Salaspils: Nature, Poetry and History

Salaspils appeals to a range of interests: remembrance, botany, poetry, and the natural and cultural history of the Daugava. If you are looking for hotels in Salaspils, this mix of themes can help structure your trip planning. First, consider whether you would rather focus on a walk with a set theme, botanical topics, or the landscape and history of the Daugava. The destinations also differ in their location: the poetry walk runs through the city, while the Daugava Museum and Dole Island Nature Park are in the wider regional area.

Remembrance, Poetry and Architectural History

The Salaspils Memorial is located on the site of the Salaspils camp, which operated from 1941 to 1944. The Knut Skujenieks Poetry Walk through Salaspils offers a literary route. It is about 7 kilometres long and has eight stops. Signs with QR codes provide information about the poet and let visitors listen to excerpts from his poetry. One stop is the Rīgavas Mūzikas un mākslas dārzs, where there is an artistically designed wall dedicated to Knut Skujenieks. Check locally before your visit to see if the walk is currently available.

The ruins of St. George’s Church also offer a historical connection: they are an architectural monument dating from the 14th century, with Romanesque and Gothic features. The various sites offer different points of focus, from remembrance and poetry to architectural history.

Trees and Walking Routes

The arboretum at the National Botanic Garden contains more than 4,500 species and varieties of trees and shrubs. The Botania centre at the National Botanic Garden complements this botanical theme with six themed exhibitions and more than 100 topics related to the plant world. Visits to the centre must be booked in advance.

The educational tree walk in Salaspils is about 6.3 kilometres long and takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. An activity game combines the route with engaging information about the city’s large and notable trees. By comparison, the Knut Skujenieks Poetry Walk focuses on eight stops, QR-code information and poetry excerpts. The approximate route lengths—about 6.3 and about 7 kilometres—are similar, but the two walks cover different themes.

The Daugava and the Landscape in the Wider Surrounding Area

Zirņu Island is ideal for leisurely bike rides, walks and picnics. There is a rest area on the island’s cycle path with a bench, bike rack and rubbish bin. The cycle path was approved for commissioning on 28 January 2026. Salaspils City Beach is on the bank of the Daugava next to the dam of the Rīga HES reservoir, on the right bank of the Daugava.

Dole Island Nature Park is in the wider regional area. It is a nature reserve of European importance, with valuable, specially protected habitats. Visitors can go birdwatching, walking and cycling in the park. Also on Dole Island is a 3-to-4-metre-high dolomite outcrop, designated a protected national natural monument site.

The Daugava Museum is on Dole Island in Salaspils Municipality, not in the city. Its permanent exhibition interactively presents the history of the Daugava and Salaspils District. Guided excursions that include visitor transport outside the museum grounds are also available. Dole Manor Park adds to the historical themes: it was established in 1776 and features landscape design from the late 18th to the early 19th century.

For an overview of the wider trip: Salaspils Municipality.