Discover Latvia: Riga, Jūrmala and Sigulda

Riga's Art Nouveau district is a UNESCO World Heritage site with the world's largest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings — over 800 magnificent facades from the turn of the century.

Jūrmala, Latvia's elegant beach resort 30 km from Riga, entices with fine sandy beaches, historic wooden villas and a relaxed Baltic Sea atmosphere.

Gauja National Park, with its deep river valley, medieval castle ruins in Cēsis and Sigulda, and a lively outdoor scene, is Latvia's green soul.

The Latvian Song Festival (Dziesmu svētki) is UNESCO cultural heritage — tens of thousands of singers gather every five years for an overwhelming shared experience.

Flight Zurich–Riga about 2.5–3 hrs with Air Baltic or via Frankfurt. Riga is also a hub for connections to Tallinn and Vilnius.

Yes, very affordable: accommodation in Riga 30–60 €, restaurant 8–14 €. Prices are even lower outside Riga — great value for money.

June–August for summer and beaches. December for Riga's atmospheric Christmas markets — Riga is considered the birthplace of the first public Christmas tree (1510).

Latvian is the official language. English is well understood in Riga. Russian is widely spoken as a second language, especially outside the capital.