The Darkest 50 Years
Riga, Latvia
From EUR 43.00
Office phone number: +37 129 283 441
The Darkest 50 Years
Riga, Latvia
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
It’s been more than 25 years since Latvia was declared an independent country, so you won’t easily find many Soviet-style buildings or districts – the city has changed its face a lot since then. However, you will never erase the hard memories tucked away in the hearts of the local people. Find out what it was like to live under Russian and German rule during those tumultuous years as you explore neighbourhoods and visit sites where evidence of the occupation era is still alive.
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Highlights
- Learn about the progress of Latvia, from its Soviet days to Riga’s naming as the European Capital of Culture
- Discover what daily life was like for locals who lived in Riga during the Soviet era
- Gaze down on the city’s Soviet-era sites from the famous ‘Stalin’s birthday cake’ building
- Explore the Russian corner of the city and visit the Riga Central Market
- Enjoy a Soviet-style snack and drink in a Soviet-style café
- Visit the museum of Occupation and KGB building to learn more about the darkest 50 years of Latvia history
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Meeting point:
"Laima" clock near the Monument of Freedom, on the corner of Brīvības blv. and Aspazijas blv.; Aspazijas Blv. 20
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- Starting time: 10.00 AM
- Ending point:
KGB Building, Brīvības Street 61, Riga
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, entrance fee to observation deck, 1 Soviet-style snack and drink.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, transportation to/from the meeting and end points, visit to KGB building basement prison cells (5 EUR/person), tips/gratuities for your guide.
Ever wondered how life was lived under Soviet or Nazi occupation? This is your chance to get a taste of the Latvia Occupation era and learn about the past life of Riga.
On this Riga tour, you'll explore a whole different side to the city by visiting sites and areas that still hold the hard memories of the occupation era in Latvia. You’ll learn about daily life in occupied Latvia and get to know more about the country's history under the Russian and Nazi regimes.
On the eve of World War II, Russia made its move into the Baltics and Finland, and by 1940, Latvia was part of the USSR. The Russians quickly started deporting anyone who posed a threat to the new regime. But the Russians were quickly replaced by the Germans, who forced many Latvians to fight against the Russians, who still had a lot of Latvian soldiers in their army. Sucked into a war between super powers, Latvians were forced to fight against each other in a war they didn't ask for.
After the war, Latvia once again became part of the USSR and Russia continued it mass deportations to Siberia, in an attempt to decrease Latvian resistance. Groups of Russians came to settle in Latvia and thousands of Russian descendants continue to live in Latvia to this day.
Your tour begins with a visit to the Riga Panorama Observation deck at a building often called ‘Stalin’s birthday cake’ – one of the few sites standing from Soviet times. From this high perch your guide will give you an overview of the city, pointing out most famous sites of Soviet times, such as the Riga TV tower and a blockhouse area called Kengarags.
Back on ground level, we’ll have a short stroll through the Riga Ghetto museum and Riga Central Market, where you can get a closer view of areas that haven’t changed much since 1990.
Afterwards, we’ll move towards the Old Town to visit more sites that are connected to the time of occupation. Before visiting the Museum of Occupation, we’ll enjoy a Soviet-style snack and drink in a true Soviet-style café and bar.
We’ll finish your Riga tour at the KGB building – one of the darkest places in Latvia, the so-called ‘Checka.’ If you’re brave enough, after visiting the main exhibition, you can even explore the basement’s prison cells (not included in tour price).
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, entrance fee to observation deck, 1 Soviet-style snack and drink.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, transportation to/from the meeting and end points, visit to KGB building basement prison cells (5 EUR/person), tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Please wear casual clothing and comfortable shoes for walking. Note that Riga can be quite cold in the winter months, so please dress accordingly.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page
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Local contact
Office phone number: +37 129 283 441
Email address: info@rigaurbanadventures.com
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