Trakai: Lithuania's island castle and lake town

Why go

Trakai is the image on many Lithuania postcards: a Gothic castle of red brick rising from an island, reached by a wooden footbridge, with sailing boats on the lake around it. The town is part of **Trakai Historical National Park**, a landscape of lakes, islands and woodland, and has a cultural story you will not find elsewhere, that of the Karaites.

The Island Castle

**Trakai Island Castle** was built in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, when Trakai was a seat of the grand dukes, including Vytautas the Great. It fell into ruin and was rebuilt in the twentieth century. Inside is a history museum with rooms on the castle's past, coins, weapons and everyday objects. The courtyard and towers are the best part, and the views from the footbridge are the classic photo. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the midday tour groups in summer.

On the mainland, the ruined **Peninsula Castle** is older, and its grassy walls make a peaceful spot to sit.

The Karaites

The **Karaites** are a Turkic speaking people with their own faith, linked to Judaism but distinct from it. Grand Duke Vytautas brought a few hundred families from Crimea in the late fourteenth century, and a small community lives in Trakai to this day. Their wooden houses on **Karaimų street** traditionally have three windows facing the street. Visit the **Kenesa**, their prayer house, and the small ethnographic exhibition to understand their history.

The Karaites gave Lithuania **kibinai**, half moon pastries filled with minced meat, and today with chicken, vegetables or cheese too. Eating them fresh from the oven in a Karaite restaurant on the lake is part of the Trakai experience.

On the water

In summer you can hire a pedal boat, rowing boat or small sailing boat to circle the castle. Lake Galvė has more than twenty islands. Paddleboards and kayaks are popular, and there are swimming spots around the lakes. In winter, when the ice is safe, locals skate and walk on the frozen lake, but never go onto the ice unless locals confirm it is safe.

Beyond the castle

Across the lake, **Užutrakis Manor** is a neoclassical estate with a landscaped park and views back to the castle. Cycling paths link the lakeshore, and bikes can be rented in town. In summer, hot air balloons often drift over the lakes at dawn and dusk, and medieval festivals bring knights and crafts to the castle.

Getting there

Trains and buses run often from Vilnius station, taking around thirty to forty minutes. From the station it is a pleasant walk through town to the castle, roughly half an hour. Check the official LTG Link and bus timetables, especially on winter weekends.

Where to stay

Most visitors come for the day, but staying overnight lets you see the castle quiet and lit up. Small hotels and guesthouses sit along the lakes, and a few lakeside restaurants have rooms.

Tips

Wear comfortable shoes, as the walk from the station is longer than it looks. Bring layers, as lakeside breezes are cool even in summer. Weekends in July and August are the busiest, so a weekday visit is calmer.