Basilica of Aglona A place of pilgrimage for Catholics from all over Latvia, this immense white cathedral near Daugavpils with its twin spires is worth visiting even if you are not religious (www.aglona.travel). To see it at its most atmospheric, visit during the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) when around 150,000 worshippers take part in a torch lit procession.
Birdwatching in Pape Latvia's coast, wetlands and traditionally cultivated farmland attract significant populations of interesting and uncommon birds. Pape, near Liepaja along the Kurzeme coast, is on the migration route for seabirds, wildfowl and other species. It is also a haven for songbirds and raptors. Cape Kolka is another good spot for birdwatching. Local operators can arrange birdwatching trips. For more information, contact the Latvian Ornithological Society (www.lob.lv).
Cape Kolka The windswept beach at Cape Kolka, part of the Slitere National Park (www.slitere.gov.lv), is a breathtaking spot where the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga crash together. It's also a good place for a bracing walk and a great spot for birdwatching.
Cesis Old wooden buildings, cobbled streets, attractive churches and impressive castles transport you back through layers of history in Cesis (www.tourism.cesis.lv). One of Latvia's oldest towns, it was first inhabited in the 13th century. Cesu, one of Latvia's best-known beers, has been brewed here since the 16th century.
Daugavpils Mark Rothko Centre The great 20th century abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko was born in Daugavpils, in southeast Latvia. The Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, housed in a renovated arsenal, is a multi-functional institution of culture, arts and education. 2013 marked the 110th anniversary of Rothko's birth.
Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia Just outside Riga is the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia (www.brivdabasmuzejs.lv). Established in 1924, it is one of the oldest and best preserved in Europe and boasts historical dwellings, workers' homesteads, a tavern and windmills, gathered from across Latvia. Masters of 18 different crafts demonstrate their work.
Fly high in Sigulda The cable car from Sigulda to Krimulda provides a birds-eye view of the Gauja River Gorge. For adrenaline junkies, bungee jumping can be arranged from the cable car when its stops some 42m above the river itself (www.bungee.lv). Krimulda also has a ruined castle (www.tourism.sigulda.lv)
Freedom Monument Not only is this vaulting statue at the heart of Riga, it also commemorates the hardships that Latvia's citizens have endured over the years and is a poignant symbol of nationhood. That it survived communist rule at all is a miracle. It stands over 35m tall, and is topped by the statue of a woman holding three gold stars, symbolizing Latvia's three cultural regions, Kurzeme, Latgale and Vidzeme (www.liveriga.com).
Hiking in Gauja National Park Latvia's national parks and protected areas boast myriad hiking trails. Gauja National Park is the country's biggest. Covering an area of nearly 94 sq km (36 sq miles) around the River Gauja, it features caves, rocks and dense woods, and plenty of wildlife. One of the most popular trails is the 5km Ligatne nature trail, where visitors can see many of the species of wild mammals native to Latvia. Visit in spring if you want to see the mass of wild cherry trees along the Gauja River valley in blossom. Latvia has four national parks - the others are Kemeri, Slitere and Razna (the country's newest).
Kuldiga This attractive town proudly promotes itself as the home of Europe's widest waterfall. While the gushing torrent is impressive when the Venta River is high, Kuldiga (www.kuldiga.lv) is an attractive historic settlement well worth exploring in its own right.
Latvian Song and Dance Festival Held only once every five years and dating back to 1873, the Latvian Song and Dance Festival is one of the country's greatest musical and cultural events, and along with the Song and Dance festivals in neighbouring Estonia and Lithuania is inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The 25th Latvian Song and Dance Festival will take place in Riga in June 2018.
Liepaja Its old town buildings may be a little faded but Liepaja still boasts attractive architecture, including Art Nouveau buildings and the largest concentration of preserved wooden houses in Latvia, some dating back as far as 17th-18th centuries. The real highlights though are its seaside park and sandy EU Blue Flag beach. In Karosta, formerly a Russian naval base, you can take a tour of a KGB museum.
Riga's Art Nouveau architecture Riga boasts one of the finest collections of Art Nouveau buildings in the world, accounting for around a third of the properties in the city centre. Riga is also famous for its chocolate-box old town, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Rundale Palace It may not be on the same scale as St Petersburg's Hermitage, but Rastrelli's Rundale Palace (www.rundale.net) is equally handsome. A visit to this opulent baroque and rococo masterpiece is a must. Located 79km (49 miles) south of Riga, Rundale Palace and Museum nestles near the town of Bauska. Built as a summer residence for the Duke of Courland Ernst Johann Biron, by the Italian architect, Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the opulent palace was completed in 1768. The palace was given to the Republic of Latvia in 1920 as a part of agrarian reform. It was in a rundown state back then, but a lengthy restoration completed in 2014 has returned much of Rundale Palace to its former grandeur.
Skyline Bar The chic, 26th-floor Skyline Bar at the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija offers epic 360 degree views over Riga. The same dramatic views can even be enjoyed from the toilets. An extensive drinks menu with over 100 cocktails complements the vistas.
Spas in Jurmala Spa holidays are all the rage in Latvia, and no more so in Jurmala. The ever-growing number of spa hotels in this Baltic resort are backed up by a seemingly endless sandy beach. Indulge in an aromatherapy massage or something a bit more unusual like a salt chamber.
Stay in the land of the Blue Lakes It is possible to rent log cabins amidst the Latgale forest. Some properties are located next to lakes where the hearty can take a swim, while others have their own saunas. For further details contact the Latvian Country Tourism Association.
Turaida Museum Reserve One of Latvia's most popular attractions throngs with tourists and Latvian school children, who come to ramble around Turaida Castle (one of Latvia's most attractive citadels). There are striking views over the Gauja National Park from its ramparts, while the attractive landscaped grounds boast a number of oversized esoteric sculptures. It was specially commended in the European Museum of the Year Awards 1996.
Watersports on the Gauja River The winding Gauja River in beautiful Gauja National Park offers plenty of opportunities for watersports, from white-water kayaking to river rafting. Anyone seeking an extended watery adventure can stay at one of the national park's 23 campsites.
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