Family of Sites 
Jurmala is a resort town on the Baltic Sea coast with a long history. It’s known for its traditional architecture, cultural institutions, and, of course, its surprisingly warm beaches. SRAS students in Riga regularly travel to Jurmala, allowing them to see both life outside the capital, but also to see how many Latvians relax on weekends and holidays with short trips within their own country.
Our trip to Jurmala began with all the SRAS students gathered at the school. Shortly, Natalia (the Liden & Denz director) arrived and made our way to the train station. After arriving, we hurriedly bought some snacks for the trip, and practically sprinted up to the platform. With only about a minute to spare we got onto the train, an old Soviet model filled to the brim with passengers. All of us were fortunate enough to find seats, however, and we set off.
The train ride, spanning 30 minutes, granted us glimpses of Latvia’s picturesque views through the window. Riga’s urban center transitioned to suburbs, and from there to farmhouses, fields, and small villages. After watching the countryside quietly roll by, we caught glimpses of the Baltic sea off through the trees, the water looking cool and inviting. Eventually, we arrived at the train station on the eastern end of Jurmala.
Heading towards the beach, we walked through a neighborhood of luxurious dachas. These decadent vacation homes spanned centuries, speaking to the town’s history as a popular destination for relaxation.
When we came to the beach, we were greeted by a long expanse of sandy shores between the waves and the trees. In the distance, we could see the skyline of Riga. We changed into our swim gear and headed into the water. The sea was surprisingly warm and shallow, requiring us to wade about a hundred yards to reach shoulder depth. After enjoying the water, we headed back to the beach and had a great game of volleyball using a ball that our guide had brought with her. We severely embarrassed ourselves with our lack of skill, but it was fun anyway. After this I took one last swim, before we all packed up and headed into town.
We briefly stopped at the gorgeous Orthodox church near the center of town, before heading down the main thoroughfare directly across from it. On the way we saw many dachas and hotels, and stopped to check out several shops before settling down at a small restaurant to
order some drinks. Some of the hotels and dachas we saw were very modern, which almost comedically clashed with their small size.
Others were much older and made of wood, with ornate carvings on the exterior. All of them were of small stature, a common theme for the town. Following our short trip into the town itself, we headed to the train station at the west end of town, taking in a picturesque view across the Lielupe river and the adjacent fields that stretched to the distant treeline.
Our train arrived, and we quietly rode back to Riga, watching the same views roll by in reverse. All in all it was an enjoyable experience, and my first glimpse into the Latvian countryside away from Riga. I highly recommend other SRAS students go on this excursion.
– Review by SRAS Student Matthew LaBounty
You Might Also Like
Travel Guide to Liepāja
Liepāja is Latvia’s third largest city and future European Capital of Culture in 2027. A mid-size port city on the western-most Baltic coast of Latvia, it is known by some as the “city where the wind is born” due to the constant ocean breeze blowing inland. The city has had many lives as a fishing […]
Winter Break in Riga: Reflections on Personal Growth
Over two weeks in early January, SRAS students experience Orthodox Christmas, practice their Russian in an environment that immerses them in both Russian and Latvian history and culture. The Winter Break in Riga program offers a unique opportunity to explore the vibrant European capital of Riga while meaningfully engaging with locals and building intercultural skills. […]
Riga’s Best Bars and Pubs
Latvian culture has a long history of brewing. Cider is considered the oldest brewed Latvian drink. These days, herbal balsams (bitters) from Latvia’s lush forests are perhaps even better known as the national tipple. Beer brewing also has a long history here, with craft beer becoming more popular each year. As Latvia enjoys a revival […]
Preparing for and Coping with Culture Shock
Some of our students report not feeling culture shock at all. Some are surprised by how much culture shock they experience. Often, those most affected are those who did not expect it. So how can you prepare to live in a new culture and get the most out of the experience? How do you prepare […]
International Airfare For Study Abroad
SRAS is not in the business of selling plane tickets, with the exception of group educational tours and domestic flights not available for purchase outside of our program host countries. We do, however, continuously monitor flight pricing and travel logistics routings for our study destinations and we travel a lot ourselves. As such, we are […]
