Europe’s Best Kept Secret!, Riga, Latvia

I wanted to take a short weekend break and celebrate my birthday in style, and I could not have chosen a better spot than Riga, the capital city of Latvia. Despite being huge for its population, Riga still managed to punch well above its size due to its magnificent architecture, irresistible charm and delightful food! It is by no means a big city, which makes it a great place for a city break or even a weekend getaway.

Riga is incredibly pretty with its impressive Art Nouveau architecture (the finest collection in Europe), winding, medieval lanes and skyline of storybook spires. It’s a city loaded with history and is picture-postcard pretty wherever you look; there is plenty to see in Riga.

The largest city in Latvia and the Baltic region and traditionally linked to trade, Riga is a surprising gem of architectural styles. The charming beauty of Riga has been described in many different ways: it has been likened to Paris, Prague and Berlin, since it combines the best aspects of all these places.

Riga is well known for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture, believed to be the largest collection of buildings of this style in the world. In the early 20th century, between 300 and 500 new buildings were constructed each year, melding with earlier architectural styles, such as the medieval guildhalls, in the Old Town. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).