Vaivari Sanatorium

Jūrmala


On the main road 5km west of Majori, this gaudy beachfront Soviet-era sanatorium resembles a giant, beached cruise ship that’s been mothballed since the Brezhnev era. Surprisingly it still functions, catering to an elderly clientele who have been visiting regularly since, well, the Brezhnev era.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Jūrmala attractions

1. Jūrmala City Museum

1.66 MILES

This well-funded museum features a cool permanent exhibit detailing Jūrmala’s colourful history as the go-to resort town in the former USSR. One popular…

2. Art Rezidence ‘Inner Light’

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Local Russian artist Vitaliy Yermolayev runs this studio out of his home and dabbles with a secret recipe for glow-in-the-dark paint by creating portraits…

3. Jūrmala Beach

1.8 MILES

Jūrmala's ribbon of white sand stretches for 24km. The sand is hard-packed and ideal for walking – or packing into sand sculptures or castles – and the…

4. Jūrmala Open Air Museum

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5. Kalnciema Kvartāls

8.93 MILES

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6. Laube's House

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7. Žanis Lipke Memorial

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