Latvia is the small, flat and largely boggy meat in the sandwich between its Baltic neighbours. It packs a lot in though: start with Rīga, its vibrant coastal capital, and move on to photogenic castles, music festivals and scenic river valleys.
RIGA
● When To Go
In spring, the weather is warm, the days are long, flowery cottage gardens
blossom and the cultural calendar oozes fun. April and May, when the lucky
stork returns to its nest, and the land and its people open up after winter,
convey a real magic. June is midsummer-madness month and equally evokes the
Baltic peoples' close ties to nature and their pagan past.
Summers are short but sweet. July and August (high season), the warmest and
busiest months, and a time when many Balts go on holiday too, can also be
the wettest and subject to the odd thunderstorm.
December to March sees snow-clogged streets, ice-glazed pavements and roofs
laced with killer icicles. Ice skating, tobogganing, cross-country skiing,
ice fishing and getting whipped in a sauna are this season's invigorating
activities.
Avoid soggy March when the snow thaws, bringing with it far too much slush
for enjoyment. Autumn, when snow falls then melts, is equally miserable.