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Eight tours from Riga visit the Hill of Crosses, alone or with Rundāle, from €55 to €237.50 per adult for two travelers. The three private tours pick you up at your hotel. Trips run from 5h40 to 9 hours, bookable for a date between November 1 and December 30, 2026.
Checked on against the Viator partner API (prices, ratings, availability).
Planning a stay in Riga for late autumn? One question keeps coming up: can you see the Hill of Crosses and Rundāle Palace in a single day? The answer comes down to geography. The Hill is in Lithuania, and Rundāle is in Latvia. The two sites are not neighbors and do not make a simple trip without a car. A guided tour settles the question, as long as you choose the right one.
We looked at the tours sold from Riga on Viator, with their ratings, review counts, and dates still bookable between November 1 and December 30, 2026. Of the 54 products in the city rated at least 4.5 with 15 reviews, nine are really about the Hill or Rundāle, and eight remain bookable for the period. These eight are the ones we present. We did not pad the list with tours that visit neither site.
Three criteria guide the choice. Price first: €55 to €237.50 per adult for two travelers. Duration next: from 5h40 for a half-day that skips the palace, up to nine hours for the fullest day. Then the meeting point: private tours leave from your hotel, while group tours meet at the cathedral or at St. Peter’s Church in the Old Town. One product does not yet name its meeting point; we flag it on its card.
If you want the budget option right away, the group tour with the Hill and a Jelgava circuit is the cheapest on the list, at €55 per adult for two travelers, with 224 reviews behind it. The rest of the article details the eight options, then the geographic context, opening hours, tickets, and guide language.
Why the Hill of Crosses and Rundāle are not visited like two ordinary stops
The Hill of Crosses is a pilgrimage site in Lithuania (Wikipedia in English). The Viator page for card 1 presents it as an important pilgrimage site for Catholics.
Rundāle, for its part, is a palace in Latvia (Wikipedia in English). Four of the eight listings pair the palace with Bauska Castle, visited on the same day.
The two sites are in two different countries, and the sources we checked report no direct link between Riga and Rundāle. Without a car, a one-day tour almost always combines the two, and that is where the products differ. Some spend the whole day on the Hill. Others add the palace and Bauska Castle, for a longer day. These differences, more than the price, should guide your choice.
Public transport covers only part of the trip. Buses link Riga to Šiauliai, near the Hill; the last stretch then requires a taxi or a tour. Timetables for these buses were not checked for this article. The Šiauliai district tourist office describes the site and how to reach it (Šiauliai district tourist office).
November and December are cold months in Riga, with short days: in December, night falls by late afternoon. The travel guides we checked, such as World Travel Guide, describe this winter pattern without a reliable figure for 2026. Products aimed at sunrise therefore call for warm clothing and a very early start, while eight- to nine-hour days are better started early, whatever the season.
Finally, the Old Town of Riga hosts a Christmas market, according to the city’s page (riga.lv). The 2026 dates are not confirmed in the sources we checked: we present them as expected, not as settled. The market can serve as an end-of-day stop in town, after your tour.
The 8 tours compared: price, rating, cancellation, and availability
| Tour | Duration | Price per adult (base 2) | Rating (reviews) | Free cancellation | Available days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sunrise at the Hill of Crosses | 5h to 6h | €125 | 5.0 (20) | Yes | 55 of 60 |
| 2. Private day trip: Hill, Rundāle and Bauska | 8h | €237.50 | 4.95 (37) | Yes | 60 of 60 |
| 3. Private trip: the Hill and two countries | 5h to 6h | €125 | 4.94 (48) | Yes | 55 of 60 |
| 4. Hill of Crosses and Jelgava circuit | 7h30 | €55 | 4.93 (224) | Yes | 58 of 60 |
| 5. Hill, Rundāle Palace and Bauska, group tour | 9h | €110 | 4.93 (44) | Yes | 58 of 60 |
| 6. Two countries, with Rundāle and Bauska | 8h | €130 | 4.91 (263) | Yes | 55 of 60 |
| 7. Half-day small group to the Hill | 5h40 | €75 | 4.88 (142) | Yes | 56 of 60 |
| 8. Full-day group tour by minibus | 8h | €125 | 4.84 (100) | Yes | 40 of 60 |
Prices and availability checked on the Viator partner API on October 18, 2026 for November 1 to December 30, 2026; they may change. Price per adult for two travelers.
The 8 tours from Riga, ranked by rating
1. Sunrise at the Hill of Crosses
If you want to see the Hill at daybreak, this is the listing to check first. The vehicle picks you up at your hotel in Riga, and the start is very early, timed to sunrise. You travel with your own group only, since the listing is a private tour. The title promises two countries in one day but does not mention Rundāle: if the palace matters to you, cards 2, 5, or 6 suit you better. The 5.0 rating rests on only 20 reviews, a small sample. The tour does not run on November 10 and 11, or from December 24 to 26.
