Lithuania is a country located in north-eastern Europe, on the shores of the Baltic Sea and bordering Latvia, Belarus, Poland and Russian Kaliningrad. It was the first Soviet republic to gain independence in 1990. There are many reasons to visit Lithuania and many things to see in its top tourist destinations.
If you don’t have much time for exploring Lithuania, you can conveniently book Vilnius, Trakai and Kernave Tour online to enjoy this private tour and take the opportunity to see 3 towns important for the history of Lithuania in just one day. You will explore Kernave with its UNESCO-protected hill-forts, Trakai with its wonderful island castle and Vilnius with its Old Town.
Vilnius - the capital of Lithuania
Vilnius, the charming capital of Lithuania, is the most populous city in the country and has only 600,000 inhabitants. Vilnius is located in the Neris River valley and surrounded by greenery and hills. It is one of the greenest cities you will ever visit.
Vilnius Old Town is one of the largest in Eastern Europe with a perfectly preserved historical center. Vilnius Old Town is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and no one leaves Vilnius without experiencing the charm of the city. Vilnius Old Town is also considered a masterpiece of Baroque-style buildings, especially its churches, and is nicknamed of the baroque pearl of the Baltic. There are approximately 40 churches in and around the Old Town of Vilnius, creating a unique atmosphere in the city.
The center of the city is considered to be the Cathedral Square. One of the most important streets in the city is Gedimino Prospektas. You will easily find yourself walking up to the Gediminas Tower on the hill, named after the city's founder in the 14th century. This place is where you will see the magnificent views of the city and Pilies Gatve, the street that runs through the entire historic center of Vilnius. You can also visit the Museum of Genocide Victims, also called the KGB Museum, which tells of the dramatic fate of political prisoners under the Soviet occupation.
Vilnius is a relatively small city and it can take just one day to explore the old town. The main monuments, buildings and churches that are scattered throughout the city can be found in the list of tourist attractions in Vilnius.
You can consider taking the Vilnius Private Tour with a Local to discover the capital of Lithuania through the eyes of a local. You can learn about the easiest ways to get around, hear about the top things to see and do, and chat about life in the city with someone who lives there.
The Republic of Užupis
One of the most colorful and unique attractions of the capital is the bohemian district called “Užupio Res Publika” (The Republic of Užupis). Užupis has declared itself a free state in Vilnius in 1997, just like a mix between the Parisian Montmartre and the Christiania of Copenhagen. They have no rules as serious as Christiana. For example, you can enter and exit this neighborhood as you wish and you are free to take photos.
Despite being very close to the center, in the past it was considered a dangerous and infamous neighborhood but starting from the 20th century, more and more intellectuals and artists started to settle in this area due to the cheap rents and transform it into the trendiest district of the capital of Lithuania.
Užupis has its president, its national holidays, its flags for 4 seasons, seven bridges and two churches, even its army. It also has own representative Constitution, hung on a plaque along Paupio Street. The constitution of the Republic of Užupis is wonderfully designed and is a response to how we can make the world a better place such as a dog has the right to be a dog, everyone has the right to understand nothing or everyone has the right to be of any nationality.
When walking around this area, you will realize that you are in a different atmosphere. You will see objects created by local artists scattered on the streets. The statue of an angel right in the center of the district is considered the guardian of the Republic. There is no shortage of bars and cafes, art workshops, galleries, and bookstores for tourists to visit.
Kaunas
Kaunas is located approximately 100 kilometers west of Vilnius with just over an hour's journey by car or train. Kaunas is the country's second city, both demographically and in importance. Kaunas is the former capital of Lithuania during the inter-war period and is located in the central part of the country, at the confluence of the two largest rivers Nemunas and Neris. Today, it is a very dynamic city, with a large student population.
Kaunas is known historically and architecturally for its churches, monasteries and museums. Coming here, you can stroll through its historic center with many churches and beautiful historic mansions from the 15th and 16th centuries. You will see magnificent complex of Gothic and Renaissance style buildings. You can discover the Kaunas Castle, symbol of the city as well as visit the Town Hall and the Devil's Museum, a very special museum, exclusively dedicated to the figures of the devil.
Kaunas also has a relatively good shopping offers for handicrafts, amber jewelry, precious metals, alcohol products, clothes and food. The large shopping malls Akropolis and Mega in Kaunas keep travelers busy. Walking through pedestrian boulevard in the historic center, you can also come across local pubs or bars that are a good place to enjoy the Kaunas' nightlife.
The city is mainly known for its famous basketball team, Zalgiris Kaunas, and for being the birthplace of one of the best European players of all time, Arvydas Sabonis.
Attractions in Kaunas not to be missed for those who wants to take a complete tour of the things to see in Lithuania:
- Kaunas Old Town: The main area to visit in Kaunas
- Kaunas Castle: The castle was built in the 14th century in response to the Crusaders' progress, and was the first stone castle in medieval Lithuania. It is surrounded by a green park area that extends all the way to the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers. Various events and concerts are also held in the castle area.
- Kaunas Town Hall: It's called “White Swan” with Gothic architecture. There is a pottery museum downstairs and various events are also held in the building.
