Jurmala City

If you feel like taking a rest from the hustle and bustle of Latvia's capital city, Jurmala is the perfect escape. Located at mere 20 km west of Riga, it is a quiet resort town stretching along the Baltic coastline. True to its name (Jurmala means "seaside" in Latvian), it is famous primarily for its 32 kilometers of white sand beach. The beach is flanked by pine forest and predominantly wooden cottages many of which date from late 19th - early 20th century. The seaside may get pretty crowded on hot summer days but you may easily escape it by renting a bike and finding a less crowded stretch of the beach up or down the coast. It's a good idea to finish the day with a relaxed dinner in one of Jurmala's restaurants. But check out the prices before making the order because for free is only the sunset in the sea.