Discover Ādaži: Gauja, Greenway and history

If you’re looking for a hotel in Ādaži, you can plan your trip around the area’s specific highlights: river scenery and trails, water sports, historic traces and seasonal experiences.

The Gauja, oxbow lakes and water activities

Ādaži is situated on the Gauja. Vējupe is one of the Gauja’s oxbow lakes on the river’s left bank; Ādaži also has scenic woodland. E-FOIL can be tried at Vējupes Beach in Ādaži. A cable wakeboard course is located near Vējupes. The activities also differ in their stated locations: E-FOIL is offered at the beach, while the wakeboard course is nearby. This lets you plan the water-focused part of your trip around a specific activity.

The Greenway between Ādaži and Carnikava

The Greenway is a hiking and cycling trail along the left bank of the Gauja between Ādaži and Carnikava. It is 13.5 kilometres long in one direction. This one-way distance is important when planning your route: it refers to one direction and should not be taken as a round trip. There is a Greenway car park in Ādaži at Gaujas iela 30. This gives you both a specific route distance and a named parking location for planning your trip. The “ĀDAŽI – Manors, Raftsmen and Innovation” audio guide is available in Latvian and English.

Historic traces and local highlights

The Ādaži castle district was established in the 13th century. The Jaunās dzirnavas (New Mill) had already been in Ādaži in 1209 and controlled the route to Riga. The two historical facts highlight different things: the mill is associated with a specific year and its role along the route to Riga, while the castle district dates back to the 13th century. The Gauja Festival in Ādaži has been held since 2010. If you’d like to combine your visit with the festival, check the specific event dates before travelling.

Mini-zoo and food-related activities

Dzīvo Sapņu dārzs is a mini-zoo in the centre of Ādaži. In summer, children can feed the domestic animals and get to know them up close. This seasonal detail is important when planning if this activity is part of your stay.

The Ādažu čipsi Nutrition Class includes a workshop where participants make crisps in a flavour of their own choosing. It also features a virtual 360-degree tour of the production process, from sorting potatoes to the warehouse shelves. SOIRA makes cheese from organic milk sourced from nearby dairy farms.

Planning your trip and finding a hotel

The details offer different points of reference: the Greenway distance is given one way, the chance to meet the animals applies to summer, and the date of the event matters for the Gauja Festival. This way, your search can reflect your planned stay, rather than relying on one activity to suit every travel plan.

Discover more destinations: Kadaga.

For the broader travel overview: Ādažu Novads.