riga letland - vilnius litouwen - juli 2022

Riga (/ˈriːɡə/);[a] is the capital and largest city of Latvia. Home to 605,802 inhabitants, the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga metropolitan area, which stretches beyond the city limits, is estimated at 860,142 (as of 2023). The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the Baltic Sea. Riga's territory covers 307.17 km2 (118.60 sq mi) and lies 1–10 m (3.3–32.8 ft) above sea level, on a flat and sandy plain. Riga was founded in 1201 and is a former Hanseatic League member. Riga's historical centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its Art Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture and 19th century wooden architecture. Riga was the European Capital of Culture in 2014, along with Umeå in Sweden.

Vilnius (/ˈvɪlniəs/ VIL-nee-əs, Lithuanian: [ˈvʲɪlʲnʲʊs] i; previously known in English as Vilna, is the capital and the largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 593,436 as of 2023. By November 2022, there were approximately 753,875 permanent residents as in Vilnius city and Vilnius district municipalities combined.

Vilnius is situated in southeastern Lithuania and is currently the second largest city in the Baltic states. It is the seat of Lithuania's national government and the Vilnius District Municipality.

Vilnius is notable for the architecture of its Old Town. Considered one of the largest and best preserved old towns in Europe, Vilnius was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The architectural style known as Vilnian Baroque is named after the city, which is the largest Baroque city north of the Alps, and the easternmost one. (wikipedia)