Happy TravellerWelcome to Jūrmala, a stunning resort town located just 25 kilometers west of Riga, Latvia. With its 33 kilometers of white-sand beaches and picturesque wooden houses in the Art Nouveau style, Jūrmala is a must-visit destination for any traveler. In this article, we’ll explore the history, architecture, beaches, and tourist attractions that make Jūrmala such a unique and captivating place.
Jūrmala’s name comes from the Latvian words for ‘sea’ and ‘edge,’ reflecting its location between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River. The town was established in 1920 as Rīgas Jūrmala, or Seaside of Riga, and quickly became a popular destination for wealthy landowners and Russian army officers. The opening of the Riga-Tukums railway in 1877 brought even more visitors to Jūrmala, and the town’s reputation as a spa destination grew.
Today, Jūrmala is a state city with a population of over 49,000. Its architecture is a mix of classicism, national romanticism, and modern styles, with over 400 historical buildings under protection. The prevalence of wooden houses dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries is a distinguishing feature of Jūrmala’s architecture. The town’s official list of protected buildings includes works by Baltic German, Latvian, Russian, Finnish, and other architects.
Of course, Jūrmala’s main attraction is its 33-kilometer-long beach, covered in white quartz sand and suitable for children. The beach is equipped with playgrounds, small benches, football fields, and volleyball courts, as well as descents for prams and wheelchairs. Each region of the beach has its own character, with activities ranging from water bicycles and beach cafes to beach football and kite surfing. International water sports contests, including rowing, sailing, and waterskiing, take place on the river Lielupe.
Jūrmala also offers a variety of tourist attractions beyond its beaches. The Livu Akvaparks is one of the largest water amusement parks in Northern Europe, with more than 20 slides, 10 pools, and a spa complex. The Ķemeri National Park, west of Jūrmala, covers an area of 381.65 km2 and is mostly occupied by forests and mires. The Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk is a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a chance to explore the bog and its inhabitants. Jomas Street is one of the central and oldest streets of Jūrmala, populated with restaurants, bars, souvenir booths, fruit stalls, and a small shopping complex. The Dzintari Forest Park, located near the center of Jūrmala, offers walkways, playgrounds, a cafe, basketball courts, and a free-to-enter watchtower. The Jurmala Open Air Museum celebrates the city’s fishing heritage, while nearby Ragakāpa Nature Park is a natural dune formed out of wind activity.
Jūrmala has also hosted a variety of sports events and festivals. The 2017 European Beach Volleyball Championships were held on Majori beach, with a purpose-built stadium that seated 2,800 spectators. The 2012 Winter Swimming World Championships were hosted in Jūrmala, with a then-record 1,129 participants attending. FK Spartaks is a Latvian football club in Jūrmala that plays its home matches in the 2,500 capacity Slokas Stadium
