still includes the Hill of Crosses and Bauska Castle, with the same hotel pickup and drop-off in Riga.

When does the tour start and end?

The tour starts with pickup from your centrally located Vilnius hotel in the morning and ends with drop-off at a centrally located Riga hotel in the evening. Exact times are confirmed when you book.