What to do and see in Lithuania

Exploring Kaunas

Kaunas was established as a fortress in 1030, became a town in 1317, and achieved self-governance in 1408. It was frequently attacked by the Teutonic Knights, suffered damage during Napoleon's advance in 1812, and endured heavy destruction during World War II. It was rebuilt many times, and thus contains architecture from multiple periods, such as gothic, baroque, modernism, and postmodernism.

From 1920 to 1940, Kaunas also served as the capital of independent Lithuania. Kaunas was designated as the European Capital of Culture for the year 2022.

  • Kaunas Old town

    Kaunas Old Town is the most charming part of the city. It spans the whole length of Vilniaus gatvė (street) and all the smaller streets around it.

    The main points of interest here are:
    - The City Hall Square
    - Kaunas Cathedral Basilica
    - Kaunas Castle
    - Church of Vytautas the Great (the oldest church in Kaunas built circa 1400. It also has a water level measuring station for the Nemunas river)

  • Aleksotas Observation Point (and a Funicular ride)

    This is the best spot to get a pretty shot of the city, and it is conveniently reachable by a vintage funicular.

    The funicular was built in 1935, and is still running today. You can catch it at Amerikos Lietuvių g. 6, Kaunas. Make sure to have some euro coins available for tickets, or take the stairs to get to the the viewing spot instead.

    V. Čepinskio g., Kaunas

  • Kaunas New Town

    The New Town area is primarily centered around the 1.7 km long pedestrian street called Laisvės alėja (Liberty Avenue), along with its surrounding vicinity.

    The key attractions in this area include:
    - Church of St. Michael Archangel
    - Fontanas
    - Unity Square
    - Eternal flame

    This street is the most popular in Kaunas and, in addition to numerous cafes and shops, it is also renowned for its modernist architecture, which has been recognized by UNESCO. See more

  • Restaurant "Bernelių Užeiga"

    The restaurant chain "Bernelių užeiga" is the best place to taste traditional cuisine.

    To get an insight on all the traditional dishes (we have so many!), check the food guides below:
    Food guide 1,
    Food guide 2,
    Food guide 3

    Adelė's favorites are "Kugelis" (potato bake), "Vėdarai"(potato sausage), "Varškės apkepas" (curd bake), "Kibinai" (Lithuanian empanadas), "Kepta duona" (fried bread), and "Naminė Gira" (Lithuanian soft drink). The ultimate must-try would be "Cepelinai".

    Locations:
    M. Valančiaus g. 7, Kaunas
    K. Donelaičio g. 11, Kaunas
    Akropolis, Karaliaus Mindaugo pr. 49, Kaunas

  • Devils Museum

    A unique museum in Kaunas displays over three thousand artworks featuring the devil. Initially a private collection, it has become one of the most beloved museums in the city.

    Lithuanians have a peculiar fascination with the devil, with over 5,000 legends and fairy tales mentioning this mythical creature. Additionally, there are approximately 400 place names in Lithuania associated with the devil.

    V. Putvinskio g. 64, Kaunas

  • Vytautas the Great War Museum

    After Lithuania declared its independence in 1918, a museum, representing the history of the country was built. This building was financed by many patriotic citizens and the foundation was built on soil brought from war fields. The huge size of the museum is a monument to Vytautas the Great, one of the most important early historical leaders of the nation. Outside there is a small garden planted honoring those who died for Lithuanian independence.

    K. Donelaičio g. 64, Kaunas

  • Nemunas island

    A large island on the Nemunas river in the centre of the city, popular with the locals and hosting the occasional cultural event.

    The length of the island is more than 1,5 kilometers and it can be reached by crossing one of the bridges. The eastern part of the island is known for a modern Žalgiris arena, frequently holding basketball matches, concerts and other events. On the west side, a brand new Technology and Innovation Center is currently being built and should be open by June 2025.

    The island is also a perfect place for a walk or a picnic.

    Nemunas island on the map

  • Santakos Parkas (Confluence Park)

    The confluence of two of Lithuania's biggest rivers, the Nemunas and the Neris, is sometimes referred to as the birthplace of Kaunas. The name "Santaka" is closely related to the Lithuanian word "Santuoka," which means marriage. The spot is extremely popular for setting up dates and proposals.

    Every Thursday, a Romuvian (Romuva is a contemporary continuation of the traditional ethnic religion of the Baltic peoples, more than 5,000 people consider themselves Romuvians) mass is held at the aukuras (fire altar) in the Confluence park.

    Santaka on the map

Worth a visit, if you rent a car:

  • 9th Fort of the Kaunas Fortress

    The 9th fort, completed just before World War I, can be seen when traveling on A1 highway. The site also has an impressive monument for the victims of Nazism, erected in 1984. In the interwar period, the fort served as a division of Kaunas Hard Labour prison, in 1940-1941 as an NKVD prison, and as a place of mass murder, with 50 thousand people killed in the later parts of the war. In 1958, a museum was established in the fort exhibiting many artefacts of the Nazi and Soviet genocide. The fort has been restored and it is possible to visit almost all of its premises, also via the internet.

