There is a hidden magic all around Jurmala city. It hosts stories from the old times when people were starting to form traditions of swimming and bathing mixed with secrets of modern life at ease in a resort city. Nowadays everyone can find his own way of gaining back physical health and inner peace as well as having fun enjoying amusement parks, ecotourism, leisure tourism or simply relaxing by the beach. Two different resort types are connected in one city – the seaside resort (white sand beach) and the balneological resort (mineral waters, mud etc.)
A lot of different activities could be done in the area of your accommodation, but if you are staying for at least 2 days here will be some hints of what to do and where to go to fully enjoy your Jurmala resort experience!
Day 1
As you have arrived and settled down in your hotel, our first suggestion is to look around – you definitely are in one of 14 historical centers of Jurmala resort, surrounded with local wooden houses and nice, relaxed atmosphere.
Next thing to do could be asking for a map in the place where you stay and heading towards the city centre – Majori (you can get there by car, by public transport or by foot if you are close). The goal of this part could be taking a nice walk around the main sites of Jurmala and finding out the facts about the city. Right in front of the train station and bus stop Majori you will see the Tourist information centre, which is opened every day – for your convenience. Here you can find information about the tourist objects, public transport, river-ship, accommodations, entertainment and SPA facilities etc.
A lot of guests of the city have enjoyed starting their experience with the Jurmala City Museum which hosts interactive exhibition with historical digital movies and postcards about the resort history including old swimming suits and other things from the very beginnings till almost nowadays plus an exhibition about underwater world in the Baltic Sea – old parts of the ships, diving equipment and a lot more. From there take a walk down the main walking street - Jomas, then down Turaidas street and Jūras street which borders the dune and is famous for its architectural monuments. While walking stop by the beach to see old bath-houses like E.Rācenes bath-house, Sea Pavilion and Marienbāde, sculpture “The Turtle” and the magnificent view itself as well. The beach has a Blue Flag eco-label well developed infrastructure with active and passive zones, nudist beach, free football and volleyball areas, tot lots, beach cafes and a lot more.
After that make sure you get your own special souvenir of Jurmala. We suggest stopping at the art studio “Inner Light” to enjoy the paintings and a meditative painting lesson to make your own peace of art in the light painting technology. Another idea is to stop at the Majori culture house to paint your porcelain dish or in Bulduri culture house for a pottery or weaving lesson. If you are a nature lover stop in the fairy-tale house “Undine” to make your souvenir out of natural materials!
You can save your evening walk for Ķemeri national park – a place where piece and harmony of nature meets you. You can enjoy a walk along the nature paths or a bike ride round the centre of Ķemeri (bike rental is located in the train station Ķemeri). The national park’s administration is located in the “Forest house”, which organizes different events about exploring the nature, for example bird-watching events, “Night of the Bats” etc.
On the very end of your first day you should have a moment of peace and romance to enjoy the sunset. You can enjoy it sitting by the beach, still riding a bicycle or having a dinner or simply a drink in the best view places – restaurant “Orizzonte”, Baltic Beach Hotel restaurant “Caviar Club”, “Al Tohme”, “36. līnija” and “Kūriņš” by the beach as well as the “Seaside Bar” on the 11th floor of Hotel Jurmala SPA and restaurant “Baltā Kāpa” in the 10th floor hotel Lielupe for amazing view from the top.
Day 2
After lots of physical activities during the previous day round Jurmala city the next day could be enjoyed in our SPA and amusement facilities. But at first let’s take a break for a morning coffee or tea and nice meal in one of the very nice Jurmala cafes or restaurants!
After that you should go and have some fun in Latvia’s biggest water park “Līvu Akvaparks” – 40 different water amusements - slides, pools, Jacuzzi, water beds, saunas, pool bar, summer season section and more things to do for everyone. Being in the part of Jurmala called Lielupe you should visit Open-Air museum and nature park “Ragakāpa” – they offer an in-sight to the old fisherman lifestyle and traditions, and the park itself is located on the very edge of peninsula between Lielupe River and The Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea.
Special thing for the day could be a romantic ride with the river-ship “New Way” that departs from the centre of Jurmala – Majori – to take you on a scenery ride down River Lielupe during the day or take you to the capital of Latvia, Riga in the evening.
Finally in the “to-do-list” in Jurmala you should include at least one SPA treatment as you are in the SPA capital of The Baltics. There are hundreds of different things you can do – have an underwater massage, the pearl bath, enjoy the oxygen cocktail, have a chocolate mask, enjoy the massage for two and many more. Just stop by in any of the SPA hotels or centers – Baltic Beach Hotel, Hotel Jurmala SPA, Hotel Pegasa Pils, Amber Sea Spa, Alve, Amber SPA, Amorette Spa, Jantarnij Bereg, Belorusija and Jaunķemeri.
Don’t forget that we have lots of different events going on in different parts of Jurmala so check for the current events on arrival. We have given you the TOP 6 events for the summer season 2009!
TOP 6 Events in the summer
- Midsummer’s Days, 23 – 24 June – traditional events in different parts of Jurmala City
- 18th Annual Harley Owners Group Rally – Jūrmala, 25 – 28 June, Harley Davidson bike parade through the city and different events and concerts in Majori and Dzintari
- 22nd Anniversary of Jomas Street, 4 – 11 July, celebration on Jomas Street and in the beach of Majori and Dzintari
- Competition of the new singers “New Wave 2009”, 29 July – 2 August, in Dzintari Concert Hall and night concerts on the beach
- Music Festival “Summertime – Inessa Galante invites”, 8-14 August, in Dzintari Concert Hall
- Antique motor vehicle reunion „Retro Jūrmala 2009”, 29 August, parade through Jurmala City
Jurmala Tourist Information centre
Lienes iela 5, Majori (in front of Majori train station), Jurmala, LV 2008
Ph. +371 67147900, Fax. +371 67147900, www.jurmala.lv
Opening hours: Every working day 9-19; Saturday 10-17; Sunday 10-15.
Take pictures, enjoy sun, sand and lots of fun! Have your best vacation in Jurmala!
