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Riga - Located on the banks of the Daugava River, the Latvian capital is a crossroads of various nations and cultures.

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Riga - The time-tested city bears the traces of long gone European empires and alliances.

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Riga - Its location and crisscross of cultures has left Riga with Germanic architectural roots and Russian sensibilities waiting to be explored.

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German and Polish architecture - At times, you might feel like you're in Poland's Gdańsk, and at other times you might wonder if you've gotten lost in Germany's Bremen. And that's perfectly understandable.

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Influences - Between the 13th and 16th centuries, Riga was part of the Hanseatic League, a Germanic trading guild in Northwestern and Central Europe, which explains Riga's wonderful mix of architectural styles and influences.

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The Town Hall Square - The Germanic influence can be clearly admired at the Town Hall Square at the heart of Old Town Riga.

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House of Blackheads - The fraternity house for the Blackheads guild of unmarried German merchants was bombed by the Nazis during WWII, with its ruins being demolished by the Soviets afterwards.

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House of Blackheads - Thankfully, its blueprints somehow survived, and an exact copy of the building was erected to commemorate Riga's 800th birthday in 2001.

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St. Peter's Church - Situated right behind Town Hall Square, St. Peter's Church, like many other buildings in Riga, was completely destroyed in World War II.

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St. Peter's Church - The current church is the result of a decade-long reconstruction project.

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St. Peter's Church - Make sure to climb the church's steeple for amazing views of the city.

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Old Town - Branching out from the wonderful Town Hall Square and the church, you'll find a maze of narrow streets to get lost in.

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Get lost in Old Town - As you wander the streets of Old Town, consider looking for Rozengrāls, a restaurant that can be traced back to 1293.

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New Town - Riga also offers incredible opportunities to gaze at facades built in the style of art nouveau, or Jugendstil.

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Alberta iela - Pictured here is a typical art nouveau building on Alberta iela (Alberta Street). The nearby Brīvības iela (Freedom Street), Elizabetes iela (Elizabeth Street), and Strēlnieku iela (Strelnieku Street) also offer ample opportunity to gawk at the art nouveau style.

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Wooden buildings - You should also make time to check out the city's old wooden buildings.

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Wooden buildings - Head to Miera iela (Peace Street) and check out Riga's withering wooden buildings.

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Street art - Miera iela is also a great place to see some of the city's most interesting street art.

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Riga Central Market - Head to the central market and haggle for your huckleberries. Operating since 1570 and housed in a series of WWI Zeppelin hangars, this is a must-have Riga experience.

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Freedom Monument - Towering above the city between Old and Central Riga is the Freedom Monument. The monument was erected in 1935 where a statue of Russian ruler Peter the Great once stood.

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Pilsētas Kanāls (City Canal) - The city’s old moat once protected the medieval interior from invaders, but today, it is just a belt of stunning parkland that splits Old and Central Riga.

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The Art Museum Riga Bourse - Established in 1920, the museum is housed in a restored stock exchange building. Get lost in your thoughts looking at the facade, which shows a coterie of deities dancing between the windows.

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Arsenāls Exhibition Hall - Located behind a row of spooky granite heads featuring Latvia's most prominent artists, the imperial arsenal was constructed in 1832 to store weapons for the Russian tzar's army, but now functions as a spot for art exhibitions.

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Day trips: Jūrmala - Jūrmala has been Latvia’s premier beach resort since the heyday of the Russian Empire.

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Day trips: Jūrmala - After enjoying a day on the 33 kilometer-long (20 mile-long) stretch of silky sand, head to the city to check out its 4,000 historic wooden houses.

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Day trips: Ķemeri National Park - The national park showcases the best of the Latvian countryside with forest, bogs, lakes and beaches.

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Day trips: Rundāle Palace - Often called "the Versailles of the Baltic," this lavish 138-room baroque palace was built for the Duke of Courland between 1736 and 1740.

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Day trips: Rundāle Palace -

Wander around the gardens and explore 40 of the palace’s grandest rooms.

See also: The lure of Lebanon

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