Latvia things to see and do

Latvia's coast, wetlands and traditionally cultivated farmland attract significant populations of interesting and uncommon birds. Pape, near Liepāja along the Kurzeme coast, is on the migration route for seabirds, wildfowl and other species – 200 breeds total. It is also a haven for songbirds and raptors. Cape Kolka is another good spot for birdwatching. Local operators can arrange birdwatching trips upon request. For more information, contact the Latvian Ornithological Society (tel: + 371 6722 1580; www.lob.lv).

Old wooden buildings, cobbled streets, attractive churches and impressive castles transport you back through layers of history in Cēsis (www.turisms.cesis.lv). One of Latvia's oldest towns, it was first inhabited in the 13th century. Cēsu, one of Latvia’s best-known beers, has been brewed in the well-preserved medieval city since the 16th century. The town even has an annual arts festival that celebrates traditional and contemporary Latvian culture.

Just outside Riga and alongside Lake Jugla is the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia (tel: +317 6799 4106; www.brivdabasmuzejs.lv). Established in 1924, it is one of the oldest and best preserved outdoor museums in Europe. It boasts historical dwellings, workers' homesteads, a tavern and windmills, all gathered from across Latvia. Masters of 18 different crafts demonstrate their work at this artisan community.

Not only is this vaulting statue at the heart of Riga, it also commemorates the hardships that Latvian citizens have endured over the years and serves as a poignant symbol of nationhood. That it survived communist rule at all is a miracle. It stands over 42m tall and is topped by the figure of a woman holding three gold stars, symbolizing Latvia’s three cultural regions: Kurzeme, Latgale and Vidzeme.

This attractive town proudly promotes itself as the home of Europe's widest waterfall. While the gushing torrent is impressive when the Venta River runs high, Kuldiga (www.visit.kuldiga.lv) is an attractive historic settlement well worth exploring year-round. The city also hosts a “traditional nude run” every Summer Solstice.

Its old town buildings may be a little faded but Liepaja (www.liepaja.lv) still boasts attractive architecture, including many art nouveau buildings. It has the largest concentration of preserved wooden houses in Latvia, some dating back as far as the 17th or 18th centuries. The real highlights, though, are its seaside park and sandy EU Blue Flag beach. In Karosta, a former Russian naval base, you can take a tour of a KGB prison museum (tel: +371 2636 9470; www.karostascietums.lv).

It may not be on the same scale as St Petersburg's Hermitage, but Rastrelli's Rundāle Palace is equally handsome. A visit to this opulent baroque and rococo masterpiece is a must. Located 79km (49 miles) south of Riga, Rundāle 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 Rundāle Palace to its former grandeur. Featuring the White Hall, the Great Gallery and the Duchess’s rooms, Rundāle displays the magnificent work of German sculptors and Italian painters.

Spa holidays are all the rage in Latvia, especially in Jūrmala (tel: +371 6714 7900; www.visitjurmala.lv). 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.

One of Latvia's most popular attractions throngs with tourists and Latvian school children who come to ramble around Turaida Castle, one of the country’s most attractive citadels. There are striking views over the Gauja National Park from its ramparts, while the landscaped grounds boast several oversized esoteric sculptures. It was specially commended in the European Museum of the Year Awards in 1996 (tel: +371 6797 2376; www.turaida-muzejs.lv).