- The Devil Museum: The Museum features witches, devils, demons and other mythological creatures collected by Lithuanian artist Antanas Zmuidzinavicius.
- Ninth Fortress Museum: One of Kaunas defense fortresses and a historical and architectural monument protected by the state. The fortress is a symbol of the massacre of Jews.
- Kaunas Zoological Garden: Good place to visit in Lithuania for those traveling as a family with children. The garden is called as "a jungle in the city". It is possible to see many exotic animals.
You can easily take a Sightseeing Tour to Kaunas from Vilnius and visit Kaunas, while on the way stopping at open-air museum in Rumsiskes, a Lithuanian country-life museum with open-air expositions, then visiting most of the sites in Kaunas Old Town, including Kaunas Castle, St. George Church, Town Hall Square, the Jewish Quarter, and the Cathedral, and finishing the tour at the Pažaislis Monastery to admire its Italianate architecture.
Klaipeda
Klaipeda is one of the oldest cities in Lithuania, and was formerly known as Memelburg in 1252. Klaipeda is the third largest city in Lithuania and by far the largest coastal city. It represents the only port in Lithuania, which was an important trading city hundreds of years ago. Klaipeda is also a familiar stop for sailors.
The highlight of the city is the beautiful old town with German architecture buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition, Klaipeda has beaches and places to swim in the cold Baltic Sea.
You can discover its charming Old Town and mix of cultures by joining Handcrafted Canoe Tour of Klaipeda to explore Klaipeda from a different perspective.
Since 1934, Klaipeda has hosted Klaipeda Sea Festival on the last weekend of July, during which the port city is full of various performances, activities and people.
Curonian Spit
The charming port city of Klaipeda is also the gateway to the unique Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Curonian Spit is a very long and narrow peninsula, the area of which is divided by Russia and Lithuania. It is a unique natural destination with magnificent sand dunes, sandy beaches and small fishing villages.
You can consider taking a day trip to Curonian Spit National Park, the gem of the Lithuanian landscape, which is a 98-kilometer-long peninsula between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Bay formed more than 5000 years ago by the sea surge and streams, sand and wind.
Trakai
Trakai, which is located approximately 30 kilometers from Vilnius, is actually a lake resort, which is also a historically important town as an ancient capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Middle Ages. Trakai is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole of Lithuania. It is close to Vilnius and makes a great day trip if you want to explore the surrounding area.
The impressive castle on the island of Lake Galve is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Lithuania, especially in summer. Trakai Castle was built and destroyed several times since 1400. To reach the entrance of the castle you need to cross a bridge overlooking the water which will offer an incredibly beautiful panorama. Inside you can visit the private palace, the secret passages and a fascinating museum that tells the story of the castle and also the lifestyle of its inhabitants.
In addition to the castle you will find that it is also home to the Trakai Historical National Park, founded in 1991.
You can join Trakai Castle and Paneriai Memorial Tour to learn more about the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and visit the Paneriai Memorial Park and Trakai Castle on a day trip from Vilnius.
Hill of Crosses
Hill of Crosses (Kryziu Kalnas) is one of the most special places you can visit in Lithuania. It is located 12 km north of the industrial city of Siauliai. As the name suggests, the hill has numerous crosses, more than 50,000 crosses that have served as symbols of Christianity, love and sacrifice for hundreds of years.
You’ll see crosses dedicated to the partisans, to the most important dates of Lithuanian history and to famous individuals, such as Pope John Paul II and US President Ronald Reagan who put their precious crosses at the hill.
You can join the Hill of Crosses Full-Day Tour from Vilnius and learn about the symbolism behind the cross and cross-making art.
Druskininkai
Druskininkai is a small city surrounded by beautiful nature. This place is a good choice for those who are looking for relaxation holiday in Lithuania. Druskininkai in particular specializes in health tourism and it considered as the best spa destination in Lithuania. The water of Druskininkai is exceptionally mineral-rich that guarantee a relaxing stay. In addition to spas, the city's largest water park attracts tourists to Lithuania.
There are numerous spas, wellness centers and health resorts in the city. The best spa in the city is considered to be SPA VILNIUS Druskininkai. It features spa facilities as well as an indoor pool with mineral water, saunas and a selection of body and facial treatments. This place is also offering elegant rooms with stylish furniture and a balcony.
Other accommodations with on-site SPA facilities in Druskininkai:
Grand SPA Lietuva Hotel Lietuva
Aukštaitija National Park
Aukštaitija National Park is located in the northeast of the country, not far from the large wilderness areas of neighboring Belarus. Aukštaitija National Park is the oldest National Park in Lithuania. This place was in fact established in 1974 on an area of 40,000 hectares, with pine and spruce forests and more than 120 lakes.
You can enjoy canoeing, hiking, windsurfing, bird watching and in winter skiing and even fishing under ice. Visiting the park, it is also possible to admire small traditional hamlets with pretty wooden houses, typical of Lithuania, dating back to the 19th century.
You can take Aukstaitija National Park Full-Day Tour to visit Aukštaitija National Park.
Tips
Lithuania is also an excellent stop when it comes to touring the Baltic States, either as a start or end of the trip. There are clearly fewer tourists in Lithuania than in the other Baltic capitals, which makes Vilnius a relaxed and peaceful city destination.