# Jelgava

Jelgava (German: Mitau) is a city in Latvia about 41 km southwest of Riga.

## Understand

It is useful to understand that although from 1940 to 1991 Latvia was a constituent republic of the USSR, the official language is Latvian. However, a significant minority (up to 40% nationwide and possibly just over 50% in the capital Riga) is Russian-speaking. The majority of ethnic Latvians living in the city, not only those old enough to have attended school during Soviet times, can also speak and understand Russian. However, many prefer to converse in Latvian. English and also German are widely understood at places regularly visited by tourists and foreigners but you may be out of luck when leaving the city centre or visiting places off the beaten track.
* 56.65241523.728971 Jelgava Regional Tourism Centre, ☏ +371 63 005 447. The tourist information centre is located inside the Holy Trinity Church Tower. (updated Apr 2019)

## Get in
### By bus

A bus line departs from Riga coach station, takes 45-55 min and the fare is €2.50 (as of December 2024). The buses are frequent and depart roughly every 20-60 mins. They arrive at 56.65022223.7228611 Jelgavas autoosta.

### By train

From Jan 2025 a daily train plies from Lithuania and continues to Estonia. It leaves Vilnius at 07:00, calling at Siauliai and Joniškis, and reaches Jelgava at 10:30. It continues to Riga but you can't use it just for this sector; thence to Valga, Tartu and Tallinn around 17:30. The westbound train leaves Tallinn at 10:25 and Riga at 16:50, picking up in Jelgava (reservations compulsory) at 18:00 to reach Vilnius at 21:00.
* 56.64058623.7320752 Jelgava railway station, Stacijas iela 1. (updated Oct 2022)

### By boat

Jelgava is on the bank of river Lielupe, which is connected to the Baltic Sea. It is possible to dock at Jelgava Yacht Club on Pils Island or next to Mītava Bridge on Pasta Island.

### By car

You can travel by taxi from Riga or Riga airport.

## Get around

You can get around by foot, taxi or bus. There is a very good bus line. Line 1 will take you from one part of the city to another.
Checkout this website for route planner and timetables.

## See

* 56.65561823.7330371 Jelgava Palace, Lielā iela 2 (on Pils Island of river Lielupe), ☏ +371 63005617. Similar palace to Rundales and Winter Palace in St. Peterburg, created by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. €2.00.
* 56.64990723.7291442 Academia Petrina, Akadēmijas iela, ☏ +371 63 023 383. A museum with several interesting churches.
* Victory Park (Uzvaras). A memorial park. Once called Hyde Park because of the rallies of the Awakening. Hosts many concerts and international festivals, including the largest annual ice sculpture festival in the Baltics.
* 56.64103523.7302813 Jelgava branch of the Latvian Railway History Museum (Latvijas Dzelzceļa vēstures muzejs, Jelgavas ekspozīcija), Stacijas iela 3 (Across from the Jelgava Railway Station), ☏ +371 63 096 494. W, F, Sa: 10AM-5PM; Th: 11AM-7PM; Closed Su-Tu. A small museum with extensive collection of artifacts, photographs and diagrams documenting the history of railway in Jelgava and Latvia. €1.50. (updated Mar 2019)

## Do

* Latvian FreeFly Peppers. Parachute jumps. You can do tandem or solo skydives at Jelgava airfield.
* International Ice Sculpture Festival, Uzvaras park, ☏ +371 630 23 461, kultura@kultura.jelgava.lv. Annually, at the start of February. €4.50 (in 2014).
* Football: FK Jelgava were relegated in 2024 so they play soccer in Pirmā līga, the second tier. Their home ground Zemgales Olimpiskais Centrs (capacity 1500) is just north of town centre. The playing season is April-Nov.
* Semigallians Days in Tervete (Zemgaļu svētki Tērvetē), Tērvetes koka pils, Tērvete (30 km southwest of). Annually, on the second Saturday of August.

## Learn

"Brainstorm", probably the most popular rock-band from Eastern Europe, has emerged from a cradle called Jelgavas 1. vidusskola (Secondary School No 1), where also such National talents as A. Skrastins, A. Vaznis, E. Radzina, A. Skele, E. Repse have made their first steps in the world of fame.
Latvijas Lauksaimniecibas Universitāte — University of Agriculture of Latvia is a well recognized university.

## Buy

* 56.64026423.7283681 Karamelu darbnica, Rūpniecības iela 1A, ☏ +371 29 851 426. M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa 11:00-15:00. Buy candies directly from the manufacturer. The store carries many types of candies and with many flavours. It also has a daily live demonstration of candy making. (updated Jul 2022)

## Eat
### What

Jelgava's special dishes are Duke’s sail and Charlotte's kiss that remind of the town's history as the capital of Courland Duchy. Duke's sail is a main course, made of oven-baked pork that has been prepared in a special marinade. It is served with caramelized sauerkraut, a variety of roasted vegetables and roots, red bilberry sauce and horseradish. Dessert Charlotte's kiss is made of egg-curd cream and jelly mousse sorting made of two kinds of juice. Its mild taste is refreshed with fruit-berry mash sauce. The dishes are available at most popular restaurants in Jelgava.

### Where

* 56.6506123.728921 Kafe Picerija. M-Th 10:00-21:00, F 10:00-22:00, Sa 11:00-22:00, Su 11:00-21:00. Delicious and great variety of local dishes and foreign improvisations. Try the Podins Ar Vistas Gacu, a funny looking pot filled with chicken, potato, cheese mix and a white bread baking over it. Great reviews, check. Free Wi-Fi. €1.50-3 per dish. (updated Aug 2019)

## Drink
### Bars

* Chocolatte & Pepper. A cafe/cocktail bar with a wide choice of alcoholic and nonalcoholic cocktails and drinks and offer tasty dishes.
* Klondaika. A popular bar and gambling place.
* Kreklukrogs, Lielā iela 19A, ☏ +371 26 633 433. A pub and restaurant serving large portions of food.

### Nightclubs

* Tonuss. A night club playing the latest dance music for a younger public. There are several dance floors and bars in the night club. Entrance fee is usually €1.5-4.5.

## Sleep

There are two main hotels in Jelgava and several smaller hotels and motels.
* 56.65352923.729071 Hotel Jelgava, Lielā iela 6 (Beside the bridge that serves as the main road getting into/out of the city). Can accommodate up to 66 people and is in the center of Jelgava by Driksa River. Jelgava Palace, Holy Trinity church tower Academia Petrina and many other tourist attractions are within a five-minute walk. There is a bar and restaurant Plate on the first floor. Double room €85.
* 56.66098823.7426332 Hotel Zemgale, Skautu iela, ☏ +371 63007707, viesnica@skzemgale.lv. Can accommodate up to 53 people. It is next to sports complex Zemgale and is a favourite for athletes. Next to the hotel is bowling Zemgale with a bar. Double room €47.

## Connect

There is free Wi-Fi at the Jelgava train station.