JURMALA BEACH: Top 3 family friendly activities on this day trip from Riga
- Jun 9, 2025
- 12 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Jurmala is an ideal getaway for families with autistic children who are staying in Riga.
We spent five nights in Riga with our autistic children during May half term break and we really loved our visit.
Arriving in Jurmala: Sensory Friendly Highlights
The resort town of Jurmala is just a 30-minute train ride from Riga. You can find full details on train times, tickets, and boat options at the bottom of this post.
We loved our first visit so much we went back again three days later! Our two relaxed days on the beach and nearby Dzintari forest were definitely the highlight of our 5 night trip to Latvia's capital city Riga.
Like Jurmala, we also found Riga to be incredibly accommodating for our neurodivergent kids — be sure to check out our complete destination breakdown 7 Reasons Riga Offers the Perfect Autism-Friendly Break to help plan an amazing Riga city stay!
Easy, Traffic-Free Walking Routes
The main train station for Jurmala is called Majori, from here the route to the seafront is well signposted. Leaving the station you cross over a car park, walk through a lovely little garden with a fountain that the boys enjoyed and can then turn right onto Jomas Street.
At this point you can either explore the town and its pedestrianised shopping street or head off to the beach. You can guess which option are boys chose!
Jurmala’s Beach: Spacious & Sensory-Friendly
Jurmala is great for sensory seeking autistic and adhd kids. Although it is a popular resort there is plenty of space for everyone, so you wont feel crowded or hemmed in on the beaches.
The resort offered us a fun-filled and relaxed day of:
picnicking
paddling
soft sand
beach play
Read on to discover more about the Jurmala activities we loved and why.
Quick links:
Our Favourite Autism-Friendly Activities in Jurmala
The main attraction for our kids in Jurmala was obviously the beach!
However it is also a great place for other excursions into nature, such as the Dzintari Forest Park.
If you are feeling particularly adventurous then consider exploring the nearby stunning National Kemeri Bog - a protected haven for fauna and bird life. GetYourGuide offers a fantastic guided sunset walking tour - their flexible tickets offer peace of mind for neurodivergent families.
Majori Beach
Jurmala is a coastal resort, famous for its sandy beaches. It's reputation is well deserved, we all loved Majori Beach, especially the boys whose faces lit up as soon as they saw the huge stretch of soft golden sand!
Sensory considerations are always uppermost in our mind, and there were a few things in particular that really made Majori beach stand out for our neurodivergent family.
Accessible and private beach access
Majori beach offers a boardwalk that runs along the top of the clean sandy beach with occasional boarded offshoots down towards the sea. This made navigating with our buggy a breeze, and the boarded walkways meant we could get the buggy down onto the hard sand pretty easily.
The beach also offered a number of changing pods (not toilets or showers) which provided privacy for changing into and out of swim wear. We used these with our boys and they were great for making the boys feel safe in a new environment.
Seating for sensory breaks
We were impressed to see lots of park benches scattered around down on the actual beachfront, rather than just up on the top esplanade like in the UK.
This is much more friendly for people who might find it difficult to get down to sit on the sand, or who become easily fatigued and need to take rest breaks .
The benches make it possible for older people and those with reduced mobility to be much more involved and spend time with their friends and family, which is a huge win for everyone.
Opportunities for Sensory Play
The big draw of Majori Beach for us was the truly excellent play equipment which was actually situated on the sand at the beach! The boys really enjoyed playing pirates and being able to actually see the sea, while my husband and I could relax and enjoy the view.
The sand was clean and soft, and our eldest loved making his sandcastles with it down near the water's edge. If your child likes building and constructing work as much as mine does, remember to bring your collapsible spade and bucket.
Travel Tip: Since we were flying light, packing standard plastic toys wasn't an option. If you are also short on luggage space, a set of travel collapsible silicone beach buckets is an absolute lifesaver to slide into your backpack for sensory play on the go.
A Famous Photo Stop: The Jurmala Turtle
Right by the beach entrance, we found the famous bronze statue of a turtle, which has been watching over the beach from his elevated position since 1995. Created by Latvian sculptor J.Bārda, it symbolises longevity and has become one of the most recognised symbols in Jūrmala.
It’s become a bit of a tradition for tourists to have their photo taken next to it—or even climbing on top of it! The boys absolutely loved seeing the turtle and posing for a photo with it. If your children are sensory seekers who love climbing or touching interesting textures, this smooth bronze sculpture is a fantastic, interactive little landmark to visit.
Safe and secure for autistic kids
We were surprised by just how safe we thought Majori Beach was. There wasn't much traffic on the roads surrounding it and there were safe pathways and crossings for walking.
The beach itself is quite shallow, so the boys could run out a reasonable distance and the water level was still only just above the knee. This was reassuring for us, and we felt confident that neither of them was at risk of strong tides or unseen underwater shelf drops.
