The Baltic Sea – Kuressaare

Take a walk on the wild side, on Estonia’s largest island, Saaremaa. The capital Kuressaare is the ideal starting point for expeditions around the island. At the heart of the town, the castle is Estonia’s best preserved medieval fortress – climb to the top for a panoramic view of island, sea and Kuressaare harbour. Soft sand dunes and pine fringed beaches make the coast nearby popular among bathers and sun seekers alike; but if you’re looking for something a little more rugged head to the north of the island, where juniper shrubs cling to the wild, stony shores. Peaceful Saaremaa is an ideal place for cycling – rent a bike on the island and head off to find your own private beach. After all that exercise, you’ll need a little pampering, so check out one of Saaremaa’s SPAs, where you can soak up the benefits of Saaremaa’s famous mud therapy – a treatment based on traditions dating back nearly 200 years.

airBaltic flies to Kuressaare from Riga twice a week during the summer.

The North Sea – Hamburg

Vibrant Hamburg, Germany’s biggest port has been a trading hub since medieval times. Explore the bustling fish market, admire its Hanseatic architecture or watch others working at Hamburg’s famous harbour. The city sits on the River Elbe, but follow the river out to sea, for a day trip to the North Sea coast. Just 100km from Hamburg, the coastline is a national park. Watch the mudflats appear and disappear with the ebb and flow of the dramatic North Sea tide – twice a day the sea level changes by two to three metres – uncovering a seashore world teeming with wildlife. Further up the coast you can go kitesurfing, riding or just for a walk along the seemingly endless sands of Sankt Peter Ording, where the beach stretches more than 2km out to sea. Just a short hop away, venture to Germany’s northernmost point – Sylt Island. A paradise for cyclists, sunbathers and seafood-lovers alike – find out why it’s one of Germany’s favourite holiday spots.

airBaltic flies to Hamburg from Riga daily except Saturdays, from Liepaja daily, and from Vilnius 4 times a week.

The Mediterranean – Rome

Where the Mediterranean laps the shore, you’ll find the wonders of the ancient world and the glamour of chic beach resorts. The “Eternal City” has been mesmerising visitors for thousands of years – from the glories of ancient Rome to the jaw-dropping wealth of the Vatican City. If you need a little time out to take it all in, why not join the Romans on their favourite beaches; Fregene and Lido di Ostia, both less than 40km from Rome. Here you can spend the day doing nothing in the sunshine; getting ready to dance until dawn once the sun’s gone down, at one of the resorts’ hugely popular bars and clubs. Or, to get a little further away from it all, hop on a boat to the Isole Pontine – tiny islands just off shore, where the rich and famous go to unwind.

airBaltic flies to Rome from Riga 4 times a week and from Vilnius 3 times a week.

The Black Sea – Simferopol, Odessa

Odessa, the “Pearl of the Black Sea” prides itself on its free spirit and cosmopolitan atmosphere. A port, a resort and a city famed for its humour, if it wasn’t so bustling by day, you’d say the city woke up at night – as its seafront bars and clubs throng with people dancing the night away. Simferopol sits at the heart of the Crimean Peninsula, beloved getaway of the Tsars, and the most popular resort of the USSR. Take the world’s longest trolleybus to Yalta, sip sweet Crimean wines at the Massandra vineyard, or visit the Crimean Khan’s palace of Bakhisaray, whose Fountain of Tears was immortalised by Pushkin.

airBaltic flies to Odessa from Riga every day and to Simferopol from Riga twice a week during the summer.

The Caspian Sea – Baku

This ancient trading city has welcomed silk route travellers for thousands of years. Explore its ancient walls, overlooking the Bay of Baku and the Caspian Sea, or, like Baku’s residents, head out of town to pamper yourself. Just 25km north of Baku at Mardakyan, relax in one of a string of resorts famed for their mineral waters and therapeutic mud.

airBaltic flies to Baku from Riga twice a week.