Jūrmala, Latvia’s seaside resort, begins about 20 km west of Riga and stretches along the Gulf of Riga for kilometres of sandy beach. The easiest way there is the train: about half an hour from Riga Central Station to Majori, the heart of the resort. Here is how the options compare, where to get off and what to see.
Riga to Jūrmala at a glance
| Option | Time to Majori | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (Vivi) | about 30 min | a couple of euros per person | from Riga Central Station |
| Your own car | about 30 min | fuel, plus the €5 daily entry fee (2026) | parking in summer can be hard |
| Taxi or Bolt | about 30 min | shown in the app or by the tariff | door to door |
| Private driver (AFA) | about 30 min | Jūrmala Day Trip from €180 per car | stops and timing of your choice |
By train
Trains to Jūrmala leave from Riga Central Station on the line towards Tukums, run by Vivi, the Latvian passenger train operator. The ride to Majori takes about half an hour. You can buy tickets in the Vivi app, at the station, or on board from the conductor, which costs a little more.
Where to get off
- Majori: Jomas iela, the pedestrian street, and the busiest stretch of beach. Choose this one for a first visit.
- Dzintari: Dzintari Concert Hall and a forest park by the sea with an observation tower.
- Ķemeri: at the far western end, the gateway to Ķemeri National Park.
By car: the Jūrmala entry fee
Cars entering Jūrmala pay an entry fee: €5 a day in 2026, with longer passes for 7 days (€20) and 30 days (€60). Buy it at visitjurmala.lv, in the Mobilly, Citadele or EuroPark apps, at the permit machines in town or at the tourist information centre, by 23:59 on the day you enter. Electric cars are exempt. Since 1 January 2026 the permit machines no longer take cash.
Taxi and Bolt
A taxi or Bolt from central Riga takes about half an hour, and with Bolt the app shows the price before you book. From Riga Airport, Jūrmala is closer still: about 20 km, roughly 20 minutes.
With a private driver
AFA Transfer’s Jūrmala Day Trip gives you your own car and driver for four and a half hours, from your address in Riga and back, and you can add a guide. Prices start from €180 for a car with up to three passengers, for the whole vehicle rather than per person. A transfer from Riga Airport straight to a Jūrmala hotel costs €40 by car.
What to see in Jūrmala
- Jomas iela in Majori, the pedestrian street of cafés and shops a short walk from the beach.
- The beach itself: a wide strip of fine sand along the Gulf of Riga, with access paths every few hundred metres.
- The wooden villas built for summer visitors in the 19th and early 20th centuries, many of them carefully restored.
- Dzintari Concert Hall, the summer stage by the sea.
- Ķemeri National Park at the western end, with its boardwalk across the Great Ķemeri Bog.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Riga to Jūrmala?
About 30 minutes from Riga Central Station to Majori.
Which station should I get off at?
Majori, for Jomas iela and the main beach.
Do I have to pay to drive into Jūrmala?
Yes. Cars pay an entry fee of €5 a day (2026), bought online, in an app or at the permit machines. Electric cars are exempt.
Can I go from Riga Airport straight to Jūrmala?
Yes. It is about 20 km, roughly 20 minutes by car. With AFA Transfer the fixed price is €40 by car.
Times, fees and prices checked in October 2026 against the information published by Visit Jūrmala and the transport operators. They change, so check before you travel.