Since the fall of the Berlin Wall many parts of Eastern Europe have become widely accessible to tourists for the first time. Cities such as Prague and Budapest had been a mystery for so long but now take centre stage on the European tourism map. Riga, the capital city of Latvia, seems sure to follow suit.

No longer part of the Soviet Union, Latvia has opened its borders and embraced incomers. This has had a dramatic effect on many parts of the country, but perhaps most noticeably on its capital city. Riga retains much of its old charm, yet has become much more “tourist friendly”. Many visitors have arrived here as tourists but then decided to say – the expat community is growing and investing in the country’s future. more…