The capital city of Latvia, situated on the Baltic Sea coast, is fast becoming one of Europe’s most popular cities for tourists and it’s not hard to see why. Riga has plenty to offer from history to culture, from shopping to nightlife. Here are the top five reasons to visit.

History: Riga is home to The Dome Cathedral. The cathedral dates back to the 13th century and is the largest place of worship in the Baltic States. St Peters Lutheran Church is another of Riga’s historic buildings. This ancient Medieval church features the Freedom Monument which symbolises Latvia’s independence.

Culture: The Riga Open-Air Ethnographic Museum hosts exhibitions of life as it was, featuring fishing villages which were once a major part of the city. Another popular attraction is the Art Nouveau Architecture Gallery.

Shopping: Paris, Milan and Barcelona may be the fashion capitals of Europe but that’s not to say you won’t find some fabulous designer gear elsewhere - and Latvia is no exception. But for more interesting pieces head to the Old Town where you will find specialist shops and stalls.

Restaurants: Latvia has a diverse selection of restaurants from American diners to Sushi bars and Arabic restaurants. The country’s traditional dishes involve pork, potatoes and bread but you’ll find much more variety in Riga’s restaurants. And after you’ve enjoyed a slap up meal treat yourself to an evening on the town. With plenty of bars and clubs to choose from as well as several theatres and opera houses a night out in Riga is as jam packed as you make it.

Weather: When you think of Latvia you may not automatically think of glorious weather but it’s climate is actually very pleasant. Summers are warm but not uncomfortably hot leaving you free to explore without getting hot and sticky and battling with factor 50.

About the Author: Russ Pooley writes for Drake & Cavendish who provide a luxury hotel research directory featuring over 5,000 luxury hotels in over 700 resort locations around the world. As a content provider we are committed to developing entertaining and informative travel related information. You can read further articles and details at http://www.drakeandcavendish.com/luxury_hotels/europe/latvia/riga/