Welcome to Cēsis!
Climb medieval castle towers, sip honey beer in hidden courtyards, and hike from old town to forest in under ten minutes — Cēsis is Latvia’s go-to for history with grit, cobblestone charm, and crisp Nordic air. Most visitors come to explore its 13th-century Livonian castle, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in the Baltics.
☑️ Cēsis Checklist
- Book your Flight: Fly into Riga International Airport (RIX), then take a scenic 2-hour train or bus ride to Cēsis
- Reserve your Hotel: Stay in the historic center to wake up to bell towers and castle views
- Join your Tour: Reserve a guided castle lantern tour or a Gauja National Park hike ahead of time
🏰 Day 1: CASTLE & OLD TOWN
- Cēsis Castle Grounds: Start with the medieval ruins — grab a candle lantern and wind up narrow staircases where knights once climbed
- Cēsis New Castle: Step into 18th-century halls filled with local art, aristocratic portraits, and creaky wooden floors
- Castle Park Walk: Cross iron bridges and duck under chestnut trees as swans glide by on the pond below
- St. John’s Church: Climb the bell tower for a full view of the tiled rooftops and forested hills beyond the walls
- Rozu Square Pause: Sit with a pastry from the local bakery and watch life pass between pastel facades and stone alleys
- Art Space in Exhibition House: Check what’s showing — from textile installations to photo essays, it’s modern Latvia inside historic bones
- Brewery Cellar Dinner: Descend into a brick-vaulted tavern for roasted pork, potato pancakes, and honey beer brewed just steps away
🌲 Day 2: FOREST & FORTS
- Gauja National Park Hike: Lace up early and take the trail straight from town into pine woods, sandstone cliffs, and silence
- Ērgļu Cliffs Viewpoint: Stand above the river as birds circle and the valley opens below — pack binoculars if you have them
- Līgatne Bunker Tour: Head underground into a Cold War-era Soviet shelter complete with canned rations and rotary phones
- Cīrulīši Nature Trails: Loop back on mossy boardwalks past clear springs, rocky ravines, and limestone outcrops that feel a world away from the cafés
- Lunch in a Forest Café: Stop at a countryside guesthouse café — order smoked fish or wild mushroom soup with dense black bread
- Jaunrauna Manor Stop: Walk around this half-forgotten estate and peek into the crumbling stables and tower for a hit of haunted elegance
- Bonfire Evening by the Gauja: Join a riverside group dinner with grilled meats, local cheese, and music that runs late into the woods
🎨 Day 3: CRAFTS & CULTURE
- Cēsis History & Art Museum: Start with medieval coins and end with Soviet-era toys — it’s Latvia in layers, housed inside the New Castle
- Workshop at Craftsmen’s House: Weave, carve, or paint — sign up for a short class with local artisans keeping folk skills alive
- Old Town Street Wandering: Duck into tiny shops selling linen, amber, and ceramics — all made within a few kilometers
- Lunch at a Courtyard Café: Sit outside with cold beet soup and a rhubarb soda in the shade of a crumbling brick wall
- Sculpture Garden Stroll: Explore the quiet garden behind the exhibition center, dotted with modern Latvian works in granite and steel
- Souvenir Shopping: Grab a handwoven belt, beeswax candles, birch syrup, or a bottle of Cēsis’s famous honey beer to bring home
- Open-Air Concert Farewell: Wrap your trip with music in the park or castle courtyard — folk, jazz, or classical under string lights, with local cider and berry tarts passed hand to hand
📅 Cēsis Calendar
- Winter Solstice Festivities (Dec 21): Bonfires, singing, and ancient rituals mark the longest night
- Cēsis Art Festival (July): Classical concerts, gallery shows, and performances spill into streets and castle grounds
- Latvian Independence Day (May 4): Flags fly and folk groups perform across the city
- Cēsis Castle Medieval Days (August): Sword fights, blacksmiths, and roasted meats take over the old fortress for a weekend
- Autumn Gauja Colors (Late Sept–Oct): The forest turns gold — best seen from hiking trails or hilltop viewpoints
- Līgo Festival (June 23–24): Latvia’s midsummer bash — expect wreaths, chanting, bonfires, and no sleep
- Open Studios Weekend (May): Local artists and craftspeople open their doors for tours, demos, and snacks
💡 Cēsis Tips
- Bring Cash: Some smaller shops and cafés are still cash-preferred, especially outside Old Town
- Pack Layers: Mornings can be chilly, and weather flips fast — even in summer
- Respect the Silence: In parks and forest trails, quiet is part of the culture — keep your voice low
- Book Trains in Advance: They’re comfy and scenic but fill fast on weekends and holidays
- Climb Everything: From castle towers to church spires, the views are always worth the stairs
- Taste the Local Beer: It’s brewed in town, and some bars offer samplers of traditional and seasonal brews
- Don’t Skip the Lantern Tour: Seeing the castle ruins by candlelight at night hits differently — reserve it early
🍲 Cēsis Menu
- Grey Peas with Bacon: Earthy, salty, and best with sour cream — a Latvian classic that fills you up fast
- Wild Mushroom Soup: Creamy, woodsy, and served with dense rye — often made with mushrooms foraged that morning
- Pīrāgi: Little crescent rolls stuffed with smoky bacon and onion, perfect with beer or on a forest hike
- Cold Beet Soup (Aukstā Zupa): Bright pink, cold, and full of crunch — summer in a bowl, especially with a hard-boiled egg on top
- Smoked Fish Platter: Served cold with pickles and dill — expect trout, eel, or whatever the Gauja’s given up lately
- Rye Bread Dessert: Crumbled dark bread layered with berries and whipped cream — like trifle with a Baltic backbone
- Honey Beer (Medalus): Slightly sweet, golden, and brewed locally — it shows up everywhere for a reason