Low budget? Head east to Riga

It's not news that Eastern Europe is just as much of a budget destination as it was years ago. If you're looking for a city break, it's usually not the first region you think of taking on but the options are endless and better still, the prices are affordable. If you've never travelled through Eastern Europe before, you'll certainly be surprised by how chic and cosmopolitan the cities are. Latvia's capital city, Riga is a prime example of one of these places. 

Part of the bargain is being able to get there via low cost airlines. From London you can fly with either Air Baltic, Wizzair or Ryanair from Luton, Stansted and Gatwick. For the best possible fares, plan your trip 3 months in advance, securing your flights first when there are cheap deals. If you search with flexible dates, you'll find even cheaper seats.

If you're only making a weekend trip out of Riga, arrive early and leave late. Spend your morning wandering around the charming Old Town, admiring the squares and the city's 800 years of history that still lives in the walls and has influenced the Art Nouveau architecture around the city centre. Many of the buildings located centrally are original, whici is why they're listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Riga is a city that makes you stand still in awe, it's timeless and charming. Who wouldn't want to spend a weekend here?

Getting around the city is a breeze, it's all about trams and trolley buses in Riga, or walking. The best way to get yourself acquainted with the city is to stop by Riga's tourist office and pick up a free walking tour guide which will tell you about most of the interesting buildings and take you around the Old Town. If you'd like a guide, just look for the yellow suitcase outside St. Peter's Church at 12 noon.

Another great thing about Riga is that hotel accommodations are also quite cheap. You can find a dorm bed at a hostel for as little as €6 in low season, €10 in high season. In the Old Town you can also find double rooms at hotels for as little as €25, not bad for a capital city in Europe! At these prices you can definitely afford to make it a long weekend. Even a night at the ritziest hotels in the city will hardly put you over €100 a night.

If you have time to travel from Riga, there are a lot of other great cities nearby via ferry or train. Stockholm for example is just across the water (not the budget choice that Riga is however). Tallinn, the capital of Estonia is also considerably close. If you're looking at exploring more of Latvia, try Sigulda, a resort town an hour away. It sits in a valley with great hikes through forests and some cool castles as well.

Images: OneRandomMonkey, mibrant2000 / Flickr cc.