Even when explored in just one day, this Baltic beauty still packs a tremendous punch, and a new direct route makes it easy to visit.
The Latvian capital is a beautiful, fascinating, vibrant place – a Unesco World Heritage Site, with a long and illustrious history as a centre of trade in northern Europe. Its narrow, cobbled streets wind between squares filled with cafes, below a skyline pierced by slender church spires. Founded in 1201, Riga became a member of the Hanseatic League – a confederation of merchant guilds which between the 14th and the 17th centuries established a flourishing trade route across the Baltic. With the 100th anniversary of Latvian independence approaching next year, now is the perfect time to visit.
8am Freedom Monument
