Latvia is a small country with a great history, impressive markets and delicious and rich food. • It offers medieval charm alongside an interesting construction of the "Art Nouveau" style and the bonus: it will not happen.

• Riga Old Town

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On the shores of the Daugba River, in the heart of a vast bay, between long white beaches and endless needle forests, lies Riga, the capital of Latvia.

Latvia is a small country, but its capital Riga is the largest metropolis in the Baltic states and one of the most magical cities in Northern Europe. Not exactly Nordic, not really Eastern Europe but within the Union, Riga offers medieval charm alongside the glory of the early 20th century, a great city that offers opportunities for nighttime entertainment, fine culinary and shopping, along with a sense of cleanliness and space.

Riga was founded by German merchants in the 12th century and has since served as a commercial hub connecting the Baltic to the depths of Eastern Europe. Founded relatively late to Western European cities, Riga boasts a large and impressive medieval quarter. Apart from the tourist attraction, the district known as the Old City also serves as the entertainment hub. Pubs, clubs, and specialty restaurants fill the picturesque alleys and the enchanted basements of the crowded district. Also, Rosengirls, a medieval-style restaurant located in the borough, offers guests an appropriate menu and wait staff dressed in medieval attire.

In the borough, there are two large and impressive churches, where St. Peter's Church, the first church built in the city, offers visitors to climb its bell tower and gain a view of the city. Another attraction of the borough is the two market plazas, one in front of the Cathedral of Doom and one a short distance away, used for a large variety of fairs and markets.

Riga's rich history does not end in the Middle Ages. At the end of the 19th century, there was an unprecedented building momentum in the city, with the style that dominated the era was the "Art Nouveau" that adorns ornamental fronts, along with bright colors and mythological motifs.

The district of Ar Nouveau is northeast of the Old City and is compact enough for a short walk. The impressive facades of houses, most of which have been renovated, are some of the world's most impressive examples of period style. It is advisable to visit the Art Nouveau Museum, which presents a period apartment with authentic furniture and design. The museum also provides a great opportunity for selfies while wearing period clothes.

Market town

Riga was and remains, first and foremost, a market town, with the central market an attraction in itself. Its five impressive and immense buildings were transported to the Latvian capital after World War I in their entirety, having been used by the defeated German army as airship warehouses. The market is divided into different halls according to the type of goods sold, meat, fish, dairy, fruits and vegetables, bread and local handicrafts. For those who like to come home with fine foods, we recommend buying local rye bread, fresh berries, which are Latvian pride, and "jano" cheese.

Another recommended product that is worth buying in the market is the chocolates of the Latvian candy giant "Horror", which specializes in various and unique types of chocolate candy. Also, instead of an active food market in the summer months, runs until the wee hours of the night and offers a variety of fast food in the spirit of Latvian cuisine and from all over the world.

Europe's largest indoor market // Photo: GETTY

It is worth spending time at the various booths and drinking the local version of the "Samgon" home alcohol, which is made of honey, slides down the throat and makes a warm feeling in the stomach. Alongside the fascinating markets and history, Riga offers its visitors exposure to the difficult years of the city and state as a whole during Soviet rule. "The Museum of Occupation" presents to visitors the Latvian narrative that takes place during the years of the Nazi and Communist occupation. The Janis Lipka Museum, dedicated to the Righteous Among the Nations who saved dozens of Jews from the Nazis, is open to visitors not far from the city center.

Another experience for anyone interested in life under the USSR's terrorist regime is a visit to the KGB detention center, which has become a single chilling museum of its kind. On the tour you can go down to the depth of the building and see the detention cells, interrogation rooms and torture and execution methods used by members of the secret organization to terrorize the local population.

Another site that presents a bit more endearing about the Soviet era in Latvia is the Latvian Car Museum, which, alongside cool interactive displays, holds a huge collection of vehicles made in the USSR.

A warm day

Along with a city break, in the summer months Riga can serve as a base for day trips to various sites that are a short drive away. The town of Yoramla is less than 40 km from Riga and offers well-groomed white bathing beaches alongside spa hotels, green forests that reach the shoreline and a water park. During the summer, shuttles from the capital to the resort operate and no car rental is required.

For the challenging sports enthusiast, the town of Sigulda, located on a hillside 50 km north of Riga, offers hiking trails, a cable car, a bungee jump, and for the children also a climbing park and a large omega.

White beach adjacent to the forest, Jurmala // Photo: GETTY

Despite its membership in the European Union, Riga still offers low prices and an average meal in the restaurant will cost around 20 euros. The range of accommodation options in the city through Airbnb is huge, but the large hotel chains also offer great service at competitive prices.
A room at the new Hilton Hotel in the Old City will not cost more than NIS 500 a night at the height of the tourist season. The Radisson Blu chain owns several hotels in the city, including the Radisson Blu Elizabeth in the city center, at a cost of NIS 300 per night not during the tourist season and NIS 500 a season.

During the summer, Air Baltic operates five direct flights from Tel Aviv to Riga. During the fall and spring the company operates three weekly flights. Winter prices start at $ 240 and summer at $ 270 includes a handbag up to 8 pounds.

The reporter was a guest of "Air Baltic"