Health Warning
This water along this stretch of coastline is sometimes NOT safe enough for swimming. Make sure you check the water quality online before swimming to check it is safe to do so. If swimming is not recommended red or black flags may also be flying by the lifeguard's hut.
Dzintari Forest Park and Beach
Majori beach is an easy walk from the Dzintari Forest Park, which is where we started our day on our second visit. We got off at Dzintari station, the stop before Majori and followed a clearly signposted walkway over the road and into the park.
The park spans a massive, protected area of natural pine forest, offering plenty of open space for kids to explore safely.
Quick Forest Park Facts for Families
Cost: It is entirely free to enter the park and climb the observation tower.
Opening Hours: The park is open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Facilities: There are excellent, clean public toilets and several cafes/ice cream stands on-site.
Play: The park features three separate playgrounds designed for different age categories, all nestled safely under the quiet pine trees.
A Shaded Sensory Respite
The Forest Park offered a lovely respite from the heat, and we loved strolling along its wide flat paths beneath its wooded canopy. After spending some time exploring the forest, summitting its observation tower and enjoying a woodland picnic we walked over to Jomas St for the town's annual festival (see below for more about this event).
Walking from Dzintari to Majori
From Dzintari it is an easy walk along the beach to Majori station at the opposite end of Jurmala. We all really loved visiting the Dzintari Forest Park.
You can learn more about the Forest Park and its full range of activities in our dedicated blog post Day trip to the Dzintari Forest Park. As well as detailing the park's facilities it also highlights the boys favourite sensory activities.
Jomas Street
Pedestrianised Jomas Street is about 1km long and is peppered with cafes and little shops. Because the entire street is completely closed to traffic, it is a incredibly safe environment for families with autistic children who might wander or bolt.
We were able to buy some nice food to take to the beach with us from a local cafe. If we had wanted to sit in, there were plenty of other options for eat-in or alfresco dining and the food and menus all looked good. There are also local bakeries and small convenience stores along the route, making it easy to pick up familiar snacks for children with specific dietary preferences.
Jomas Street was a lovely space to walk along, and the sidewalk cafes complete with parasols added a real holiday vibe. It was clear that people were enjoying themselves and the atmosphere was very laid back and relaxed.
We were pleasantly surprised by how peaceful and uncrowded it was in late May. If you visit during peak summer months, heading here in the earlier morning or late afternoon is a great way to enjoy the shops while avoiding the busiest crowds and increased stimulation.
Bonus Travel Tip: The Annual Jomas Street Festival
Once a year (towards the end of May) Jurmala hosts an annual Jomas Street Festival.
Lucky for us it was taking place on the day our second return day trip! It was such a brilliant family day out with loads of stalls and music.
Festival food treats
For Festival day there were lots of stalls selling the most delicious array of traditional Latvian cakes, pastries, sandwiches, and cakes.
As well as the local food for sale there were quite a few stalls offering free food for festival goers, unsurprisingly the queues for these were quite long so we gave them a miss. We were happy to choose from the treats on sale which were delicious and reasonably priced.
Festival Stalls
There were a range of interesting information stalls about Latvia, some with competitions like Spin to Win which my eldest enjoyed (and won a prize!).
The festivities also extended into the Dzintari Forest Park. In the Dzintari Forest park there were varying sports competitions to watch and the boys enjoyed a bouncy castle and some fun games. The forest park is absolutely worth a visit - read more about it in my dedicated Dzintari Forest Park blog post here.
Live Entertainment and the Big Parade
There were little pockets of entertainment spread around the town, but the main event was a huge stage that had been erected on the beach and was showcasing a programme of traditional, DJ and pop acts throughout the day.
There was a great vibe down on the beach, and we wandered along the sea front, the boys happily splashing in and out of the waves. We were there in time to see the huge parade leave from the main stage to wend itself on a mile route around Jurmala.
It was obviously a big community event, with lots of local groups, children and people in traditional costumes as well as some fun dressed up characters like the grinch (which my boys adored!). We had such a brilliant time cheering with the locals as we all watched the parade go past.
Planning Note: The town also offers a pretty busy cultural programme of events throughout the year - make sure to check the main tourist information site for more information on specific months.
Important Sensory Note for Autistic Families
Increased festival crowds:
The festival atmosphere and crowds meant Jurmala was much busier than normal. However, while there were plenty of people enjoying the fun, the festivities were spread all over the town so it didn't feel too overwhelming.
Jurmala Quiet Zones
Consider whether you child would cope with the crowds on this particular day. If you still want to attend then consider taking a calming break away in the nearby Dzintari Forest (read blog here) like we did. It was lovely and peaceful and full of fantastic sensory play equipment to help the boys stay regulated.
