Half-Day Private Trip to Rundale Palace and Garden
Description
History comes alive with this Half-day visit of famous palace in Latvia. Please note that licensed guide service is not included in this tour. Our English speaking driver will give basic info, answer your questions, lead to the ticket offices. If licensed guide is requested it can be arranged at the sights that we will be visiting, please inform us in advance if such service is needed and we will book guided tour for you at additional cost. Please check out our Full-Day tour if you want to have it more extensive and see additional sights, Full-Day tour will take about 8 hours total, so twice as long as Half-Day tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit of Rundale Palace museum and garden. In 1735 Duke of Courland Ernst Johann von Biron bought land in Rundāle with an old medieval castle in the territory of a planned summer residence. The old castle was demolished and construction after the design of Bartolomeo Rastrelli started in 1736. Under the supervision of Rastrelli its construction was finished in 1768. Johann Michael Graff produced lavish stucco decorations for the palace during this time. Ernst Johann von Biron loved the palace and moved there already in 1768. He often visited palace and spent summers there until his death in 1772. After the German occupation in World War I when the German army established a hospital and a commandant's office there. During the French invasion of Russia in 1812, the palace was used as a hospital for Napoleon's army. At the end of the 19th century, the palace and park were restored and reconstructed.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pickup from Hotel or address in Riga city.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Reviews(9)
Outstanding experience! Pick-up on time; nice and clean car Our driver was both excellent and friendly (Maris): very cool and professional too. Exceptional visit of the "Rundale Palace" and garden: no rush at all We learned a lot We were very satisfy: an excellent formula. Highly recommended!
Thank you very much for the review!
We did the Half-Day Private Trip to Rundāle Palace and Garden through Viator and had a wonderful experience. The tour guide was very friendly, professional, and accommodating, and arrived early for pickup at our hotel. The car was spacious, clean, and comfortable, which made the drive very pleasant. Rundāle Palace itself was the highlight—absolutely beautiful. We visited in December during the off-season, and it truly felt like we had the palace almost entirely to ourselves, which made the experience even more special and unhurried. On the return trip, we stopped at Bauska Castle, which was a great addition to the tour. I highly recommend climbing the tower there—the views are well worth it. I traveled with my wife, and this private tour was a perfect, relaxed way to see these historic sites. Highly recommended.
Thank you very much for your review.
Beautiful palace and garden to explore and create memories. Trip was a relaxing drive into the Latvian country side. Driver was on time and very friendly. Would definitely go on other trip next time I'm in Latvia.
Thank you very much, it was a pleasure!
Normunds was our driver, he was also our window into Latvia. As we drove from Riga to the castle and palace he was wealth of knowledge about his country. We learned about life before freedom and after the removal of soviet rule. On the drive we requested traditional Latvian lunch. Normunds did not disappoint, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch with him at an outside dining area near the Rundale Palace. The food and drink were very good as was our dinner conversation.
Dear Lewis, Thank you very much for the review and your visit to Latvia! It was a pleasure.
Our driver for the day was very friendly and provided us with great local knowledge. He was on time, a great driver and the car was very clean. Highly recommend.
Our driver, Carlos, was efficient, friendly and flexible. He answered our questions fully and we understand Riga and Latvia better as a result. Bauska Castle was under renovation but Rundale Palace was spectacular.
Excellent Service, beautiful excursion despite the rainy day, the driver Mr. Martinas, punctual in everything, during the trip told the story of the places, always accompanying us to the entrance of the places and patiently waited for the end of our excursions, really good. The Rundale Palace is fully worth the visit gardens included, fabulous. Bauska Castle also has its charm, one consideration we found it a bit "bare and flat", also one part (the tower) was closed for renovation, shame. We definitely recommend this type of excursion. Thanks again to Mr. Martinas
Driven to Rundale and dropped at the ticket office. This is not a tour. Vehicle is comfortable enough, but driver barely said a word. Rundale is an interesting place.
Dear Chris, Tour description states that it is service with English speaking driver and not Guide service. Guide services in Rundale palace can be arranged at additional cost and we can help prebook it. We are very sorry that you expected more then transportation services. You where serviced by one of our new drivers and he should be more involved in conversation on the way to palace. We are sorry that we did not met your expectations. Kind regards, Baltic Transfers Team
I made plans with Karlis in December for a day trip to Rundale Palace in August. Karlis responded to inquiries promptly and was able to meet all our needs. We had a driver who was safe and on-time. We did a self-guided tour through the palace and through Meznote Palace also. Because we weren't interested in Bauska, we also made a stop at a charming tea house at Elesa (spelling?) that had recently been refurbished. We also used this service for a very early morning airport transfer, and again on-time and safe. We very much appreciated both!
