Jurmala

About

The city of Jūrmala is actually a string of historic fishing villages that caught the eye of wealthy landowners in the 18th century, who began building their own villas to relax in. After the Napoleonic Wars, Russian officers brought Jūrmala to the attention of the country’s upper class, establishing a tradition that passed on to high-ranking Communist officials, and modern tycoons and oligarchs. Jūrmala’s main drag, a 1 km long pedestrian street known as Jomas iela, is lined with historic wooden buildings, with a few modern developments, that now house boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Alternatively, visitors can opt for a stroll along the 33 kilometer white sand beach, or the wooden seaside boardwalk. Preserving the local heritage, the Jurmala Open-Air Museum exhibits a traditional fishing homestead, historic anchors and boats, as well as Latvia’s largest rope collection, which is on display in the hands-on rope-twisting workshop.