Latvia (6TH)

The new, sixth and thoroughly updated edition of Bradt's Latvia remains the only standalone guide to this fascinating and ever-changing Baltic nation. This is a small but enchantingly varied country that will appeal to culture vultures, history buffs, outdoors enthusiasts and foodies alike. Latvia is best known internationally through its capital city Riga, whose centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site combining a medieval core providing testimony of its importance as a port of the Hanseatic League and an outer area containing the most extensive assemblage of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe. Latvia is much larger than Denmark or Switzerland yet, with a population of under two million, is one of the most verdant countries in Europe. A low-lying landscape of forests, lakes and marshes offers an increasing range of rural tourism options facilitated by recent EU infrastructural investments. Why not go hiking or kayaking in Gauja National Park, go cycling or explore Latgale's lakes? In summer, Latvia's Baltic Sea coast comes into its own: almost 500km long, much comprising pristine sandy beaches backed by dunes. Seaside options range from cosmopolitan Jurmala, once a favoured holiday destination of the Soviet elite, to out of the way idyllic spots the visitor will have to themselves. Latvia's complex history results in tourist attractions ranging from medieval castles to the Baroque splendour of Rundale Palace, and from Daugavpils's Mark Rothko arts centre to a once-secret Soviet nuclear bunker. Latvian culture and identity reaches peak expression in the five-yearly Song and Dance Festival, involving forty thousand performers. If you can't wait for that, why not uncover Latvia's pagan roots, including the mystical stones of the Pokaini Forest, or relax in a combination of traditional saunas and modern spas. For something completely different, you could even visit Karosta former military prison, where the intrepid can book a night in a cell, sleeping on an iron bunk. Balan