Latvia, Lithuania, Spain & San Marino

There is a certain kind of traveler who takes quiet satisfaction in discovering a destination before the crowds do. Latvia is that destination—a Baltic jewel of ancient forests, vibrant cities, and a culinary tradition that Jamie Oliver's own blog once called Europe's hidden gem. That description still holds. Begin in Riga, the capital, one of the finest Art Nouveau cities on the continent. More than a third of the city's buildings carry the elaborate facades and organic flourishes of that distinctive style, and the medieval Old Town—a UNESCO World Heritage Site — layers centuries of history into a remarkably walkable and human-scaled city. The arts scene is equally serious: the Riga Contemporary Art Fair draws collectors and curators from across Europe, while the city's concert halls and cultural venues keep the calendar full year-round.