Úrmala - Iurmala - Jūrmala Beach

Jurmala's beach is 33 km long, covered with white quartz sand. The shallow coastal waters are suitable and safe for children. The beach is equipped with playgrounds, small benches, football fields and volleyball courts, as well as descents for prams and wheelchairs. In Spring and Autumn amber pieces can be found on the beach.

Each region's beach has its own character. In Majori and Bulduri, where the Blue Flag flies, it is possible to rent water bicycles or relax in the beach cafe. In Dubulti and Dzintari competitions in beach football and volleyball take place, but on Pumpuri beach there is kite surfing and windsurfing.

International water sports contests, including rowing, sailing, and waterskiing that take place on the river Lielupe. In January 2012, Jurmala hosted the 2012 Winter Swimming World Championships.

During the Soviet era, Jūrmala was a venue for various festivals, the most notable of which were the annual Jurmala Chess Festival[citation needed] and the pop music festival "Jūrmala" (1986–1993).[1]

Since 2001 Jūrmala has hosted a competition for young pop singers "New Wave" from all over Europe.[2] Jurmala also hosts the "Singing KiViN" KVN each July.

The Jūrmala International Piano Competition, arranged by the City Council and the Latvian Piano Teachers Association in collaboration with Ministry of Culture of Latvia, for pianists of all nationalities aged 19 years and under, was established in 1994 and is held every two years in the "Dzintari" concert hall. As the International Academic Music Competition (with various categories) it reached its 11th Season in 2010