Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

National park · Latvia

Ķemeri National ParkĶemeru nacionālais parks

Entry is free: go for the 11.2 km Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk loop from Ķemeri station (3–4 h, easy), start before 8:00 in summer for the tower at sunrise, and skip the off-boardwalk swamp trail unless you have boots and a companion.

Not field-verifiedRamsar wetlandSome areas permit-onlyChecked Sep 2026
Map to the park
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Directions
From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Area

382 km²

approximate

Established

1997

Best months

May–Jun, Sep

UNESCO

None

Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Treat the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian borders with R…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Baltic states ↗Treat the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian borders with Russia and Belarus as closed to your plans: crossings are restricted, change within hours, and sit under advisories on the far side.
  • Baltic states ↗Book open-jaw flights (into Tallinn or Vilnius, out of the other) so the line runs one way; Riga is the biggest airport if you need a single hub.
  • Baltic states ↗Midsummer (23–24 June) is the biggest holiday in all three countries: cities empty, many businesses close and island and coast transport sells out.
  • Latvia ↗Latvia is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Latvian sources for your passport.
  • Latvia ↗Borders with Russia and Belarus are not routes for casual travel; check your government's advice before going near them.
  • Latvia ↗Validate public transport tickets when you board in Riga; inspectors fine unvalidated riders.

At a glance

Country
Latvia
Area
382 km²
Third largest national park in Latvia by area; forests 57%, bogs 24%, water 10%, meadows 6% (check).
Established
1997
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
Permits
For some areas
Base
Riga

Ķemeri National Park protects a raised bog, sulphur springs and lagoon lakes 11 km west of Jūrmala, and the main walk is free: the 11.2 km boardwalk loop from Ķemeri station crosses the Great Ķemeri Bog in 3–4 hours on flat planks, with an open observation tower about halfway. Come by train from Riga in under an hour, start before 8:00 in summer if you want the tower at sunrise, and treat the 1 km trail past the tower as a separate, wetter decision — boots and a companion, not a casual extension. The park is a Ramsar wetland at Lake Kaņieris and a stop on the Baltic flyway, so the best months are May, June and September, with cranes in April and September–October.

Decide

Why go, which months, and what lives here when

At a glance

Status

  • Ramsar wetlandLake Kaņieris is a Ramsar wetland site.

Size and age

382 km² · national park since 1997

Third largest national park in Latvia by area; forests 57%, bogs 24%, water 10%, meadows 6% (check).

This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Riga.

Why go

  • A plank boardwalk crosses a raised bog for kilometres, with an open observation tower over the pools.
  • It is free, and a train from Riga stops at Ķemeri village at the edge of the bog.
  • Lake Kaņieris and the Green Dune add birdwatching and a Littorina Sea sand ridge to the same day.
  • Sulphur springs and therapeutic muds made this a spa district in the 19th century; the old Ķemeri town is still here.

When to go

12-month verdict
  1. JanCaution
  2. FebCaution
  3. MarGo
  4. AprGo
  5. MayBest
  6. JunBest
  7. JulGo
  8. AugGo
  9. SepBest
  10. OctGo
  11. NovCaution
  12. DecCaution
  • JanFrozen or snow-covered boardwalk; short daylight
  • FebIce under snow; spikes help
  • MarThaw; wet planks, few people
  • AprCranes and geese moving through
  • MayLong days, birdsong, dry-ish planks
  • JunLongest days; mosquitoes and horseflies
  • JulWarm; berry season starts; bring repellent
  • AugCranberries and blueberries; warm
  • SepCrane migration; clear light
  • OctColour on the bog pines; rain
  • NovGrey, wet, early dusk
  • DecShort days; ice risk on planks

Wildlife and nature calendar

Seasons shift by weeks each year
Wildlife and nature calendar for Ķemeri National Park
WhatJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Common crane (migration flocks)Apr, Sep–Oct · The bog is a stop on the Baltic flyway.nononoyesnonononoyesyesnono
Wood sandpiper and European golden ploverApr–Jun · The raised bog is their breeding habitat.nononoyesyesyesnononononono
Orchids and bog mossesJun–Jul · Stay on the boardwalk; picking is not allowed.nononononoyesyesnonononono
Cranberries, blueberries and cloudberriesJul–Sep · Picking for personal use is traditional; check local rules.nonononononoyesyesyesnonono
Mosquitoes and horsefliesJun–Aug · Worst on still, warm evenings near the pools.nononononoyesyesyesnononono

Arrive & move

Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are

How to get there

From Riga

Suburban train towards Tukums to Ķemeri station, then walk to the boardwalk start.

50–70 min

Open the page →

From Jūrmala

Train from Majori or Dzintari to Ķemeri, or 11 km by car on the A10.

20–30 min

Open the page →

From Riga by car

A10 west, exit for Ķemeri; park at the bog trail car park or at the station.

40–50 min

Open the page →

From Riga region plan

Where the park fits with Jūrmala and Sigulda days.

Open the page →

Zones and sectors

Zones of Ķemeri National Park
ZoneWhat is thereAccess
Great Ķemeri Bog (Lielais Ķemeru tīrelis)The raised bog and its boardwalk loop, with the observation tower in the middle.Open; boardwalk is free and walkable year-round.
Lake Kaņieris and Kanieris Hill FortA Ramsar lagoon with birdwatching and a hill fort on the Kanieris trail.Open; trails on foot.
Ķemeri town and spa districtThe old resort with sulphur springs, mud treatments and the Forest House visitor centre.Open; visitor centre open 1 May – 30 Sep.
Green Dune and coastal edgeA several-kilometre sand ridge left by the Littorina Sea, towards the Gulf of Riga.Open; forest roads and footpaths.

