Find out what was hiding behind the iron curtain in Latvia for 46 years on a 3.5-hour communism walking tour of Riga. Familiarize yourself with the Soviet Union legacy in Latvia and see real life the way it has been here for more than 60 years.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
Duration 3.5 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English, Latvian, Lettish
Pickup included: Hotel pick-up
Private group

Highlights

Pass by one of the most popular restaurants of the Soviet times
See the train station from which thousands of Latvians were deported to Siberia in Russia
Walk by residential yards
Be amazed and astonished at the antiquity of some of your surroundings
Gaze upon the architecture of schools and other buildings from the Soviet time
See an old bomb shelter (from outside)
Sample traditional Russian cuisine
Learn about the local way of life from an expert who lives in Riga

Full description

See Riga on foot and learn about the history of life behind the Iron Curtain on a 3.5-hour walking tour. You will be introduced to the Latgale region of Riga named Ķengarags, which is one of the most interesting and largest suburbs where locals do actually live and the way of life can be seen. During the tour you will feel just like you have stepped back in time, because almost nothing has changed in the looks and life of the Ķengarags suburbs. The one exception is that the Soviet military airplanes aren’t shaking the windows of the houses with the noise made from taking off at the nearby military airport of Rumbula. The architecture (living houses, schools, suburbs) of the Soviet times was very similar in the different parts of the union, with different cities sometimes having identical suburbs. By visiting Ķengarags you will get an understanding of the looks of other USSR cities.

Includes

Transportation
Guide who is also a local resident of the visited suburbs

Meal

Covid-19 precautions

You must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Important information

What to bring

Comfortable shoes

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 7 reviews

Review summary

Value for money
5/5
Safety
4.8/5
Service
4.8/5
Organization
4.8/5

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Every day life in Soviet Riga

Great and interesting tour. Instead of just getting to see military complexes or very expected stuff like that, we got to go to one of Riga's suburbs and walk around where people lived, and still live, in Soviet-built houses. The guide was great and spoke very good english and had answers to all our questions. Great and interesting tour!

June 10, 2014

Ein Spaziergang durch das alltägliche Leben am Stadtrand von Riga. Dazu gibt es viele Geschichten zur Entstehung und Veränderung der Siedlung sowie zur Geschichte Lettlands. Mein Guide hat wirklich jede Frage ausführlich beantwortet. Sehr spannend und besonders empfehlenswert, wenn man das Land auch außerhalb der touristischen Highlights kennenlernen möchte. Gegen Ende ist noch ein Mittagessen in einem typisch lettischen Mittagsrestaurant eingeplant.

June 5, 2022

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Our guide Rihards was great. Despite the rain and cold, he was in good spirits, showed us interesting and historically significant places, shared a lot of information and stories with us, and provided good company. He also recommended some cool bars and nice local beers. It was a very interesting tour that showed us places we wouldn't have found by ourselves, and gave us insights we otherwise would've missed out on. It provided us with a much broader and more nuanced picture of Riga, and Latvia as a whole. Definitely recommended!

September 6, 2021

Riga: Behind the Iron Curtain 3.5-Hour Communism Tour

Riga: Behind the Iron Curtain 3.5-Hour Communism Tour

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Every day life in Soviet Riga