Riga Motor Museum
Calling all car lovers and history fans! This optional morning excursion takes you to the Riga Motor Museum, one of the top sights in Latvia and a true treat even for those who don't consider themselves car enthusiasts. The museum grew out of the traditions of the Antique Automobile Club of Latvia, whose members shared a deep passion for antique vehicles as objects of beauty and an important part of cultural heritage. The museum opened in 1989 and was extensively renovated in 2016, so today you can explore its collection of over a hundred vehicles with the help of modern and interactive displays.
The real stars of the show are the cars that once belonged to famous Soviet leaders like Stalin, Khrushchev and Brezhnev, complete with playful life-sized figures of the men themselves. See Stalin's armoured limousine, a car so heavy it used a litre of petrol every 2.5 kilometres, and the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow that Leonid Brezhnev crashed in 1980 and which was never repaired. You'll also find elegant German limousines and sports cars from the 1930s, as well as a hall about the lives of ordinary Soviet citizens and their cars. Full of fascinating stories and surprising details, this optional excursion is a fun way to spend a morning during your guided tour.