- Air-conditioned private vehicle
- Bottled water
- Free cancellation noted
2. Private day trip: Hill, Rundāle and Bauska
This is the only private listing whose title names the Hill, Rundāle Palace and Bauska Castle in one eight-hour day. Pickup is at your hotel, and the vehicle is reserved for your group alone. The total for two travelers reaches €475, the highest in the list: you pay for the schedule you set and for not sharing the vehicle or the visit. The inclusions we checked mention only the vehicle and private transport; according to the listing, admission fees remain your own expense, so confirm them before you go. It is also the only one of the eight open on all 60 days of the window.
- Pickup from your hotel
- Air-conditioned vehicle reserved for your group
- Free cancellation noted
3. Private trip: the Hill and two countries
The format is close to card 1: a private tour, pickup at your hotel, and a five- to six-hour trip for €125 per adult. The rating is close too, 4.94 across 48 reviews, and this larger sample gives a more reliable picture than card 1’s. The title does not mention sunrise, but the English product name evokes a sunset: check the departure time and the time of the visit before you book. The title does not name Rundāle either; if the palace appeals to you, pick card 2 or 6. The tour does not run on November 10 and 11, or from December 24 to 26.
- Air-conditioned vehicle with Wi-Fi on board
- Bottled water
- Free cancellation noted
4. Hill of Crosses and Jelgava circuit
This is the least expensive tour on the list, at €110 for two travelers, and it has the second-highest review count after card 6, with 224 reviews. Departure is from Riga Cathedral, and the trip is a round trip in an air-conditioned vehicle. The day combines the Hill with a circuit of Jelgava, including an exterior visit to Jelgava Palace; the listing promises a professional guide who speaks English. Watch the title: the circuit is Jelgava’s, not Rundāle’s. The tour does not run on December 24 and 25, so it is open 58 days out of 60.
- Professional guide who speaks English
- Round trip in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Exterior visit to Jelgava Palace
5. Hill, Rundāle Palace and Bauska, group tour
This listing brings the three sites together in a single day, in a group: the Hill, Rundāle Palace, and Bauska Castle. It is the longest on the list, at nine hours, and the meeting point is Riga Cathedral. The inclusions cover a guided visit inside Rundāle Palace with a certified guide, plus the admission tickets to Rundāle and Bauska. The listed guide speaks English, and the listing does not include a French-speaking guide. For the same sites as card 6, you pay €20 less per adult, in exchange for one more hour in the day (9 hours, against 8 for card 6). The tour does not run on December 24 and 25.
- Guided visit inside Rundāle Palace
- Rundāle and Bauska tickets included
- Professional guide who speaks English
6. Two countries, with Rundāle and Bauska
This is the listing with the most reviews in the list, 263, and it covers the three sites in eight hours. The inclusions cover the ticket to Rundāle Palace and its gardens, admission to the tower of Bauska Castle, and parking. The meeting point is St. Peter’s Church in the Old Town, which spares you the trip to the cathedral. The price is €130 per adult, €20 more than card 5 for a day that is one hour shorter. The tour does not run on November 10 and 11, or from December 24 to 26. If you want all three sites with admission included, this is the best-reviewed option.
- Rundāle Palace and gardens ticket included
- Bauska Castle tower entry included
- Parking included
7. Half-day small group to the Hill
This is the least expensive departure for a small-group format: €75 per adult, or €150 for two travelers. The title says « 5,5 hours »; we keep the duration returned by the API, 5h40. The meeting point is St. Peter’s Church in the Old Town, and the inclusions cover an air-conditioned vehicle and parking. This product does not visit Rundāle: it is an option for the Hill alone, shorter than a full day. Note that it does not run on November 28, or from December 24 to 26.
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Parking included
- Duration confirmed: 5h40
8. Full-day group tour by minibus
This product covers the three sites in its title, Rundāle, the Hill and Bauska Castle, in eight hours. It runs as a group, in an air-conditioned minibus or a business-class 4×4, with a driver-guide who speaks several languages and live commentary on board. The listing does not name French. Two points to settle before booking. First, the meeting point is not named in the Viator feed: it is to be confirmed at booking, so do not plan your morning in Riga without that information. Second, the product is open 40 days out of 60: it does not run on Sundays or Mondays, or on December 24 and 25. Check your date before you block your day.
