An outstanding place to begin getting a sense of Riga, especially if you've never been here before, is from atop the sky-scraping Reval Hotel Latvija at Elizabetes 55 (C-4); by looking out the tall windows of both side of the eagle's nest Skyline Bar, you can see virtually the whole of Riga. There are several good reference points to keep your bearings straight in and around the old city, including: the imposing Dome Cathedral, in the middle of the old town, and the Freedom Monument. ,Founded over 800 years ago, bustling, complex Riga was a thriving capital when Helsinki was just a swamp and St Petersburg nothing but a tiny village. Modern Riga is a city of great character and resilience that has emerged from a tumultuous 20th century to be the shining star on the Baltic stage.