Latvia

Art Nouveau on Every Corner

Riga holds one of the largest concentrations of Art Nouveau architecture anywhere in Europe, with ornate facades featuring mythological figures, flowing ironwork and bold geometric detail at nearly every turn of the Alberta and Elizabetes streets. Walking these neighbourhoods feels like stepping into an open-air design museum, with each building competing to outdo its neighbour in decorative ambition.

Wild Coast and Ancient Forest

The Jurmala coast stretches west of Riga in a long ribbon of white sand dunes and pine forest, offering some of the finest beach walking in northern Europe. Inland, Gauja National Park hides sandstone canyons, medieval castle ruins and river valleys that are spectacular in autumn colour. Latvia's forests cover roughly half the country, making it one of the greenest nations on the continent.

Food, Song and a Proud Culture

Latvian cuisine is hearty and deeply seasonal, built around rye bread, smoked fish, grey peas with bacon and dairy products from small farms. The national Song and Dance Festival, held every five years, draws tens of thousands of singers in traditional costume and is a powerful expression of Latvian identity that survived even Soviet occupation. Markets, craft breweries and a lively restaurant scene in Riga make eating and drinking a highlight of any visit.