- Air-conditioned minibus or business-class 4×4
- Bauska Castle visit included
- Meeting point to be confirmed at booking
Plan your trip
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See the rateCard 6 brings the three sites together in eight hours, with the Rundāle and Bauska entries included in the listing. It is the listing with the most reviews in the list, 263, at €130 per adult (base 2).
Book both countriesPractical tips on the ground
The border. The Hill is in Lithuania and Rundāle in Latvia. A valid identity document is needed to cross. The Latvian public service publishes border-crossing information (rs.gov.lv). Check the conditions before you leave, especially if you are not a citizen of the European Union: the rules can change, and this text does not guarantee them.
Palace winter hours. The official Rundāle website publishes separate hours for the winter season, from November to April (rundale.net). According to that page, checked on October 18, 2026, the palace opens around 10 a.m. and closes around 5 p.m. These hours must be confirmed before you book: ask the operator whether the palace will be open on the day of your tour.
Entry tickets. Admission is not always included. The inclusions detail for each listing states whether Rundāle and Bauska are covered. For a tour without admission included, budget separately and confirm the price on the attraction’s site. We give no amount, since no confirmed price for this season is available.
Guide language. The listed guides speak English, and no listing names a French-speaking guide. Cards 4 and 5 include a professional guide who speaks English. The card 8 listing mentions a driver-guide who speaks several languages, without naming them. If the language matters for your group, write to the operator before paying: the answer is not in the listing.
Light and cold. In November and December, the days are short. For dawn departures, bring a warm layer, gloves, and sturdy shoes with good grip, since stops are often outdoors. For eight- to nine-hour tours, a thermos and a snack save you from relying on the stops.
Getting there without a car. All eight listings include a vehicle, so you do not need to organize the trip to the Hill or to Rundāle yourself. If you want to arrange part of the trip, bus connections to Šiauliai exist, but the last part of the route to the Hill is by taxi or tour, and timetables are not checked here.
Choosing by the shape of your day. Three questions are usually enough. Do you want a five- to six-hour day or an eight- to nine-hour day? Do you prefer a vehicle to yourself, or a group at a lower price? Should your pickup be at your hotel or in the Old Town? The answers almost always point to one listing in the table.
Frequently asked questions
Which tour should two adults choose for a fixed schedule?
A private tour. Cards 1 and 3 cost €250 for two travelers, or €125 per adult, and leave from your hotel. Card 1 aims for sunrise in five to six hours; card 3 runs over a comparable route, and its English name evokes a sunset. If Rundāle Palace matters to you, card 2 adds the palace and Bauska Castle in eight hours, for €475 for two. Check the detailed itinerary before booking.
Can you see the Hill of Crosses and Rundāle without a car?
Not easily. The sources we checked report no direct connection between Riga and Rundāle. Buses link Riga to Šiauliai, near the Hill, but their timetables were not checked for this article. An organized tour is therefore the simplest way to see both sites in one day. All eight listings in this article include a vehicle, so the trip is already arranged.
Do the guides speak French?
None of the eight listings names a French-speaking guide. Cards 4 and 5 include a professional guide who speaks English, and the card 8 listing mentions a driver-guide who speaks several languages without naming them. Before booking, ask the operator whether a visit in French is possible.
Do you have to pay admission on top?
It depends on the listing. For card 5, the Rundāle and Bauska tickets are included; for card 6, the ticket to the palace and its gardens and the entry to the Bauska Castle tower are included too. For card 2, the listing we checked covers only the vehicle: admission remains your expense. We give no amount, since no confirmed price is available.
Which days is card 8 closed?
According to the dates checked on October 18, 2026, card 8 does not run on Sundays or Mondays, or on December 24 and 25. Out of the 60 days in the window, 40 are therefore bookable. Availability can change before your trip: check your date before you block your day. Its meeting point also remains to be confirmed at booking.
Do you need an identity document to enter Lithuania?
Yes, a valid identity document is needed to cross. Latvia and Lithuania are both in the Schengen area. Conditions can change, however: the Latvian public service publishes border-crossing information. Check it before you leave, especially if you are not a citizen of the European Union.
Sources
- Hill of Crosses, Wikipedia in English, accessed October 18, 2026
- Rundāle Palace, Wikipedia in English, accessed October 18, 2026
- Rundāle Palace, visiting hours (official site), accessed October 18, 2026
- Hill of Crosses, Šiauliai district tourist office, accessed October 18, 2026
- Latvian public service, border crossings, accessed October 18, 2026
- Old Town Christmas Market, City of Riga, accessed October 18, 2026
- World Travel Guide, Latvia, climate, accessed October 18, 2026
- Viator partner API: product search, rates and availability for November 1 to December 30, 2026, meeting points; checked October 18, 2026 around 1:42 p.m.
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