Doing business
Persistence can be key in Latvia, where business breakthroughs can take time and effort. The rewards are worth waiting for though, and post-deal dinners can turn into very late nights. Making an effort with the language – 'labdien' for hello, 'paldies' for thanks – will go down well, while speaking Russian is fine if you're not a native Latvian. Around a third of the population is Russian and the two nations have had a turbulent history so tread carefully.

Cool hotel
Reval Hotels has three properties in the Latvian capital, with the Elizabete (www.revalhotels.com) the choice pick. Located in the city centre, the stylish property has over 200 rooms ranging from doubles to suites all with contemporary furnishings and colours, plus there's a good restaurant and free wifi access throughout the hotel.

Hip restaurant
Vincent's restaurant generally trips off the tongues of locals when asked to name the city's top restaurant – and among the most expensive it is too. Located in central Riga (19 Elizabetes), British-Latvian chef Martins Ritins has served up dishes here for the likes of George Bush, Prince Charles and Elton John. There's a main restaurant plus a private dining room and a terrace, and a business lunch menu that won't break the bank.

Happening bar
There's a couple of classy options at the 26-floor Reval Hotel Latvija, with the Skyline Bar offering fancy cocktails, chilled out music and panoramic views from the city's tallest building, while closer to earth there's the sleek wine and tapas D'vine bar.

Getting there
Ryanair flies to Riga from London Stansted, Glasgow Prestwick, Dublin, Liverpool, East Midlands and Bristol. Air Baltic flies from London Gatwick twice weekly.

Getting downtown
Bus number 22 operates between Riga International Airport and the city centre, running every ten to 30 minutes, with a journey time of half an hour. Air Baltic also operates an airport express minibus. Taxis are plentiful, take around 15 minutes to the city centre and are relatively cheap.

The details
Riga is the capital of Latvia which, along with Lithuania and Estonia comprise what are often referred to as the Baltic States. Latvia is a member of the European Union but has not yet adopted the Euro due to missed financial targets set by the EU. The currency is the Lat (Ls): Ls1 = £1.21 at the time of going to press. The language is Latvian, and the country is GMT+2hrs.

Must-see sights
Riga's medieval Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring over 150 buildings and monuments of historical and architectural importance, all scattered around a maze of cobbled alleyways and winding streets.

INSIDER'S TIP
“Riga wakes up to a cup of coffee and wonderful bacon-stuffed buns, but no-one will look at you strangely if you accompany these treats with a small glass of Black Balsam liqueur – it will help you wake or feel better if you are suffering!”
www.rigatourism.lv

THE CARBON COST
A return flight from London to Riga will cover 3,702km and produce 0.4 tonnes of CO2. Offset this with The Carbon Neutral Company from £2.90.

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