The Riga region is just a short hop from the capital but the forest has already swallowed the city noise. This area is the perfect hub for nature escapes near Riga that take you from misty bogs to secret coastal dunes. Start your morning at the **Ķemeri** National Park where a long wooden boardwalk leads you through a prehistoric landscape of mossy pools and stunted pines. Follow the coastline north to **Saulkrasti** to find the White Dune which rises high above the sea offering a view of the gulf through the trees. The roads here are lined with summer villas and quiet gardens that lead to pristine beaches where you can walk for miles without seeing another soul. It is a land of contrasts where you can visit a secret Soviet nuclear bunker in the morning and dine at a refined seaside cafe by the afternoon. Nearby the **Daugava** river widens as it approaches the sea creating a network of islands and floodplains perfect for birdwatching. You can explore the ruins of the **Daugavgrīva** fortress or watch the massive cargo ships navigate the port entrance. The Riga region is a playground for those who want the comfort of the city nearby while spending every day exploring the wild edges of the Baltic.

Riga (region) highlights

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Riga (region)

The Riga region started as a sandy camp for **Liv** fishermen who lived in huts made of reeds and wood along the river banks. They traded amber, which they called 'northern gold', with merchants who sailed in from the distant Roman Empire. This marshy land was so hard to cross that it served as a natural wall against the armies that tried to take the coast. As the city of Riga grew into a trade giant, the surrounding forests became a secret world of royal hunting grounds and summer estates. High bishops and rich merchants built stone manors along the water to escape the heat and noise of the city walls. You can find the ruins of these old buildings tucked away in the pine trees where the river meets the sea. In the 1900s, this area became a hub for secret bunkers and hidden missile sites tucked under the sand dunes of the coast. One secret bunker was built nine meters deep to keep the leaders safe during a nuclear war, and it still has its old phones and maps today. Now, these spots are part of the wild forest where you can hike through bogs that have not changed since the time of the first tribes.

Riga (region)

Riga (region) highlights

Part of these road trips

History of Riga (region)

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