Tour from Vilnius - Riga via The Hill of Crosses, Rundale, Bauska
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Save time and money traveling from Vilnius to Riga!!
Guaranteed departure
Travel from Vilnius to Riga with ease and explore the world famous attractions under your own steam. This Baltic road trip will take you to the small, grey Jurgaiciai (Domantai) hillock, located in the North of Lithuania, which houses the thousands of crosses of every shape and size and has became the symbol of hope and persistence. The Rundale Palace, built in the eighteenth century as a summer residence of the Duke of Courland, will be another break of the Vilnius – Riga bus trip. This bright Baroque style building, surrounded by the extensive and splendid garden, is often referred to as the Versailles of Latvia and is a well worth visiting. Before reaching your destination you’ll make a stopover at the Bauska Castle complex, consisting of the ruins of an earlier castle and a newer palace.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Trip runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in season time
Children must be accompanied by an adult
A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
A guranteed departured tour
What To Expect
Hill Of Crosses (kryziU Kalnas)
The Hill of Crosses, located sixteen kilometers from Siauliai city, is an authentic monument of history and religious folk art. This small hill with a collection of over 200 000 crosses is the best repository of Lithuanian cross making art and the representation of unshakable faith and a symbol of resistance against occupation.
Rundale Palace Museum
The Rundale Palace, located just 15 kilometres from Lithuania – Latvia border, was built in the 18th century by Ernst Johann von Biron, as the summer residence of the Duke of Courland. The palace was designed by Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, an author of the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. In the course of time and political rush the Palace has changed many owners and purposes – it was used as a hospital, elementary school or even a grain storage facility. Nowadays, after extensive and successful renovation process, The Rundale Palace Museum and Garden attracts masses of tourists and is deservingly called a „Versailles of Latvia“.
Options
Trip from Vilnius to Riga
Inclusions:: Transfer service from Vilnius to Riga with stopovers in the Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle.
What‘s Included
Comfortable transportation service
Room for reasonable amount of luggage
Guided book or Live guide
Food and drinks
Entrance tickets
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
73 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Best way to move between two capitals
Jam M,May 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The best way to travel from Vilnius to Riga and do sightseeing in between. It ended up being ‘private’ tour as it was just my husband and I on that booked that day therefore grateful that it still went ahead. The ride was comfortable, our driver Alex was very nice and knowledgeable and delivered us safely to Riga. We did all the three stops and definitely worth paying in to go to Rundale Palace - it was stunning and there’s a nice little cafe on the way to get lunch. The Hills of Crosses is such a unique place, you can walk down and purchase a cross near the car park to add to the site. Would definitely recommend this tour over just taking a bus if you’re moving in between cities!
From Vilnius to Riga
Lindsay W,May 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Good way to travel from Vilnius to Riga and see some sights along the way. Alex did a good job. Ple tybof stops. Lunch available at Rundale Palace.
Unprofessional Operator
Campbell B,May 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00I booked this tour because it seemed like a great way to get from Vilnius to Riga while seeing a few places along the way. Instead, it turned into one of the worst travel experiences I’ve had. The pickup instructions were confusing from the start. My ticket said “Cathedral Square” as the pickup point. Then, buried in an email sent two days earlier, it clarified the pickup was actually at a bus stop opposite the bell tower. To make things even more confusing, there were multiple other buses and vans moving through the area at the same time, which made it even harder to work out which vehicle I was actually looking for. I arrived in the area at 7:57am with two large suitcases, but was trying to work out exactly where the bus stop was. At 8:05am I messaged the operator saying I was in the area but couldn’t see anyone. At 8:10am I called the driver via WhatsApp. From there, the driver/tour guide became immediately aggressive on the phone, repeatedly telling me I “was not at the location at 8am.” Fair enough — I wasn’t standing at the exact bus stop. But I was literally across the road in the square with two massive suitcases. If he had made even the slightest effort to look around, he would have seen me. What amazed me most was that they had my phone number the entire time, yet never once tried calling me. When I asked why, I was told: “Like trains, buses and airlines we are not responsible to call the travelers.” That response pretty much sums up the attitude of this company. I then asked about a refund. They refused to even discuss it. I actually tried to be reasonable and suggested a partial refund, acknowledging that I wasn’t standing at the exact spot mentioned in the email. Instead, the operator sent me a photo of an empty van asking where I was in the picture (time stamped 8:00am and 20 seconds). I explained I was nearby trying to locate the bus stop. He then sent a voice message saying the others on the tour were “smiling” at the whole situation — essentially implying I was making it up or being dishonest about where I had been standing. I travel a lot and have done tours all over the world. Mistakes and misunderstandings happen. But good operators try to help. This company did the opposite — defensive, rude, dismissive, and completely uninterested in finding a reasonable solution. A really disappointing way to end an otherwise fantastic time in Vilnius. I’d strongly recommend thinking twice before booking with this company.
Had a really nice...
rahul s,May 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Had a really nice experience with Alex. He was super friendly and informative. The trip did not feel rushed but still we managed to reach Riga on time.
Everything perfect! Alex great guide!
PAOLO B,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience! An excellent way to travel from Vilnius to Riga making stops with three magnificent visits: the mystical and touching Hill of Crosses, the wonderful and unmissable Rundule Palace with its breathtaking sumptuous interior, the beautiful and interesting Bauska Castle! Alex is a very kind and professional driver and guide. Everything perfect!
Best way to travel from Vilnius to Riga
Lily L,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a great way to transport from Vilnius to Riga with three highlights along the way. The drive is mostly flat along farm lands and woods. Our guide says knowledgeable and very familiar with the route, he would point out the croisés erected by farmers and small communities as we pass them and explain the significance. The Hill of Crosses alone is worth the trip. It’s unassuming from the outside but poignant once inside. The Rundale Palace is worth the visit too especially if you like palace grandeur. This is the mini Versailles. The least overwhelming was Bauska Castle and fortress. It needs renovation, but the history is rich so just have to read about it and be imaginative. The tour dropped us off right by Riga’s Town Hall square, very convenient to keep sightseeing or grab food and drinks in the Old Town.
Hill of Crosses alone worth the trip.
Rita S,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Comfortable van, pleasant company for the ride, & nice to see the countryside. I was mostly interested in visiting the Hill of Crosses, so the other two stops were too extra for me, although the other participants seemed to like them.
A very well-studied and touristically profitable city-to-city trip, very informative with an excellent value for money
Bernard L,Sep 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent idea of the travel platform to combine a trip between 2 capital cities with 3 "tourist" tours. Our charming driver (there were only 3 participants), perfect English speaker, wore the guide cap between the different stages. He answered all our questions including politically sensitive ones... It’s a long day, from 8 to 5 p.m., with more than an hour of downtime on each visit, we are comfortable! I find the price (€95) largely justified (small group, driver/guide, distance covered...) even if it does not include tickets to Rondale and Bauska. We slowed down at the crossing of the Lithuanian-Latvian border to photograph the place... By the way, the roads are impeccable in both countries, the departure is near Vilnius Cathedral and the arrival in the center of Riga. I recommend this 'trip', which is also proposed in the Riga-Vilnius direction.
Vilnius to Riga bus tour
Mobile383205,Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Nice small group of 6, well done, hill of crosses and palace were very good but castle not especially interesting. Guide was good
Recommended
Ales R,Sep 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Polite driver with perfect knowledge of places visited, drove safely from Vilnius to Riga precisely according to the schedule. Thanks.
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Operated by Discover Lithuania