JēkabpilsJēkabpils at a Glance
Costs: $35-70 USD per day - very affordable guesthouses and local eateries keep costs low.
Safety: Generally safe; petty theft occasional - quiet riverside town; avoid leaving valuables unattended.
Best Time: May-September - warm months are best for riverside walks and outdoor festivals.
Why Visit Jēkabpils?
Perched along the Daugava, Jēkabpils draws visitors interested in layered history and quiet riverside life. Krustpils Castle and the adjacent wooden-house quarter offer a striking contrast of fortification and vernacular architecture, while the Daugava promenade and local markets reflect provincial Latvian rhythms. Food-minded travelers will find hearty regional fare and bakeries that showcase rye bread and other Ilūkste-influenced specialties.
Best Things to Do in Jēkabpils
Jēkabpils Bucket List
Don't Miss
Krustpils Castle - Tour medieval Krustpils Castle and the adjacent museum showcasing Selonia and regional history.
Daugava river promenade - Walk the Daugava River promenade with views, sculptures, and riverside cafes.
Jēkabpils History Museum - Discover local archaeology, traditional crafts, and wartime exhibits at Jēkabpils History Museum downtown.
Hidden Gems
Local craft shops - Find hand-stitched textiles and traditional Selonian handicrafts in small town ateliers.
Riverside parks and viewpoints - Enjoy quiet riverside green spaces and viewpoints along the Daugava within town limits.
Seasonal farmers’ markets - Visit weekend markets for fresh produce, cheeses, and regional specialties sold by locals.
Day Trips
Daugavpils - Take a day trip to Daugavpils to see its fortress and regional museums.
Aglona Basilica - Drive to Aglona to visit the famous basilica and peaceful pilgrimage grounds.
Nearby Cities #
Best Time to Visit Jēkabpils
Aim for May-September in Jēkabpils for pleasant weather, river activities and cycling. Winters are cold with snow and short days, limiting many outdoor options.
Winter
Bitter winters bring snow-covered Daugava banks and limited daylight; cozy cafés and local museums offer shelter, but outdoor options are icy and muted.
Spring
Cool, changeable weather with budding trees and lively birdlife; mud on trails but fewer visitors - great for quiet riverside walks and photography.
Summer
Sunny, comfortable summers are ideal for kayaking the Daugava, cycling and enjoying outdoor markets; expect mosquitoes near wetlands after warm rains.
Jēkabpils's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -8°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (670 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -8° - -3° | -10° | 41 mm | overcast | 97% | 3.5 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.4h |
| February | Poor | -8° - -2° | -10° | 32 mm | overcast | 98% | 3.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.3h |
| March | Poor | -4° - 3° | -5° | 39 mm | overcast | 93% | 3.3 m/s | 0.3 low | 11.7h |
| April | Good | 1° - 10° | 3° | 43 mm | partly cloudy | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 14.0h |
| May | Very Good | 7° - 17° | 12° | 52 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 3.0 m/s | 1.1 high | 16.2h |
| June | Good | 11° - 21° | 16° | 69 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 1.4 high | 17.3h |
| July | Very Good | 13° - 23° | 18° | 75 mm | partly cloudy | 82% | 2.5 m/s | 1.4 high | 16.8h |
| August | Good | 11° - 21° | 16° | 79 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 2.4 m/s | 1.0 high | 14.9h |
| September | Good | 8° - 16° | 12° | 69 mm | partly cloudy | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 12.6h |
| October | Poor | 3° - 8° | 3° | 60 mm | overcast | 91% | 3.2 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.2h |
| November | Poor | 0° - 4° | -2° | 58 mm | overcast | 96% | 3.6 m/s | 0.0 low | 8.0h |
| December | Poor | -6° - -2° | -9° | 53 mm | overcast | 97% | 3.4 m/s | 0.0 low | 6.7h |
How to Get to Jēkabpils
Jēkabpils is accessible from Riga; Riga International Airport (RIX) is the main air gateway and both train and coach connections run between Riga and Jēkabpils. The town is on Latvia’s passenger rail network, making the train a straightforward option for many travellers.
