Riga

Riga may not trip off the tongue when you're discussing your next city break, but for this very reason, the capital of Latvia is the ideal choice.

Unlike many of its counterparts, it's not yet dedicated tourist terrain, which means you get authenticity by the bucket load. Locals fish for their dinners in the city parks and the markets jostle with women peddling honey from their own farms in miscellaneous jars.

Food and drink is very cheap and the cosmopolitan nightlife is some of the best in the Baltics.

Set around the Daugava River, it has a pristine Old Town with diverse architecture influenced by the Germans, the Russians and the pre-WWII Jewish community.

The streets here are best explored on foot, with occasional breaks to marvel at women navigating the cobblestones in their fetish footwear - seemingly a fashion must-have in these parts.

The golden spires of Russian Orthodox churches pepper the skyline above beautifully manicured gardens, grand squares and infamously chaotic traffic.

Buildings worthy of a visit include Riga Castle with its three museums, and St Peter's Church, which offers cracking views of the city. Riga also boasts one of the finest collections of Art Nouveau houses in existence.

The cultural must-see is the Occupation Museum, which offers a startling insight into the tough times imposed on the Latvians by the Russians and the Nazis.

Another essential stop is the Central Market, located in five hangars that once housed zeppelins. Dark tasty breads, dried fish, white and yellow raspberries, pigs' legs and shoes are just a few of the items you can pick up at amazingly low prices.