I explored nine countries in 2025: this trendy city that feels like Paris was the biggest surprise

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Let’s not kid ourselves: some cities have artificial nicknames that don’t live up to the hype.

How many ‘Venice’ can there really be?

Just because there’s a picturesque canal bisecting a timeless cityscape, declaring it a Venetian dupe rarely evokes the same romance as the real thing.

The same can be said for Milan (Italy’s ‘New York’) and Madeira (Portugal’s ‘Hawaii’) among a laundry list of others…

Sure, they’re incredible in their own right, but is it necessary to give them all a nickname?

Whatever the correct answer may be, I had the pleasure of exploring nine countries in 2025 and there is one city that is the ‘Paris of the Baltics‘, that surprised me the most.

Paris is a difficult name to live up to – some would say impossible. But this beautiful capital takes the best of France’s renowned elegance and exudes its own charm and architectural flair, creating one of Europe’s trendiest cities to visit – with good reason.

Why Riga, Latvia left such a lasting impression

For comparison, these are all 9 countries I visited in 2025:

While Estonia completely amazed me, my girlfriend and I felt like we knew what we were signing up for in Lord Farquaad’s territory.

Neighboring Latvia, on the other hand, was an unexpected surprise, which we did not want to end.

Yes, Christmas is over, but if you’re the type who dreams of market hopping during the holidays, Riga should be number 1 on your bucket list.

Don’t get me wrong, as you can see above, we had an unforgettable time as we indulged in Christmas market after Christmas market from Helsinki to Prague, but Riga in particular felt plucked from an Old World fairy tale as the vendors were draped to the gills in Hanseatic-inspired woolen cloaks and everything from pig snouts to steaming stews bubbled in iron cauldrons.

But since the holidays are over, let’s not turn the clock back to Christmas too much. Just keep it on your radar for next year…

There’s a lot more than meets the eye to Riga, no matter how tempting it is to spend all your time devouring sausages and downing endless cups of mulled wine while trying to enjoy Mariah Carey for the 14th time.

The truth is, Riga do exudes the Parisian atmosphere.

No, there is no Eiffel Tower and some Indeed, the locals were as curt as Paris’s reputation (you know who you are, lady!), but with the abundance of Art Nouveau, grand avenues, leafy parks and the terrace culture that persists even in light drizzle, you’ll no doubt feel the hints of Paris everywhere in the city – all without crowds or high prices.

It is truly a pleasure to explore the cobbled alleys and lively boulevards in rain, sleet, snow or sunshine.

Europe’s largest market is a must-visit

Who would have thought that Europe’s largest market would be in the Baltic States?

Riga Central Market is a must visit whether you are a foodie or not, or if you need a warm place inside to escape the winter chill.

Comprised of more than 3,000 trade stands spread across the indoor pavilions and outdoor areas, there is something for everyone.

Although it is impossible to go hungry here, there are also large areas where you can buy souvenirs.

But if you’re a foodie like me and like to eat local instead of checking to see if American fast food abroad is just as bad, Riga’s Central Market is the place to sample not only Latvian delicacies, but pretty much all of Europe.

It doesn’t matter if you like canned fish from Portugal, just a piece Jamon Iberico from Spain, or 3 bowls of olives from the Mediterranean (don’t judge me!), it can all be found here.

To our surprise, the Eastern European cuisine was also very good. We especially liked fruit-filled dumplings and beef goulash, and… nothing here will empty your bank account like the real Paris.

Beach happiness or Christmas atmosphere: Visit now before it’s too late!

Here at Travel Off Path we believe it is our job to lead the way. It is clear that in many places in Europe the cat is out of the closet, and not just when it comes to icons. That’s why I discovered such ‘hidden gems’ at the time, like Ohrid, North Macedonia and Bratislava, Slovakia, before they got going.

But that’s where Riga is right now – right in the sweet spot of being trendy, but not quite a household name.

However, Riga is definitely becoming more and more popular. A new report claims that more travelers are finding Riga by all means possible, whether it’s cruises, ferries, buses and of course flights.

That means 2026 is the perfect time to embrace Riga before it becomes too popular, especially since it’s surprisingly a destination that can be visited all year round.

It’s true, Riga is a beach destination as the little known coastal jewel of Jurmala is a stone’s throw away by public transport.

From May to September, temperatures can be between 65 and 75 degrees daily, making for great beach days, but there’s also nothing wrong with bundling up and enjoying Riga’s winter wonderland vibes, especially the Christmas market at Doma Square which we will definitely visit again.

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.