Lithuania · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Lithuania
These are our favourite places across Lithuania, from baroque Vilnius and modernist Kaunas to Trakai's island castle, the port of Klaipėda and the dunes around Nida. Opening hours change with the seasons, so check each place before you go.
Places to Visit in Vilnius
Arts and Culture
- Vilnius Old Town (Senamiestis)
One of the largest surviving medieval and baroque old towns in eastern Europe, a UNESCO site best walked slowly. - Vilnius Cathedral and Bell Tower (Cathedral Square)
The neoclassical heart of the city, with a free standing bell tower you can climb for views. - Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (Cathedral Square)
The rebuilt royal palace, with excavated ruins, grand halls and the story of the medieval state. - Gate of Dawn (Aušros Vartų gatvė)
The last surviving city gate, with a chapel and revered icon that draws pilgrims from across the region. - St Anne's Church (Maironio gatvė)
A flamboyant Gothic church of moulded red brick that Napoleon is said to have admired. - Church of St Peter and St Paul (Antakalnis)
A plain exterior hiding an astonishing baroque interior of some two thousand white stucco figures. - Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights (Lukiškių aikštė)
The former KGB building, with cells in the basement that tell the story of Soviet repression. - MO Museum (Pylimo gatvė)
A sleek modern art museum by Daniel Libeskind's studio, showing Lithuanian art from the 1960s onwards. - Vilnius Picture Gallery (Didžioji gatvė)
A quiet palace gallery of Lithuanian painting that few visitors find. - Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History, Holocaust Exposition (Naujamiestis)
The Green House exhibition on the Holocaust in Lithuania, a sobering and essential visit. - Paneriai Memorial (Paneriai)
The forest site where tens of thousands of Jews and others were murdered, with a small museum. - Literatų gatvė (Old Town)
A lane lined with small plaques and artworks honouring writers linked to Lithuania. - Bernardine Cemetery (Užupis)
A romantic hillside cemetery above the Vilnia river, full of moss and old crosses.
Things to Do
- Gediminas Castle Tower (Castle Hill)
A short climb or funicular ride to the red brick tower and the best sunset view over the Old Town. - Užupis (Užupis)
The self declared artists' republic across the river, with its tongue in cheek constitution on a wall. - Vilnius TV Tower (Karoliniškės)
A tall tower with a revolving viewing deck and a memorial to the January 1991 events. - Europos Parkas (Joneikiškės)
An open air sculpture park in the forest near the geographic centre of Europe. - Geographical Centre of Europe (Purnuškės)
A marker and lawn at the point French geographers named the centre of Europe.
Nature and Outdoors
- Hill of Three Crosses (Kalnų Park)
A forested hill with white crosses and a wide view over the city's spires and rooftops. - Bernardine Garden (Old Town)
A riverside park with fountains, a playground and lawns beneath Castle Hill. - Pavilniai Regional Park (Belmontas)
Steep river valleys, the Puckoriai exposure and forest trails within the city limits. - Vingis Park (Vingis)
The largest park in the city, with river paths and space for concerts.
Shopping and Markets
- Halės Market (Pylimo gatvė)
A historic covered market with bread, cheese, smoked meats and a few lively food counters. - Kalvarijų Market (Žirmūnai)
The city's biggest open market, good for berries, mushrooms and honey in season. - Kaziukas Fair (Old Town)
A huge folk craft fair each March, famous for woven palm verbos and gingerbread.
Events
- Vilnius Christmas Tree (Cathedral Square)
Every December the square gets a striking themed tree and a festive market. - Vilnius Street Music Day (Citywide)
Each May musicians of every level play on street corners across the city. - Užupis Independence Day (Užupis)
April Fools' Day celebrations, with passport stamps at the bridge and street parties.
Restaurants
- Lokys (Stiklių gatvė)
A long running cellar restaurant serving hearty Lithuanian dishes including game. - Etno Dvaras (Pilies gatvė)
Traditional cepelinai, potato pancakes and beer in a folk styled setting at sensible cost. - Būsi trečias (Totorių gatvė)
A brewpub with simple Lithuanian food and its own beer.
Cafés
- Caffeine Roasters (Old Town)
A local roasting chain with reliable flat whites and good seating.
Bars and Nightlife
- Alaus Namai (Naujamiestis)
A cosy basement pub with a long list of Lithuanian craft and farmhouse beers. - Šnekutis (Užupis)
A tiny beer bar pouring rare farmhouse ales from small Lithuanian breweries. - Loftas (Naujamiestis)
An industrial arts space hosting concerts, club nights and summer festivals.
Stays
- Stikliai Hotel (Old Town)
A classic boutique hotel in restored Old Town houses. - Radisson Collection Astorija Hotel (Didžioji gatvė)
A grand historic hotel facing St Casimir's Church.
