Fascinating Reasons to Visit Kaunas
After a few trips exploring the captivating Balkan region, it was time to switch it up a bit. In October last year we set out on a turbo tour of the Baltic States. Our first stop was Lithuania as we had heard of so many amazing reasons to visit Kaunas.
We Arrive in Kaunas
We flew straight into Kaunas, Lithuania, the little brother of the capital city, Vilnius. Kaunas is an ancient city of over 300k people and is the economic and cultural centre of Lithuania. Sounds pretty dull but don’t be fooled! This compact city has a great café culture, centuries worth of history and acres of open space.
After arriving at the airport we caught the local bus into the city. The 29G takes about 40 minutes in total and cost €1 per person.
Having heard good things about Kaunas before we arrived it was fun to explore the area and discover some really great parts of the town. However, there was not one distinctive attraction – more like many smaller more subtle reasons to visit Kaunas. Here are 5 of the most interesting things we found in the city, in no specific order.
| Attraction | Entry Fee | Distance from centre | Transport from city centre | Travel Time | Bus Number | Travel Cost |
| Kaunas Castle | € 3 | 2km | Walk | 23 | – | – |
| Pažaislis Monastery | € 6 | 10km | Bus | 55 | 5 | € 0.70 |
| 9th Fort | € 3 | 12km | Bus | 40 | 23 | € 0.70 |
| Kaunas Old Town | – | 1.5km | Walk | 20 | – | – |
| Žaliakalnis Funicular | € 0.70 | 0.9km | Walk | 12 | – | – |
Kaunas Castle
We were based in the centre of Kaunas. As it is not a big city, we decided to take the 20 minute walk out west to the castle. You can also take almost any bus from the centre in about 15 minutes, or drive as there is a large carpark nearby. Our walking route took us through the old town, more on that later, and out towards the Neris River.
On arrival at the castle, there is a large, green “Kaunas” sign which is fun for photos. The castle itself is defined by a well preserved, round, red brick tower which now contains a museum. The castle was first built on this site in the mid 14th century and has a very complicated history so the museum is well worth a visit for €3 per person.
Santakos Park
The castle now sits in one of Kaunas many parks, Santakos Park. Take a walk around the leafy setting and admire the dramatic statue of the Freedom Warrior, burn some calories in the outdoor gym and admire the views over the rivers Neris and Neman. The park alone is worth the short journey out of the city. The many parks and green spaces dotted around proves to be one of the great reasons to visit Kaunas.
On our return we chose a different route home. Following the footpath along the Neman River, we accidentally stumbled across Nemunas Island. The evening views over the river were pleasant and relaxing and the island is covered with footpaths to explore. At the other side of the Island, and back over the bridge is the mall, Akropolis. It was still open, so of course we shopped.
The castle seems to be one of the main attractions when you research Kaunas. It is well preserved, beautiful to look at and has an interesting past, however, we found the surrounding area and the walk there and back to be the highlight. Overall, definitely recommended.
Pažaislis Monastery
The next morning we set off to Pažaislis Monastery, the largest in Lithuania. This time, we decided the walk was too long so we caught a bus from the centre of Kaunas. The #5 bus takes around 40 minutes and drops you near Kaunas Lagoon Quay. The Monastery is a leisurely 15 minute walk from there through the woodland but in summer the bus will take you all the way.
We visited in October so the leaves were a striking amber, prefect for a few holiday snaps or just to admire as you walk. The road is easy to follow and takes you directly to the Monastery. Built in the 17th Century in the Italian Baroque style you can enter the complex for €6 and explore. The monastery is open Tue-Fri from 10:00-17:00 and 10:00-16:00 at the weekend.
We decided to appreciate it from the outside as the sun was shining and the setting was beautiful. Before heading back to the city, we spent an hour or so walking around the stunning Kaunas Lagoon Regional Park – where the Monastery is located.
The 9th Fort
One of the best reasons to visit Kaunas is for its history. In the afternoon of the same day we decided to visit the Ninth Fort. After boarding the #5 bus back to the centre, from the Monastery, we jumped on the #23 to take us towards the fort. The bus takes 20 minutes and costs €0.70. However after the bus drops you off there is a 15 minute walk through a residential part of the town and into an underpass below the main motorway. The route is not very obvious but Google Maps is accurate in this area.
The whole area contains a gargantuan concrete memorial, a museum and, of course, the fort. We paid our €3 for the entry ticket and started in the museum. This part contains a lot of information and is well laid out. However, we were more interested in getting inside the fort itself.
The fort was built in the late 19th century as part of the Kaunas Fortress. The Soviets used it as a prison during the occupation of Lithuania and, after that, the Nazis used it to exterminate up to 50,000 Jews and other prisoners.
The exhibition guides you through the different periods of history allowing you to walk through the corridors and stand in the cells. The atmosphere is heavy and it’s easy to forget you’re in the 21st century – until the security guard barks at you for going the wrong way!
After exiting the fort we walked around the memorial park to view the spectacular monument erected near the mass grave to commemorate those who suffered there.
Kaunas Old town
If you are staying in the centre of Kaunas, you will almost certainly stumble upon the old town. If not, take a trip in to experience it’s movie set looks with an authentic vibe. With plenty of restaurants, cafes, beautiful churches and cobbled streets there is a lot to explore. The castle is also within easy walking distance meaning you can do both in half a day.
Žaliakalnis Funicular – Green Hill Funicular
Built in 1931, this is the oldest funicular in Lithuania so is definitely worth a visit. The train takes you up 142 metres, has a station at each end and costs €0.70 for a return trip.
The funicular is a cheerful yellow and the interior is made of beautiful dark wood taking you back to a time gone by. We really enjoyed this experience and it was certainly €0.70 well spent.
So if you have a spare hour take a ride and experience the FUNicular. For us, this is one of the best reasons to visit Kaunas!
At the top of the hill you can also visit Christ’s Resurrection Church. A huge, Art Deco style building where you can gain access to the roof providing a panoramic view of the city.
Where to eat in Kaunas
No practical travel advice would be complete without a mention of local food. We spent 3 days in Kaunas so had a few opportunities to try some different places in the town centre. Although the traditional Lithuanian food was delicious, the standout restaurant for us was a Japanese place called Kamakura http://kamakura.lt/ With a vast menu and interesting interior we really enjoyed our visit.
For something sweet, head to Spurginė. It feels like buying traditional Lithuanian style donuts in the 1980s (although it has been around for longer than that). The service is indifferent and the décor is Soviet shabby but the baked goods are unmissable.
There are at least ten bakeries along the main strip in the centre. We tried as many as possible and that was part of the fun. All of them were great!
Lithuania is more than just Vilnius. See how they do it in Kaunas by spending a few days discovering the turbulent history and soaking up the easy going, modern vibe of the second city.
- For more information, visit Kaunas Tourist Info HERE
- Heading to Riga next? You can take a comfortable 4 hour bus easily and cheaply straight to the city centre. For the perfect 1 day itinerary and loads of useful tips and advice check out Journication HERE. Or if you want to meet the huskies of Riga click HERE for more info.
- Maybe you’re going straight to the medieval city of Tallinn? Try our collaboration post with JOURNICATION with all of the best things to do there.
Have you visited Kaunas? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
Haha, well we certainly couldn’t lift it!
Wow. Beautiful and rich with history. I love all of the outdoorsy things to do. And that is the biggest kettle bell in the world, it has to be.