Latvia by train

May to September is the best time to visit Latvia, with the warmest, driest weather and up to 19 hours of daylight in midsummer. July and August are the busiest months, but April, May and September offer similar conditions with fewer crowds. There are highlights year-round: Jāņi sees bonfires and all-night folk singing across the country every Midsummer, the Latvian Song and Dance Festival brings 40,000 performers together every five years, and Meteņi marks the start of Shrovetide with sledding and mask parades in late February.

The best things to do in Latvia include exploring Riga's UNESCO-listed Old Town, relaxing on the beaches of Jūrmala, and visiting Kuldīga's waterfall.

• Exploring Riga's Old Town and Art Nouveau architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Relaxing on the sandy beaches of Jūrmala, a short train ride from Riga

• Visiting Kuldīga, home to Europe's widest waterfall

• Exploring the medieval town of Cēsis and Gauja National Park, dotted with sandstone cliffs and medieval castles

• Touring Turaida Castle and Rundāle Palace, known as the "Baltic Versailles"

• Walking the boardwalk trails of Ķemeri Bog, a landscape of peat pools and rare birdlife

• Sampling smoked sprats, rye bread and craft beer at Riga Central Market, housed in former Zeppelin hangars

• Wildlife spotting in Latvia's forests, home to beavers, storks and elk

Latvia has no direct international trains from outside the Baltics, but Riga is reachable by a daily direct train from Vilnius in Lithuania, and from Tallinn in Estonia. Ferries also connect Latvia with Sweden and Germany. Within Latvia, trains connect Riga with towns including Jūrmala, Cēsis and Liepāja.