With its rattling yellow trams and colourful, cobbled streets, it’s not hard to see why Lisbon has become one of Europe’s prime tourism destinations. Perhaps it’s the sea air, the laidback vibe or the beautiful scenery, but there’s something about the Portuguese capital that simply gets under your skin.
OK, I’ll admit. I may be using a little bit of artistic hyperbole in calling Vilnius –the capital of Lithuania – a secret. But compared to its fellow Baltic capitals, Riga and Tallinn, the city seems to be floating well under the radar.
Lisbon may be the Portuguese capital, but Porto is certainly giving the city a run for its money.
If you’ve read any of my posts about Tallinn, Helsinki, Riga or Vilnius, you’ll know that my boyfriend and I spent our summer on the Baltic Sea.
And, although the area in the North East of Europe won’t be replacing the likes of Spain or Portugal as an archetypal summer location any time soon, what we found their left us pleasantly surprised.
Arriving in Riga, I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect. But, what I found was a vibrant, sprawling city, jam-packed awesome activities and spectacular sights. In fact, knowing where to start your adventure in the city can be far from straight forward. So, I’ve compiled this quick-fire guide to the 13 best experiences the Latvian capital has to offer.
Thanks to an influx of travellers from all over Europe, Riga Old Town caters to all kinds of drinking habits. However, if you prefer a more local take on boozing, you should probably leave the heart of the city behind. But, if you’re not sure where to begin – don’t worry! Here, I’ve mapped the best drinking holes all over town, so now you don’t have to.
Having come straight from Tallinn, where the vegan choices were excellent, we had high hopes for eating in Riga. And, thankfully, the Latvian capital did not disappoint. From healthy fare to junk food, we feasted on all manner of meals during our time in the city.
While in recent years, Kalamaja has become the preferred watering hole of locals and visitors alike, there’s still plenty of drinking opportunities to be found in Tallinn Old Town – if you know where to look for them.
When you think of vegan-friendly cities, Tallinn isn’t exactly the first place that springs to mind. However, it seems that while the city’s architecture is medieval, its approach to vegan eating is positively progressive.
Trying to track down tasty vegan food in some places can be difficult. However, in Helsinki that isn’t a problem. Finding affordable plant-based food, however, can be. So, here are a few handy pointers to get you started on your Finnish culinary adventure.