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Lettland.
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Travelling to Lettland: what to know before you go

Latvia, the middle of the three Baltic states, combines Riga's medieval old town and Art Nouveau boulevards with a long, empty Baltic coastline and a countryside that is more than half forest. It suits city-breakers, walkers and anyone happy to trade crowds for pine woods, castles and summer festivals.

Where to go

• Riga Old Town. The cobbled centre of the capital is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the House of the Blackheads, St Peter's Church and its viewing platform, the Three Brothers houses and the old guild halls.
• Riga's Art Nouveau district. Just north of the old town, streets such as Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela are lined with richly decorated Art Nouveau facades, many by Mikhail Eisenstein.
• Riga Central Market. One of Europe's largest markets, housed in former German zeppelin hangars.
• Gauja National Park. An hour from Riga, the Gauja river valley has sandstone cliffs, caves and forest trails.

Best time to visit

Late May to early September is the main season, with long days, outdoor cafés and beach weather on the coast; around midsummer it barely gets dark. June and late August are a good balance of warmth and fewer crowds.

Staying online in Lettland

Latvia has fast, reliable mobile internet, with good 4G and growing 5G in Riga and other cities, and decent coverage along main roads. Coverage can thin out deep in the forests and along stretches of the Kurzeme coast. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, hotels and on many buses. As an EU country it follows EU roaming rules for EU plans, but visitors from outside the EU should arrange data in advance: install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.