    Žemaičių pl. 75, Kaunas

  • Kadagių Slėnis (Juniper Valley)

    Juniper Valley is a unique place in Lithuania. The botanical reserve is situated in Arlaviškės village, on a steep slope of Nemunas river populated by freegrowing Junipers. The valley is decorated with a variety of plants in various colours and shapes, some extremely rare. Juniper Valley belongs to Kaunas Lagoon Regional Park and is one of Lithuanias national nature monuments.

    Read more

    Kadagynės g., Arlaviškių k., Taurakiemio sen., Kauno r.

  • Pažaislis Church and Monastery

    It is one of the most beautiful ensembles of Baroque style in Lithuania. In the 17th century Kristupas Žygimantas Pacas (1621–1684), Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, built the shrine for Camaldolese monks on the edge of Kaunas, in the remote forest at that time. The ensemble was designed by an Italian architect Giovanni Battista Frediani and decorated with moldings of Lombardy’s craftsmen and frescoes of Florentine painter Mikelios Arkangelo Palonio.

    Read more

    We recommend to also take a stroll around the territory (outside the walls) to enjoy the nature and the views of the water.

    T. Masiulio g. 31, 52436 Kaunas

  • The Open-Air Museum

    One of the largest ethnographic open-air museums in Europe. The museum was established on the picturesque shores of Kaunas Lagoon in Rumšiškės in 1966. The exhibitions at the museum are intended to introduce the ethnographic regions of Lithuania, i. e. Dzūkija (Dainava), Aukštaitija (Highlands), Suvalkija (Sudovia), Žemaitija (Samogitia) and Lithuania Minor, as they looked at the end of the 18th century and the first half of the 20th century.

    L. Lekavičiaus g. 2, Rumšiškės

Adelė's favourite places in Kaunas

  • Spurginė (The Doughnut Place)

    A tiny doughnut place, and a time capsule. The shop/cafe is run by the same women making the same doughnuts (the recipes haven't changed) for nearly 40 years! It looks the same as it did from the start, and it is truly a legendary place in Kaunas. Just to set the expectations right, the doghnuts are more like breadrolls with various fillings. (Anders describes them as a fried version of the danish æbleskiver.)

    Adelė would order:
    Varškės spurga, ir Kakava
    (Curd Doughnut, and Hot Choco).

    Laisvės al. 84, Kaunas

    CASH ONLY

  • Ąžuolyno Parkas (Oak Grove)

    Take a stroll in the largest oak grove in an urban area in Europe.

    Find a statue of Taurus (a very large bull) that features in childhood pictures of everyone who grew up in Kaunas.

    Check out Dainų Slėnis (Songs valley), where a yearly song festival is hosted.

    The park is just up the hill from the city center, you can take a walk up Parodos g. street., take a bus that goes up, or take the stairs via Vytautas park (which is where the amusement park for kids used to be when Adelė was small).

    Park on the map

  • M. K. ČIURLIONIS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ART

    Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis is a lithuanian composer, painter, choirmaster, cultural figure, and a writer.

    Considered one of the pioneers of abstract art in Europe, his works have had a profound influence on modern Lithuanian culture.

    During his short life, he composed about 400 pieces of music and created about 300 paintings, as well as many literary works and poems. You can see his paintings and listen to the music he composed in the museum.

    V. Putvinskio g. 55, Kaunas

  • Chocolaterie "Rūta"

    Adelė's favorite store to get chocolates. You can find single handmade chocolates, chocolate boxes, large chunks of cholocate, weird chocolate shapes and various berries and nuts dipped in chocolate.

    Adelė would get a bag of raspberries and blueberries in white chocolate, and raisins in milk chocolate.

    Online store

    Locations:
    M. Daukšos g. 20, Kaunas
    Laisvės al. 88, Kaunas

Where to eat in Kaunas

The city center has many restaurants that serve mostly the same food, such as soups, salads, meat dishes, burgers, pizza and pasta. If you want to try traditional cuisine, the best place for that is “Bernelių užeiga”. If you want a portion of really good food, check the finer dining options below.

Kaunas does not get enough tourists, so there aren’t any particular tourist traps here. Most restaurants cater to local customers, and they often have English menus as well.

Please note: while Lithuanian people excel in hospitality in their own homes (you will always be offered food and beverages even if you just stop by for 5 minutes), they are not known for their customer service. So if the service is slow, the server is a bit rude or you encounter other hiccups, just know it is never about you, they just woke up like this :)

Some of the restaurants we visited and liked:

Finer dinning in Kaunas

If you are into dining experiences and tasting menus, try some of the Michelin-recommended restaurants in Kaunas. We highly recommend taking advantage of that price difference :)

Exploring the rest of Lithuania

Lithuania was a powerful empire from the 14th–16th centuries. It became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Confederation for two centuries. After a brief independence from 1918 to 1940, it was occupied by Russia, briefly controlled by Germany during World War II, and incorporated into the U.S.S.R. in 1944.

Lithuania declared independence on March 11, 1990, and it was acknowledged by the Soviet parliament on September 6, 1991. In 2004, Lithuania joined the European Union (EU) and NATO.