The Karosta Prison (Karosta Cietums) is one of the most unusual attractions in the Baltic states — a genuine former military prison that operated through tsarist, Nazi, and Soviet occupation, now open to visitors for tours and a deliberately uncomfortable overnight experience.
The day tours walk you through the cell blocks, punishment cells, and exercise yards with a guide who explains the building's history across its several incarnations. The overnight stays are theatrical but effective: guests are stripped of their possessions, issued rough clothing, given thin mattresses on bare bunks, and subjected to random wake-ups by guards playing the role. It is not comfortable, and that is the point. Advance booking is essential for overnight stays, which sell out weeks ahead in summer. The prison is located within Karosta — combine with a walk through the rest of the district for context.