Riga, Latvia

Capital City

With a population of just under 600,000, Riga may be one of the largest cities in the Baltics, but it's no cosmopolitan playground - bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the long, frigid winters are no joke. While the city boasts an impressive Art Nouveau heritage and is a growing tourist draw, its stubborn Soviet legacy and rapid demographic shifts have left it feeling a bit rough around the edges. Riga is best suited for those with a hardy constitution and a high tolerance for red tape.