Karosta Prison (Karostas Cietums)

   Visitor Information

Karosta Prison can only be viewed with a guide!

  • Individual Visitors (No prior booking required):

    • Tours take place without prior booking according to the operating hours (see table below).

    • Tour duration is approximately 45 minutes.

    • Tours start every full hour during working hours.

  • Groups (More than 10 people):

    • Prior reservation is mandatory by phone: +371 26369470.

  • Languages:

    • Core languages: Latvian (LV), English (ENG), Russian (RUS).

    • By prior request: German (DE), French (FR), Lithuanian (LT).

   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

KAROSTA PRISON WILL BE CLOSED ON NOVEMBER 17 and 18 !

   WORKING HOURS AND TOUR START TIMES

Tours and other programs are available outside these hours for groups with prior booking. Contact: e-mail info@karosta.lv or phone +371 26369470.

PeriodWorking Hours (Mon. – Sun.)Tour Start Times (on the hour)
June, July, August9:00 – 19:009:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00
May, September10:00 – 18:0010:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00
April, October, November12:00 – 17:0012:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
December – March
Mon.–Fri. by prior booking Mon.–Fri. by prior booking

Sat., Sun. 12:00 – 17:00 Sat., Sun. 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00



   PRICES (per tour)

Visitor CategoryPrice (EUR)
Adults8.00 EUR
Students5.00 EUR
Pupils, Seniors (pensioners)3.50 EUR
Children under 6 yearsFree of charge
Citizens of UkraineDiscount available

"Goda Ģimene" (Honour Family) Program

Discounts upon presenting a valid "Goda Ģimene" (LV) card along with a personal identification document:

  • Children receive free entry during organized tours with a class or with parents.

  • Children receive a 30% discount on all other services at Karosta Prison.

We also support the honour family programs of neighboring countries – identical discounts are applied to holders of the Lithuanian "Šeimos kortelė" (LT) and the Estonian "Perekaart" (EST) within the same terms.



During the excursion you will have an opportunity to see the prison, which has not changed since tsar times, get to know history of Karosta and interesting events from prison life. Also, to see prison cells and a punishment cell as well as an exposition by museum of Karosta prison about WWII, Kureliesi and soviet times.

PHOTOS

The prison started functioning over 100 years ago

This is the only military prison in Europe open to tourists

The prison nobody has ever escaped from

In different surveys Karosta prison is named as the most surprising and most unusual hotel in the world

Ghost Hunters International from the USA called Karosta Prison the most ghost haunted place in the world

The garrison prison of Liepāja’s Karosta was built at the beginning of the 20th century and in all times it has been used as a short term disciplinary penalty place for navy sailors and non–commissioned officers since the beginning of the 20th century.
Garrison sailors, who participated in the events of the revolution in 1905, served their sentence in the prison.
The building has been used as a short term disciplinary penalty place for sailors and non-commissioned officers by both the Soviet and Latvian Navy. The last of the convicts have scratched calendars, drawings, slogans, catchwords and messages on the walls of the cells just a short time ago, in 1997.

We invite you to donate to the development of the cultural and historical heritage of Karosta

You can transfer the donation to the account of the Karosta Rescue Society

KAROSTAS GLABSANAS BIEDRIBA
reg. No. 40008073159
SWIFT HABA LV 22
IBAN LV58HABA0551004375031


Karosta Rescue Society is a non-profit public benefit organization whose goals are:
1. To preserve, develop and improve the cultural and historical heritage of Liepāja.
2. Attract more tourism flow to Karosta.
3. To create Karosta as a single attractive and recognizable tourist object.
4. To create new tourist facilities and tourist services.
5. To organize various events with the aim of popularizing and studying the history of Liepāja.
6. To use the money donated by individuals and legal entities, as well as the other funds and property of the association for the needs of society.

The donations received in 2025 will be used to restore the museum's exhibits in Karosta prison and to illuminate Redan.