How To Travel From Riga To Jurmala Beach With Autistic Kids
Jurmala is a resort-style town located on the coast, around 25 mins from the main station in Latvia's capital city of Riga. Whatever transport you choose, make sure to take in the scenic views of the countryside on the way.
Your 4 Main Transport Options:
By Train (Our Choice): Trains run regularly from Riga's Central Station and take about 30 minutes.
By Boat: If you are happy for a light-touch visit to Jurmala, then this picturesque 2hr boat cruise from Riga's Old Town could be a good idea. You can book your boat tickets here via GetYourGuide*
By Car: You can drive from Riga to Jurmala in around 30 minutes. There is a public car park near Majori Station that is nicely located for a stroll down pedestrianised Jomas St and a short walk from the beach front.
By Bus: Our boys just love travelling on trains, however we could have easily gone by bus. The direct bus (No. 7023) leaves from near the Central Market and also takes 30 mins via 5 stops to get to the Jurmala Tourist Information Office, a few minutes' walk from Majori Station. Bus tickets can be bought from Narvesen shops, from bus station offices, or on the Mobilly app. While this is a viable option, the bus is quite small and most people do choose to use the train.
What to Expect on the Train
The train was very modern and comfortable. There were toilets that were clean and nice to use. There was also a screen showing a rolling scroll list of the stations, so it was very easy to know where we were and when we should get off.
The beach at Jurmala is long and there are numerous stations along the way which also provide access to the beach front, such as Dubulti, Melluzi, and Dzintari.
Our First Visit (Majori Stop): We opted for the stop called Majori because it was closest to the town centre and its nearest beach looked very safe for the children.
Our Second Visit (Dzintari Stop): We got off at Dzintari station as it is literally opposite the Forest Park and was less than a 5-minute walk from the observation tower.
Riga to Jurmala Train Timetable
When we were travelling in May, the trains going from Riga TO Jurmala were leaving on the hour and half hour (e.g., 10:00 AM / 10:30 AM / 11:00 AM).
The trains going from Jurmala TO Riga were leaving approximately 5 minutes before this (e.g., 9:55 AM / 10:25 AM / 10:55 AM).
We boarded a train at Riga Central Station with a final destination of Sloka from Platform 3. There were 11 stops between Riga and Majori, the train station where we got off.
How to Buy Tickets
We had already downloaded the Mobilly transport app, so we were able to buy our tickets online using this.
Cost: Our youngest was free (as aged under 7). For the rest of us—2 adults and 1 child—we paid 1.96 euros per person each way, or 11.76 euros return (at time of travel).
Validation: You basically buy the tickets online in the app and then validate by scanning a QR code on the train using a ticket reader. Make sure you do this, as a ticket inspector came by to see our tickets on each of our journeys.
Rules for Child Tickets (Under 7)
If you are travelling with children under 7, you can't buy them a 'free' ticket on the app. You have to wait for the inspector to come around and then ask them to issue a free ticket directly.
This is so they can actually see the child and ask for proof of ID should they think they look too old. On one of our four journeys, the inspector did ask us what year our youngest was born, and was satisfied with our immediate answer.
Sensory Packing List for a Comfortable and Stress-Free Jurmala Beach Day Trip
The main reason for a day trip to Jurmala is to visit the beach—it offers kilometers of lovely soft sand. The beach at Majori is very shallow and safe for children, and during peak seasons, it is watched over by beach lifeguards. Make sure you check the water quality before diving in, though!
For our relaxed day on the beach, we packed:
Light picnic sarongs (Easy to carry and soft against the skin)
A packed picnic lunch (For me and the youngest)
Familiar snacks and lots of water (Essential for sensory routines)
Sensitive skin kids sunscreen
Light weight soft towels
We didn't pack beach toys or games as we were limited by our plane luggage. However, if you do have the room, you could easily spend a full day enjoying all the usual beach activities!
Travel Tip: If you are flying light like us, check out these compact, travel-friendly Sensory Beach Toys on Amazon* that easily slide into a backpack or carry-on bag to keep the kids regulated on the sand.
Why Jurmala is a Must-Do During Your Family's Riga Trip
Our two days in Jurmala were a true highlight of our time in Latvia. Whether your kids need the grounding experience of soft sand, a safe place to paddle in shallow water, or a quiet escape under a pine tree canopy, this coastal resort offers the ultimate stress-free getaway for families with autistic children.
Taking a beach day trip is just one of the many reasons this region is so fantastic for neurodivergent travellers.
If you are working on your itinerary and want to see how the capital city matches this relaxed vibe, check out our full guide: 7 Reasons Riga Offers the Perfect Autism-Friendly Break to make the most of your family holiday!
Happy Travels x
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