The Corner House

From the mid 1940s, and prior to 1941, until 1991 Riga & Latvia was suppressed and occupied by the USSR and the KGB. This is The Corner House, a former flower market when built in 1912, but where over 200 people were executed by the KGB when they occupied the building from 1914. The museum, which is hard to believe was still being used up until 1991 (such a short time in history and really not that long ago), is a cold, dull, dark and depressing building; probably exactly what the KGB wanted it to be. "It was communism that put into motion a systematic machine of repression that from time to time reached the highest level of state sponsored terror". If you visit, and you probably really should, then make sure that you book onto the guided tour, which at €15 per person isn't cheap but it's worth it. The tour lasts about an hour and includes so much more than what you see by just wandering around the ground floor. Our guide, I think his name was Alvers (I hope I got his name right), was excellent. You get the feeling of resentment, of utter disdain, hate for Russia and in particular what their leaders and the KGB did to control the people of Latvia. It is a bleak, cold building, entered via a non-descript door, narrow and uninviting, which looks almost as it was the day back in 1991 when the KGB left. We found our visit to be incredibly interesting, not to say that we enjoyed it, because how can you say that you enjoyed visiting a place where so much suffering was caused, you can't. But I'm glad that we went. Best to book in advance for the tour. Level 10 Google reviewer with over 1,300 reviews with 2 million plus views & 15,000 photos and still going strong 💪. My reviews aren't sponsored, they're based on mine, and often my wife's experience at an establishment whether that be a shop, restaurant, service or activity, with the aim of highlighting great service plus areas for improvement, if necessary. And boy sometimes it is necessary. Check out my other reviews 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Visited the Corner House on a Sunday afternoon and joined the guided tour for 15€ per person. It was absolutely worth it. The experience was powerful and deeply eye opening. Walking through the cells and standing in the execution room was undeniably heavy, yet incredibly thought‑provoking. Our guide, a history student whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch, was excellent. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and provided valuable context throughout the visit. He also gave us time to explore on our own while remaining available for any questions. A memorable and impactful tour.

If you're visiting Riga this is an absolute must. It isn't pretty, it isn't commercialised. It's a gritty, raw look at what the Latvian people endured during occupation. As thought provoking as it is facinating, the tour guide was great too.

Very interesting. There are elements that we should perhaps take in Britain to solve recidivism and overcrowding in British prisons (joking). A very interesting tour which I would recommend. I woudl recommend getting the guided tour, as otherwise bits if it might be a bit wasted if you didn't know the context of the rooms.

This is a tricky review to write. It was an utterly harrowing experience, really showcasing the horrors of the 20th century and what people are capable of doing to each other. You can go into the main hall for free, however you can't go into the cells etc without a guided tour, but for the 15 euros it's really good value for money. I'm glad I did the tour and it's an important reminder that Freedom is never guaranteed. The tour guide was excellent, highly knowledgeable and struck the right balance of tone when presenting information. It's not an experience I would want to be doing everyday, but it's important to learn about this stuff.

To every person visiting Riga and to folk who are able to do the tour, I’d say this is a must. The guide is incredibly passionate and the place really brings to life the sufferings of the Latvian people and what they endured until 1991. This place does pull on your heartstrings.

JANES led an incredible tour with several surprises. He gave us layers of history from first Russian occupation to the Nazis to second Russian occupation. We saw videos of survivors telling their stories, photos and real paper work. We experienced the real cells of prisoners and their struggles. Can be very impactful

This is a part of history that should not be forgotten and everyone should see how horrible it was. The tour lasted about an hour, and I have to say, the guide was really creepy, but he was just trying to show us the horror of that time, right? Right?! Just joking, he was a star. I 100% recommend the tour.