Riga International Airport (RIX): The primary airport for reaching Jēkabpils. From RIX take the airport shuttle or bus into Riga city centre (25-40 minutes) and then connect from Rīgas starptautiskā autoosta or Riga Central Station for onward travel to Jēkabpils. Coach journeys from Riga to Jēkabpils take around 2-2.5 hours and fares typically range from about €5 to €10.
Other airports: There are no major commercial airports closer than RIX for most international travellers; some regional flights arrive into nearby countries but transfers will add time and complexity.
Train: Jēkabpils has a railway station (Jēkabpils stacija) served by Pasažieru vilciens on the Riga-Daugavpils corridor. Trains from Riga Central Station to Jēkabpils take roughly 2-2.5 hours depending on service and are an economical option for travel.
Bus: Intercity coaches also operate between Riga and Jēkabpils, arriving at Jēkabpils bus station. Bus travel times are similar to the train (around 2-2.5 hours); coach fares vary but are commonly in the €5-€10 range depending on carrier and advance purchase.
How to Get Around Jēkabpils
For Jēkabpils the train is an excellent, economical option if you prefer rail, while intercity coaches offer similar journeys and flexibility. Inside town, walking and local buses cover most needs; rent a car only if you plan to explore the surrounding countryside.
- Train (Pasažieru vilciens) (€3-€8) - Jēkabpils Station is on the Riga-Daugavpils line and offers regular services from Riga Central Station. Trains are comfortable and reliable for this route; schedules are best checked on the Pasažieru vilciens website or station boards.
- Intercity bus (€5-€10) - Coaches from Rīgas starptautiskā autoosta and regional towns serve Jēkabpils with similar travel times to the train. Buses are frequent enough for day trips and are often slightly cheaper than trains when booked in advance.
- Local bus (€0.50-€1.50) - Jēkabpils operates local bus services that connect residential areas to the town centre and station. Services are the affordable way to move around the town if you’re not on foot.
- Taxi (€3-€15 (within town)) - Taxis and local ride-hail services cover Jēkabpils; short trips in town are inexpensive. For early-morning or late-night rail/bus arrivals a taxi provides a convenient door-to-door option.
- Car rental (€30-€60/day) - Renting a car is useful when exploring rural areas around Jēkabpils, giving access to countryside and smaller villages where public transport is sparse. Roads are generally in good condition.
- Walking - The town centre is compact and easy to explore on foot - most shops, cafes and local sights are within walking distance.
Where to Stay in Jēkabpils
Budget
Riverside/Center - $20-45/night
Mostly small guesthouses and private rooms. Expect basic amenities and locally run stays; options are limited compared with larger Latvian towns.
Budget guesthouses & hostels (Booking.com) - Central, low-cost rooms and B&Bs
Airbnb options in Jēkabpils - Private rooms and small apartments
Mid-Range
City centre - $35-80/night
A couple of comfortable hotels and guesthouses near the centre. Clean rooms and convenient access to the riverfront; selection is small.
Local mid-range hotels (Booking.com) - Comfortable, practical hotel rooms
Aggregated mid-range listings - Compare rates across providers
Luxury
Outskirts/Nearby towns - $80+/night
Jēkabpils has few to no true luxury hotels. For high-end stays, look to larger Latvian cities; local choices are modest and scarce.
Nearby upscale options (Booking.com) - Limited high-end choices in town
Regional luxury (aggregator) - Consider larger cities for true luxury
Where to Eat in Jēkabpils
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Jēkabpils’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Nightlife in Jēkabpils
Evenings are relaxed - local bars and cafés are where residents gather, and occasional live-music nights pop up at cultural venues. If you want late-night entertainment, plan to travel to a larger town nearby.
Shopping in Jēkabpils
Shopping is practical and local: small shops, markets and supermarkets carry daily essentials and regional food products. For specialty items or extended shopping hours you’ll usually have to travel to a larger regional centre.