6 Best Things to Do in Kaunas, Lithuania: A Weekend Itinerary

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Despite being Lithuania’s second city, Kaunas holds itself independently. Well worth a trip in its own right, Kaunas in many ways feels larger and grander than Vilnius. Symbolic of the city’s importance during the Russian imperial era, Kaunas boasts wide boulevards, a magnificent riverside natural setting and a gorgeous, historic old town filled with pedestrianized streets and squares.

Whether you’re enjoying one of Ryanair’s cheap flights to Kaunas, or here on a day trip from Vilnius, you won’t run out of things to do in Kaunas, Lithuania.

How to get to Kaunas

By air

Even though Kaunas is only one and a half hours from Vilnius, Kaunas has its own international airport which is a major budget airline hub. You can usually find extremely cheap direct flights from many major European airports to Kaunas.

By bus

Kaunas is well connected to the European bus network. You’ll be able to find direct (and cheap) buses within Lithuania, as well as to neighboring Latvia and Poland.

Where to stay in Kaunas

There’s no shortage of hotels in Kaunas. Despite having a small population (only 300,000 people), the city is quite geographically spread out city, so you’ll want to make sure you’re staying in the heart of the city.

I personally love staying in Kaunas’s Old Town. The Best Western Santakos Hotel and BōHEME House Hotel are both well-priced and centrally located. If budget is less of a concern, don’t miss Hotel Kaunas, one of the most luxurious hotels in Kaunas.  

6 best things to do in Kaunas

1. Confront history at the Museum of the Ninth Fort

The Ninth Fort is unquestionably the most important site to visit in Kaunas. A trip to the Ninth Fort is like a crash course in modern Lithuanian history. Despite being just over one century old, this fortress was used by the various overlords of Lithuania – Tsarist Russia, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union – as a military fortress, prison and torture chamber.

The museum includes a lot of military history which can sometimes be a little dry. If you can get through that, the rooms on the Nazi occupation, the Holocaust and the use of the site for the murder of French, German and other European Jews is particularly well done, making this one of the best museums in Lithuania.

Once passing through the moving and often very-confronting museum, you’ll take the short walk over to the Soviet-era memorial to the victims of the Ninth Fort. Immediately before the gargantuan monument lies the confronting mass pits, the final resting place of over 30,000 Jews and 20,000 Lithuanians and Soviet citizens.

Take note of the various memorial plaques and different languages used. In the Soviet era, particular national recognition for Jews and Lithuanians was refused – only ‘Soviet citizens’ could be memorialized. You’ll notice newer plaques, recognizing the nationalities and ethnic backgrounds of those murdered in the pits of the Ninth Fort.

2. Climb the towers of Kaunas Castle

Due to its history role as a major city and Lithuanian capital under the Russian Empire, Kaunas is home to some larger-than-life and extremely grand architecture.

At the end of Kaunas’s Old Town, you’ll find the Kaunas Castle which dates back to the 14th century. The castle is currently home to the Kaunas city museum (not overly exciting). But for a few euros, you can climb the castle tower for excellent views over the river and surrounding Old Town architecture.

3. Craft your own Jewish heritage tour

Alongside Vilnius, Kaunas was one of the most important cities for European Jewry. Historically called Kovno by the city’s Jewish population, Kaunas was approximately 25% Jewish for much of its history.

Approximately 95% of the Jews of Lithuania were murdered by Germans, Lithuanian nationalists and partisans in the Holocaust. This means you are unlikely to see any active Jewish culture in Lithuania today. Nonetheless, relics of the city’s Jewish heritage are a must-visit for history lovers and those seeking to understand this tragic period of Lithuanian history.

Among the surviving of Lithuania’s Jewish heritage, I’d recommend visiting:

• The Kaunas Choral Synagogue – one of the largest in Kaunas. The synagogue is currently under renovation – watch this space.
• The memorial to the Kaunas Ghetto, which is now a powerful piece of public art.
• Kaunas Hasidic synagogue – today only the ruins of this huge synagogue remain, and it is boarded up. Across Lithuania, you’ll find a similar ruinscape of Jewish heritage, with no survivors able to claim or revive these spaces.

If you are keen to learn more about the stories and communities who once called this city home, I’d recommend joining this tour of Kaunas’s Jewish heritage.

4. Eat your way through traditional Lithuanian desserts

As Lithuania’s second city, Kaunas is an ideal spot to take a deep dive into traditional Lithuanian cuisine. From eating tinginiys in Motiejaus Kepyklele Bakery, to the sweet varškėčiai in traditional restaurants, you won’t go hungry in Kaunas.

In fact, one of my favorite things to do in Kaunas is to create a DIY dessert crawl. In my opinion, the bakeries of Kaunas really challenge the vibrant cafes of Vilnius. To make the most of your stay, don’t miss our expert guide to Lithuanian desserts (and where to find them).

5. Get lost in the alleyways of Kaunas’s Old Town

Kaunas’s Old Town is simply stunning, with long pedestrian streets and colorfully decorated buildings. Begin your journey at the castle, before making your way down Vilniaus Gatve.

Take the time to poke around the small souvenir shops, or sit in an outdoor cafe and soak in the late afternoon Baltic sun. If you’re particularly keen to learn the history of Kaunas, I’d strongly recommend joining this small group tour. In this tour, you’ll learn how the churches, alleyways and landmarks of Kaunas are intimately tied to the story of modern Lithuania.

6. Take a day trip to explore more of Lithuania

Kaunas is ideally located in the heart of Lithuania. Hop in a rental car and you can quickly head to some of the best sites in the country.

If you haven’t already come from Vilnius – or you are just spending the weekend in Kaunas – it’s well worth doing a day trip to Vilnius. From the much more quaint Old Town to dining at some of Lithuania’s best restaurants, you can easily fill a day (or more) in Lithuania’s capital. If you start early enough, you could also squeeze in a visit to the beautiful lakeside castle at Trakai, and the haunting mass graves of Panerai.

Another option is to head north and visit the Hill of Crosses. Dating back to the early 1800s, this literal hill of crosses is now a major site of pilgrimage and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Lithuania. The Hill of Crosses is just over two hours by road from Kaunas.

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