Location: Eastern Europe, in the Baltic region, bordering Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus, with the Baltic Sea to its west.
Capital: Riga
Tourist attractions: Latvia gained independence in 1991, with the breakup of the Soviet Union. The capital city of Riga is a World Heritage City and is a treat to explore with its Art Nouveau architecture, plush bars, castle turrets and church steeples. Latvia’s holiest pilgrimage site Agnola Basilica built in the 16th century and Sigulda, boasting of medieval castles and caves scattered along the Gauja valley are worth seeing on a tour to Latvia. The Latvian Occupation Museum, which gives an account of the Soviet and Nazi occupations of Latvia between 1940 and 1991 along with the Museum of Antlers and Horns having 512 beautiful elk antlers are some of the other interesting places to visit in Latvia.
Access: The Riga International Airport and the Ventspils International Airport receive direct flights from Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Russia, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Austria and Poland. The SJSC Latvian Railways operates train services from Latvia to Russia, Belarus and Lithuania. There are direct ferry lines from Sweden and Germany to Latvia.
Climate: The climate is generally damp and maritime in nature, though the winters have a tendency to get really cold while the summers are usually pleasant.