Places to Visit in Trakai
Arts and Culture
- Trakai Island Castle (Lake Galvė)
A red brick island castle on Lake Galvė, reached by footbridge, with a history museum inside. - Trakai Peninsula Castle (Trakai Old Town)
Ruins of the older castle on the peninsula, with grassy walls for a picnic. - Karaite Ethnographic Exhibition (Karaimų gatvė)
A small museum about the Karaite community whose wooden houses face the street with three windows. - Kenesa of Trakai (Karaimų gatvė)
The Karaite prayer house, a rare survivor of this tiny Turkic community's heritage. - Užutrakis Manor (Užutrakis)
A neoclassical manor and park across the lake with lovely views back to the castle.
Restaurants
- Kybynlar (Karaimų gatvė)
Karaite kibinai pastries and dishes in the old Karaite street. - Senoji Kibininė (Karaimų gatvė)
A lakeside spot for kibinai and soup with a view of the water.
Nature and Outdoors
- Lake Galvė boat hire (Lake Galvė)
Rent a pedal boat or rowing boat to see the castle from the water. - Trakai Historical National Park (Trakai)
Lakes, islands and woodland paths around the town, good for cycling.
Stays
- Apvalaus Stalo Klubas (Lake Galvė)
A lakeside restaurant and guesthouse looking straight at the castle.
Places to Visit in Kaunas
Arts and Culture
- Kaunas Castle (Old Town)
The oldest stone castle in Lithuania at the meeting of two rivers. - Kaunas Town Hall (Rotušės aikštė)
An elegant white building nicknamed the White Swan, at the centre of the old town. - M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art (City centre)
The home of the dreamlike paintings of Lithuania's great painter and composer. - Devils' Museum (Žaliakalnis)
Thousands of devil figures from around the world, quirky and fun for all ages. - Ninth Fort (Kaunas outskirts)
A tsarist fortress turned Nazi killing site, with a museum and a vast memorial. - Vytautas the Great War Museum (City centre)
A grand interwar museum with the remains of the Lituanica aircraft. - Christ's Resurrection Church (Žaliakalnis)
A white modernist church with a rooftop terrace over the city. - Sugihara House (Žaliakalnis)
The former Japanese consulate where Chiune Sugihara issued life saving visas in 1940. - Pažaislis Monastery (Pažaislis)
A baroque monastery on the reservoir shore with Italian frescoes and summer concerts. - Kaunas street art (City centre)
Murals including the Wise Old Man on Vilniaus street lanes.
Things to Do
- Laisvės alėja (City centre)
The long pedestrian boulevard, lined with cafés and interwar buildings. - Žaliakalnis Funicular (Žaliakalnis)
A creaky wooden funicular from the 1930s climbing the green hill. - Kaunas modernism walk (Naujamiestis)
Interwar buildings from the city's time as temporary capital, part of a UNESCO listing. - Rumšiškės Open Air Museum (Rumšiškės)
A large outdoor museum of rural wooden farmsteads from every region.
Nature and Outdoors
- Santaka Park (Old Town)
Where the Nemunas and Neris meet, a calm spot for a walk. - Kaunas Lagoon Regional Park (Kaunas)
Shoreline paths and forests along the reservoir.
Events
- Kaunas Jazz (City centre)
A spring jazz festival held in halls and open air stages.
Stays
- Hotel Daugirdas (Old Town)
A boutique hotel in a historic building near the Town Hall.
Places to Visit in Klaipėda
Arts and Culture
- Klaipėda Old Town (Senamiestis)
Half timbered warehouses and cobbled lanes from the city's German past as Memel. - Ännchen von Tharau statue (Theatre Square)
A beloved statue in front of the theatre, tied to a famous folk song. - Lithuanian Sea Museum (Smiltynė)
An aquarium and maritime museum in an old fortress, with seals and penguins. - Klaipėda Castle Museum (Castle Port)
Excavated remains of the castle with a small museum. - Clock and Watch Museum (Liepų gatvė)
A collection of timepieces in an elegant villa. - Sculpture Park (Martynas Mažvydas Park)
An old cemetery turned park with over a hundred modern sculptures.
Things to Do
- Smiltynė ferry (Old Ferry Terminal)
A short ferry ride across the lagoon mouth to beaches and forest.
Events
- Sea Festival (Old Town and port)
The biggest summer party on the coast, with tall ships, concerts and fireworks in July.
Nature and Outdoors
- Melnragė beach (Melnragė)
The nearest sandy beach, with a pier for sunset. - Giruliai beach (Giruliai)
Forest backed sand, quieter than Palanga.
