What to see and do

Explorethe Old Town

RIGA’S Old Town, with its warren of colourful streets, is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Get a bird’s-eye view by taking the lift (£7.60) to the St Peter’s Church observation platform, and visit the House of the Blackheads (right). Join a free walking tour in front of St Peter’s Church at 10am or midday (tip expected). Guides carry yellow suitcases ( rigafreetours.com).

ArtNouveau delights

RIGA’S city centre, particularly Elizabetes and Alberta streets, is awash with beautiful Art Nouveau architecture. About 800 buildings were designed in this eye-catching style, so admirers will delight in wandering around. Pop in to the Riga Art Nouveau Centre, where exhibits include a furnished apartment once owned by a renowned Latvian architect (£4.22). jugendstils.riga.lv

Museumsgalore

HEAD for the National Museum of Art, and its fine permanent display on two floors of 19th- and 20th-century Latvian art ( lnmm.lv, £5). Don’t miss the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, which showcases the country’s history from 1941-91 when it was controlled by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union ( occupationmuseum.lv; entrance free). Also, pop along to the Latvian Museum of Natural History, one of the Baltic region’s oldest museums packed with more than 195,000 exhibits. dabasmuzejs.gov.lv, £2.50.

Hitthe beach

SIXTEEN miles west of Riga is the resort city of Jurmala, famous for wooden seaside villas and a long golden beach. During the Soviet era, this slender peninsula jutting into the Baltic Sea was a premier USSR holiday hotspot. Stroll along the beach before wandering down the pedestrianised shopping streets and visit the free city museum to learn more. Catch the train from Riga’s central station (£1.20 one way, taking about 30 minutes).

Gofor a cruise

TAKE an hour-long cruise along the Riga Canal and River Daugava aboard one of the wooden launches that sail regularly between 10am and 8pm. You’ll see sights including the Central Market, National Library, Freedom Monument and St Peter’s Church. Sailings are from mid-April to midNovember. £15.20, rigabycanal.lv.

Save with a city pass

THE RIGA Pass provides free use of public transport, discounts at attractions, a free guided Old Town walking tour, plus a free audio-guided city tour on the red hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus. Pay £20 for 24 hours, £25 for 48 hours and £29 for 72 hours. liveriga.com