Sketch map

Approximate — not for navigation
Sketch map of 6 approximate points in Ķemeri National Park, north up123456
Approximate positions for orientation: the station, the bog trail and tower, and the Lake Kaņieris area.
  1. 1Ķemeri village railway station · Ranger station≈56.939, 23.487Map ↗
  2. 2Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk start · Trail≈56.905, 23.454Map ↗
  3. 3Observation tower · Viewpoint≈56.903, 23.455Map ↗
  4. 4Lake Kaņieris · Beach≈57.007, 23.464Map ↗
  5. 5Kanieris Hill Fort · Summit≈57.010, 23.470Approximate.Map ↗
  6. 6Forest House visitor centre · Headquarters≈56.940, 23.490Approximate; about 2 km from Ķemeri town.Map ↗

See & do

Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking

Top experiences

TrailsEasy3–4 hGreat Ķemeri Bog boardwalk loop11.2 km, starting and finishing at Ķemeri station; flat planks, one tower, no shelter.
ViewpointsEasy1–2 hObservation tower at sunriseOpen tower without a roof, about halfway round; photographers arrive before dawn.
TrailsModerate30 minBog trail beyond the towerAbout 1 km further into the swamp from the tower; waterproof boots and a companion, no boardwalk.
WildlifeEasyHalf dayLake Kaņieris birdwatchingReedbeds and open water; the Kanieris Hill Fort trail passes the lake.
CultureEasy1–2 hĶemeri spa and sulphur springsMineral water and mud have been used here since the 19th century; the Forest House visitor centre has English information.

Practical

Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong

Entry fees and permits

EUR ranges · check
Fees for Ķemeri National Park
ItemRangePerNote
Park entry (all trails and the boardwalk)FreepersonNo entrance fee for the park or the Great Ķemeri Bog trail (check).
Parking at the bog trail car parkEUR 0–3car2026 estimate; some trailheads charge a small seasonal fee or are free (check).
Train Riga – Ķemeri, one wayEUR 2–3person2026 estimate; buy at the station or in the app.
Guided bog walk (operator)EUR 20–45person2026 estimate; sunrise and crane-season walks cost more (check).

Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.

Park entry no permit

No ticket or permit; walk in from the trailheads.

Off-boardwalk bog trail no permit

No permit, but go with a companion and waterproof boots; the marked route leaves the boardwalk at the observation tower.

Drone flight permit or guide

Permission from the park administration (Daba) is needed; the bog is a protected wetland and a bird area (check).

Park rules

Drones, guides, camping and more
Stay on the boardwalk
The bog surface is floating and can be dangerous; the marked route is the only safe line.
Drones
Not allowed without permission from the park administration; the bog is a protected wetland and bird area (check).check
Fires and camping
No fires in the bog; camping is not allowed on the boardwalk or at the tower.
Litter and berries
Carry out all rubbish; berry picking for personal use is allowed, commercial picking is not.
Dogs
Keep dogs on a lead; the bog is a breeding area for ground-nesting birds.

Where to stay

Near the park

Hotel Ķemeri

Historic hotel in Ķemeri town, with sauna and hot tub; a short walk from the station.

Near the park

Jūrmala

The widest choice of hotels and guesthouses, 20–30 min by train or car.

Near the park

Riga

Base in the capital and come out for the day; trains run through the evening.

Safety

Slippery planks after rain or frost medium

Wear shoes with grip; in winter, spikes help on icy boardwalk sections.

Leaving the boardwalk in the bog high

Do not walk into the swamp alone; the 1 km trail past the tower needs boots and a companion.

Weather change and no shelter medium

Carry a jacket and water; the loop has no buildings and little cover.

Road speed limits low

Limits drop from 70 km/h to 30 km/h quickly; watch for walkers and cyclists on the A10 and P128.

Accessibility

  • The boardwalk is flat but narrow in places; wheelchairs with wide tyres manage the first stretch (check).
  • The Forest House visitor centre is accessible to wheelchair users and has English information.
  • The tower has stairs and no lift; the view is the only reward at the top.

Visiting lightly

  • Keep to the planks: the bog grows a few centimetres a century and recovers slowly from footprints.
  • Take a train instead of driving; Ķemeri station is at the trailhead.
  • Do not buy bog moss, peat souvenirs or bottled 'bog water' products; the wetland is the attraction.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Ķemeri National Park?

Nothing. There is no entrance fee for the park or the Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk. You pay only for transport, parking where a seasonal charge applies, and any guided walk you book.

What are the best hikes in Ķemeri National Park?

The 11.2 km Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk loop from Ķemeri station (3–4 h, easy) is the main walk. From the observation tower a roughly 1 km trail continues deeper into the swamp (boots, companion). The Kanieris Hill Fort trail by Lake Kaņieris is the other short option.

When is the best time to visit Ķemeri National Park?

May, June and September: long daylight, active birds and manageable mosquitoes. April and October bring crane migration. Winter is quiet but the planks ice over and daylight is short.

How do I get to Ķemeri National Park without a car?

Take the suburban train from Riga towards Tukums and get off at Ķemeri; the boardwalk loop starts and finishes at the station. The ride is about 50–70 minutes.

Can I walk the bog trail in winter?

Yes, the boardwalk stays open, but planks are slippery and snow can hide ice. Wear grip or spikes, start early because it gets dark by mid-afternoon, and tell someone your route.

Is the observation tower good for sunrise?

It is the classic spot, and it has no roof, so it is not a place to sleep. Arrive before dawn, bring a head torch, and remember the walk back is on planks.

Related

Visit Riga region Latvia travel guide Riga Jūrmala

Deep dive

Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go

Sources