Places to Visit in Nida
Nature and Outdoors
- Parnidis Dune (Nida)
A great dune with a sundial and views over the lagoon to the Russian border. - Hill of Witches (Juodkrantė)
A forest path lined with wooden carvings of figures from Lithuanian folklore. - Grey Dunes of Nagliai (Pervalka)
Silent, shifting grey dunes and dead villages buried by sand. - Juodkrantė cormorant colony (Juodkrantė)
A forest of nests where grey herons and cormorants breed in spring. - Nida beach (Nida)
A wide Baltic beach behind the dunes.
Arts and Culture
- Thomas Mann Memorial Museum (Nida)
The writer's summer house above the lagoon. - Neringa History Museum (Nida)
Fishing life on the spit, from kurėnas boats to weathervanes. - Fisherman's Ethnographic Homestead (Nida)
An old fisherman's house with blue painted wood and a garden.
Restaurants
- Smoked fish stalls (Nida harbour)
Freshly smoked fish such as eel and bream eaten at the harbour.
Things to Do
- Cycling the Curonian Spit (Nida to Juodkrantė)
A forest cycle path linking the villages, easy for families.
Places to Visit in Palanga
Things to Do
- Basanavičiaus gatvė (Palanga)
The lively resort street leading to the pier.
Nature and Outdoors
- Palanga Pier (Palanga)
A long pier where crowds gather for sunset. - Palanga Botanical Park (Vytauto gatvė)
A large park with Birutė Hill and its chapel. - Seaside Cycle Route (Palanga to Šventoji)
A coastal cycle path through pines.
Arts and Culture
- Palanga Amber Museum (Botanical Park)
Amber pieces with fossils inside, set in the Tiškevičiai palace.
Places to Visit in Šiauliai
Arts and Culture
- Hill of Crosses (Domantai)
Hundreds of thousands of crosses on a small hill, a powerful pilgrimage site.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Vilnius Railway Museum (Stotis, Vilnius)
Old locomotives and model railways inside the station, popular with children. - Amber Museum Gallery (Šv. Mykolo gatvė, Vilnius)
Amber in its natural and worked forms, with a shop where pieces come with certificates. - Vilnius Festival (Old Town, Vilnius)
A summer festival of classical music in halls and courtyards. - Džiaugsmas (Old Town, Vilnius)
Modern Lithuanian cooking with local and seasonal produce in a relaxed room. - Amandus (Old Town, Vilnius)
A small tasting menu restaurant for a special night out. - 14 Horses (Old Town, Vilnius)
Open fire cooking and wine in a stylish space. - Senoji Kibininė Vilnius (Old Town, Vilnius)
Karaite kibinai pastries baked fresh, a quick and filling lunch. - Gastro Hall at Pylimo (Pylimo gatvė, Vilnius)
Street food stalls and drinks under one roof, easy for groups with mixed tastes. - Pinavija (Old Town, Vilnius)
Cinnamon buns and fresh pastries made in house. - Crooked Nose and Coffee Stories (Užupis, Vilnius)
A tiny specialty coffee bar run by enthusiasts. - Mint Vinetu (Old Town, Vilnius)
A bookshop café with tea, cake and secondhand English books. - Apartamentai (Old Town, Vilnius)
A relaxed wine bar with small plates in a stylish apartment like space. - Peronas (Stotis, Vilnius)
A bar on the old station platform, with drinks outside as trains pass. - Jimmy Jumps House (Old Town, Vilnius)
A friendly hostel well placed for the Old Town. - Trakai medieval festival (Trakai Island Castle, Trakai)
Summer weekends bring knights, crafts and reenactments to the castle. - Hot air balloon flights (Trakai, Trakai)
Popular summer flights drifting over the lakes and castle at dawn or dusk. - Kaunas Picture Gallery (City centre, Kaunas)
A gallery of twentieth century Lithuanian art. - Bernelių užeiga (Old Town, Kaunas)
A folk style inn for Lithuanian classics at friendly cost. - Uoksas (City centre, Kaunas)
Creative seasonal tasting menus in a small dining room. - Moksha (City centre, Kaunas)
Asian inspired dishes in a lively, informal place. - Kavos Era (City centre, Kaunas)
A popular café for breakfast and coffee on the go. - Spurginė Laisvės alėjoje (Laisvės alėja, Kaunas)
Old school doughnuts, a Kaunas favourite for decades. - Kaunas Central Market (Naujamiestis, Kaunas)
Fresh produce, cheese and smoked fish at local prices. - Momo Grill (City centre, Klaipėda)
A small grill restaurant known for steaks. - Herkus Kantas (Old Town, Klaipėda)
A pub style restaurant in a historic building. - Memelis (Old Town, Klaipėda)
A riverside brewery restaurant in a red brick warehouse. - Coffee Inn Klaipėda (City centre, Klaipėda)
A dependable coffee stop. - Palanga summer concerts (Palanga, Palanga)
The concert hall and outdoor stages host summer shows. - Rumšiškės craft market (Rumšiškės, Rumšiškės)
Seasonal craft fairs at the open air museum.