Lithuania's lively second city. Kaunas might just top your list.
Make Kaunas the first stop on your trip.
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Kaunas has a population of about two thirds that of Vilnius. It's often referred to as a city of museums. You'll find a great number and variety of them. Kaunas has played a significant role in the history of Lithuania. It was the capital of the First Republic of Lithuania from 1919 to 1939, after Russian Bolsheviks and Polish soldiers occupied Vilnius. Prior to WWII around a quarter of the population of Kaunas was Jewish. These days Kaunas features a mixture of architectural styles. The charming Old Town, the inter-war functionalist style of New Town, Soviet-era buildings and more modern developments provide diversity. The large student population in Kaunas means there's a vibrant nightlife. The city buzzes in summer with pavement cafes, terraces and beer gardens.
The place to start your exploration of Kaunas is definitely Town Hall Square. It's at one end of Vilnius Street, the main artery of Old Town. Nearby are the ruins of the Gothic 14th century Kaunas Castle, which was partially restored in 2010. Just past the castle is the confluence of the two largest rivers in Lithuania. These are the Nemunas and the Neris, which also flows through Vilnius. From here the Nemunas continues to the Baltic Sea. A stroll along cafe and restaurant-lined Vilnius street takes you to New Town. While in Kaunas don't forget to take at least one of the two funicular railways to get a panoramic view. We suggest spending at least one night in Kaunas if your Baltic States schedule allows. Spend one or two more if you plan on concentrating on Lithuania. UNESCO buffs shouldn’t miss Rumsiskes, a World Heritage Site. Here you’ll find a village of wooden dwellings representing the whole country.
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Kaunas's compact city center has several hotels but from our experience these are the best in their respective price categories. Once we start preparing your customized itinerary we will present our recommended options for you to select from.
Start your exploration of Kaunas at the Town Hall, outside the architecturally eclectic swan-like Old Town Hall, from there you could visit the ruins (and part reconstruction) of the 14th century Gothic Kaunas Castle then back to the square to walk along Vilnius Street, pausing for a snack or a coffee in one of the many cafes and eateries that line this artery of the Old Town. Before you reach the New Town area you'll come across the Historical Presidential Palace. Beyond is the New Town area, where you'll find functionalist and soviet era buildings and the main commercial area of the city. If you'd prefer not to walk you will find regular bus tours are available with multi-lingual commentary, your hotel reception will have more details.
To get a better view of the city there are two funicular railways you can take that scale the hills on the opposite side of rivers.
Often referred to as a city of museums, Kaunas has something for most interest areas, whether you're interested in aviation, sports, medicine or folk music instruments and plenty more besides. UNESCO buffs shouldn’t miss Rumsiskes, a world heritage list site, where you’ll find a village of wooden dwellings representing the whole country.
“Lithuania's capital until WWII, Kaunas is home to many unusual museums, from the Devil's Museum, to the Museum for the Blind (open to everyone, of course, but pitch black). In 1939, 1/4 of the city (also known as Kovno) was Jewish, and the best and worst of humanity is on display, from the home of Sugihara, the Japanese diplomat who wrote tens of thousands of visas for Jewish refugees by hand, to the Ninth Fort, a fortress largely devoted to art that seeks to memorialize the atrocities committed by Nazi and Soviet occupiers alike.”
Spend some time in Kaunas on a tour that takes in other cities in Lithuania and neighboring countries. Our vacation packages including Kaunas and other destinations make traveling in Central & Eastern Europe hassle-free. We take care of getting you from place to place, accommodation, excursions and activities.
For such a small country, there's a lot to see in Lithuania. You'll begin your week long tour of Lithuania in the quirky capital Vilnius, with its sizeable baroque old town. Next you will enjoy a private transfer to Klaipeda, the country's Baltic sea port. From here you will visit Nida on the Curonian Spit. Your tour ends in Kaunas, Lithuania's lively second city, known for its museums. read full itinerary
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