This winter has arrived white and cold – but that does not mean hibernation. Quite the opposite: it is the perfect season for Jūrmala. A time when the city breathes more slowly, the landscape reveals itself in clear, ascetic beauty, and the cultural scene invites reflection. Winter in Jūrmala is not an off-season – it is a different quality: space, silence, movement and thought.

Outdoor Activities

Cross-country skiing and ice skating

When snow conditions allow, cross-country skiing once again becomes an integral part of winter life. In Jūrmala, it can be enjoyed both in the forest and along the seashore.

In Dzintari Forest Park, a 950-metre illuminated track for classic skiing is open daily from 9:00 to 22:00, offering a calm setting for morning and evening exercise as well as leisurely walks.
Along the beach, a 22-kilometre trail stretches from the 36th line to Jaunķemeri, with a separate lane for pedestrians to preserve both safety and trail quality.
The winter activity map is complemented by a public ice rink in Kauguri, located in the courtyard between Engures Street 5 and Nometņu Street 18. Open free of charge for those with their own skates, it has become a lively local meeting point.

Winter Walks in the Dunes and Pine Forests

In winter, Jūrmala’s landscape becomes strikingly clear: the open shoreline, dunes and evergreen pine forests form a setting for slow, contemplative walks. Steps become more deliberate, views more expansive, and the city gently recedes into the background.

Pine forests accompany walkers along the 24-kilometre coastal dune belt, as well as in parks and woodland areas. A well-maintained seaside environment can be found in Dzintari Forest Park. At the same time, an untouched, authentic experience awaits in Ragakāpa Nature Park in Buļļuciems, home to pines over 200 and even 300 years old, their trunks bearing witness to centuries of adaptation to sea winds and sandy soils.
A wider overview is available in the sections “Nature Parks and Sites” and “Nature Trails”.

A special winter experience is a sunrise snowshoe hike in the Great Kemeri Bog, organised by Advaita Adventures and held once a month – on January 7, February 14, and March 14. These quiet morning walks, with a limited number of participants, allow the bog landscape to be experienced in the first light of day.

For evening walks, until the end of the winter season, the Educational Light Trail on the Ķemeri Boardwalk offers a unique atmosphere: a nocturnal wetland forest animated by light installations, sound and art objects that tell the story of natural life cycles. The trail starts at the “Forest House”, is about 500 metres long, takes approximately 20 minutes to walk, and is open daily until 31 January from 16:00 to 24:00. Up-to-date information is available on the event’s Facebook page.

Urban Walking Routes

Winter is an excellent time to explore Jūrmala through its neighbourhoods and architectural layers. The city’s walking routes reveal its historical development, urban structure and local identities. Discover them in the section “City Routes”.

The Wooden Architecture Guide offers insight into the resort’s historic villas and houses that have shaped Jūrmala’s visual character for more than a century. In winter, details become more visible, the rhythm slower, and the city reads like a multilayered cultural text. The guide is available in the section “Wooden Architecture Guide”.

The Ķemeri Resort Park can also be explored with an audio guide, providing a concentrated narrative about the park’s history since 1839, spa culture, architecture and notable personalities. The route includes key sites such as the Love Island rotunda, the historic Ķemeri Hotel and its gardens, the sulphur spring “Ķirzaciņa”, the Orthodox Church of Sts Peter and Paul, and the water tower with panoramic views. Listening options and route details are available in the section “Ķemeri Resort Park Audio Guide”.

Warm Stops Along the Way

After a walk on the beach, a ski session or an urban route, it is natural to seek warmth. In winter, Jūrmala’s culinary scene becomes an essential part of the experience – from small seasonal stops to restaurants and cafés offering hot meals and a relaxed atmosphere.

In Lielupe, near the 36th line, Food Truck “36. line” serves warming winter dishes to take away. In Majori, on Jomas Street, a traditional beer tavern, Alus krodziņš, with an outdoor fireplace, invites visitors to pause and unwind in the city centre. A broader overview of winter dining options and addresses can be found in the section “Eat and Drink”.

Indoor Activities

During winter, Jūrmala’s exhibition halls and museums offer a rich cultural programme – from spa history to contemporary art, from quiet reflection to expressive painting. It is a space where the city can be experienced through ideas, forms and personal stories, providing calm, inspiration and intellectual engagement. Current exhibitions and programmes are presented in the article “What’s On in Jūrmala’s Exhibition Halls?”.

Dzintari Concert Hall offers a multi-layered winter programme filled with emotional and intellectual depth: jazz and chamber music, choral mini-opera, tango nuevo, blues and masterpieces of classical piano music. The full programme is available on the concert hall’s website.

As an alternative to concerts and exhibitions, a winter evening can be spent at the StarCinema in the “Korso” shopping gallery, which offers high-quality sound, image and comfortable surroundings in the heart of the city.
For warmth and water-based relaxation, Līvu Aquaparks – the largest water park in the Baltics – provides a summer-like atmosphere even in winter, with pools and slides offering joyful moments for families and individual visitors alike.

Winter in Jūrmala is a time to experience the city at a slower pace – in movement along the seashore, on walks through parks, in cultural spaces and in warm places of rest.