It’s also within easy reach of neighbouring countries. “Convenient bus and train travel to nearby metropolitan locations like Zagreb and Vienna make Slovenia accessible and affordable,” said Monya Mandich, vice president of marketing at Rome2Rio. She notes that its capital Ljubljana can feel like Venice with its river-lined old town, and the alpine lake scenery of Bohinj and Soča Valley in the Julian Alps or Lake Bled are more peaceful alternatives to Lake Como.
A city break with substance
Where Slovenia is about packing in outdoor activities against Alpine backdrops, a Latvian city break offers culture, character and a cooler climate – in short, the draw of the Nordics without the price tag.
Value snapshot: Latvia
Central four-star room: €70-100 (£60-90; $82-117)
Dinner for two at a smart-casual restaurant: €50-70 (£43-60; $58-72)
Public transport ticket: €1.50 (£1.30; $1.76)
Museum entry: €6-10 (£5-9; $7-11)
Coffee and pastry: €4-6 (£3.50-5; $4-7)
Price Labs places Latvia’s average August room night at €93 (£80; $109), compared with €186 (£160; $218) in Denmark. Cost-of-living data from Expatistan.com puts Riga, the country’s capital, at 34% cheaper than Berlin, 50% cheaper than Oslo and 46% cheaper than Dublin.
But it’s not just the lower prices; visitors often come back raving about Riga’s scenery as well. “Walking through the old town feels like stepping into a fairy tale, but without the crowds you’d find in Prague or Bruges,” said Goedele Mangelaars, founder of trip planning platform Pink Notebook, after she visited Riga during the summer. She was equally struck by the food. “The price-to-quality ratio is unbeatable compared to Western Europe but the calibre of restaurants rivals anything you’d find in Copenhagen or Stockholm.”
Riga’s fascinating past – with layers of Hanseatic, Art Nouveau and Soviet history – also gives travellers much more than a pretty old town to admire. “I’d highly recommend taking a guided stroll through the old town with its vivid [mercantile] history from its time as a Hanseatic port, and witness the varied cultural influences that have shaped its architecture and identity,” said Veronika Romane, owner of travel firm and blog Aim To Discover, who is based in the Latvian town of Garkalne.
Riga’s Unesco-listed historic center is a major draw for travelers seeking a cooler-climate city break.
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