Cēsis, Latvia

Cēsis

A medieval castle town in the forested Gauja valley.

  • All year
  • 1 night
Explore on the map
Nearby hidden places
RigaLatvia · CityRiga81 kmĶemeri Bog BoardwalkLatvia · Nature spotĶemeri Bog Boardwalk115 kmPärnuEstonia · Hidden townPärnu128 kmTartuEstonia · CityTartu147 kmTallinnEstonia · CityTallinn238 kmLahemaa National ParkEstonia · Nature spotLahemaa National Park253 kmKaunasLithuania · CityKaunas281 kmVilniusLithuania · CityVilnius292 km

Things to do

2 days in Cēsis

Day 1

  1. MorningVisit Cēsis Castle and climb its tower with a candle lantern.
  2. AfternoonWalk the old town and the castle park with its lake.
  3. EveningHave dinner on the main square.

Day 2

Hike the Ērgļu cliffs trail along the Gauja river.

What to eat

Cēsu beer, brewed in the town since 1590.

Local tips

Make the most of Cēsis

Beat the crowds

Calm all year. Summer events bring a few more visitors.

Best photo spot

The medieval castle ruins and the old town from the castle park with its pond.

Getting there

Trains from Riga take about 1.5 hours. The old town is small and walkable.

Don't miss nearby

Sigulda and the rest of the Gauja National Park.

Good to know

At the medieval castle you can climb the dark western tower with a candle lantern.

Secret spots

1 secret spot near Cēsis

Our most hidden places around Cēsis: fewer people, same wow. Unlock them with a route in Google Maps and a PDF guide of Cēsis to take with you.

31 km away
Unlock the secret spots · €2.99+ VAT · one payment, valid for a year

Plan your visit

Getting to Cēsis

Getting there

  • Riga Airport (RIX)90 km away
  • Riga80 km away
  • Tartu145 km away

Reachable by car or public transport; a car gives you more freedom to explore the area. Distances are in a straight line.

At a glance

Best timeAll year
TypeHidden town
Good forOld towns & architecture, Nature
Getting thereCar or public transport
Stay1 night
CountryLatvia

Questions

Cēsis: good to know

Is Cēsis worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you like historic old towns and nature. A medieval castle town in the forested Gauja valley.

How many days do you need in Cēsis?

Plan 1 night. Our free 2-day plan above shows how to spend your time.

When is the best time to visit Cēsis?

You can visit all year. Calm all year. Summer events bring a few more visitors.

How do you get to Cēsis?

The nearest airport is Riga Airport (RIX), about 90 km away. Trains from Riga take about 1.5 hours. The old town is small and walkable.

What is there to see near Cēsis?

Nearby hidden places include Riga (81 km), Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk (115 km) and Pärnu (128 km).

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