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Soviet History in Riga

Overview

Riga is a perfect place for a history trip with a focus on Soviet occupation, with a variety of visits where students can see first-hand what living under the Bolshevik regime was like, but also see how a country can recover and thrive in its wake.

Your students will have the opportunity to learn about what life was like behind the Iron Curtain with several modern museums and poignant guided tours focusing on the Soviet occupation. 

You will be able to have a guided tour of The Corner House, explore the Museum of the Occupation in Latvia and head underground into a secret bunker! 

Our Suggested Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Flight from UK to Riga. 

    Guided Tour of Riga’s Old Town, with highlights including the House of the Black Heads and St Peter’s Church. This is sure to set the scene for Riga’s vibrant history prior to Soviet occupation.

    Leisure time during the evening in Riga's Old Town. 

  2. Day 2

    Start your morning by visiting Riga Central Market to sample some local produce. 

    Head onto a guided tour of The Corner House, the old KGB headquarters. As the most vivid symbol of the Soviet regime, students here will tour the original cells where prisoners were held. 

    Next, you will explore more of the city with a Soviet Riga Tour. By the end of this tour, your students will have a deepened understanding of the period from a local's perspective. 

    Spend some time in Riga's most popular public space, Bastejkalna Park.

    Optional: See the sights from a new angle with a boat cruise on the River Daugava. 

  3. Day 3

    Today begins with a guided tour of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, a thought-provoking museum which explores the history of Latvia's occupation under both Nazi and Soviet regimes from 1940 to 1991.

    Next, step inside the old headquarters of the Latvian Popular Front to visit the Museum of the Popular Front of Latvia! Here, you can explore interactive exhibits that detail the Latvian people's struggle for liberty leading to the Singing Revolution. 

    Optional: Head nine metres underground into a Soviet Secret Bunker! Built for the political elite in case of nuclear war, here you'll be able to enjoy an authentic Soviet meal! 

  4. Day 4

    Spend your last day exploring the National History Museum of Latvia, housed in Riga Castle and holding a vast wealth of unique and interesting exhibits! 

    You'll then have some time in Riga's Old Town, the final hunt for souvenirs. 

    Flight from Riga to UK. 

School Trip Accommodation

Accommodation

Our accommodation is usually 2* or youth hostel standard and provides a perfect base for enjoying your tour.   All accommodation we use is audited, and our auditing regime is verified by independent experts.