33 Things to Do in Kaunas, Lithuania (2023)
TL;DR
A short guide on what to see in Kaunas.
Kaunas was the European Capital of Culture in 2022 – and rightly so. It belongs on every Lithuania itinerary as well as Baltics itinerary. We’ll show you the Kaunas things to do. Get your walking shoes on and explore the city with us!
What to Do in Kaunas
1. Stroll along Vilniaus street and Laisves avenue. With more than 2 km (1 mi) they form one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe with many restaurants, bars, and shops.
2. It starts at the beautiful Church of St. Michael the Archangel which should not be missed.
Hunt for Kaunas Modernist Architecture
Kaunas’ claim to fame is its Modernist architecture. Noteworthy examples are
3. Kaunas Central Post Office.
4. Vytautas Magnus War Museum and M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum (which are actually the same building.
5. Bank of Lithuania.
6. Centrinis knygynas book store.
Things to Do in Kaunas Old Town
The cute old town is by no means the highlight of this city. Still, many of the must-see places of Kaunas are located in this part of the city:
7. St. Peter and Paul Cathedral.
8. Town Hall.
9. House of Perkūnas, the oldest house in Kaunas.
10. Vytautas’ the Great Church or the Church of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary, the oldest church in Kaunas.
Things to Do in Kaunas Santakos-Park
Kaunas lies at the confluence of the two most important rivers of Lithuania, Memel and Neris. You can reach by a pleasant stroll through Santakos-Park.
11. Make sure to visit the spot where Memel and Neris meet.
12. Look for the Pagan shrine which is still in use.
13. The remnants of the castle are worth a quick visit.
Best Views in Kaunas
14. Enjoy the view from Christ's Resurrection Church. While the inside is mostly plain and white the view from the terrace is truly spectacular.
15. To reach the church you can either walk or take the funicular.
16. Kaunas does not only have one funicular but two.
17. The second one leads to Aleksotas Observation Deck from where you’ll have a nice free view over the Memel River and Kaunas. Of course, you can also walk.
Kaunas What to See, Museums
Kanus has many museums. These are just a few examples:
18. The Devil Museum is a quirky choice.
19. Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas Apartment-Museum (Vaižgantas is the most prominent writer and publicist of the early 20th century).
20. Museum of Lithuanian Medicine and Pharmacy.
21. Folk Music Museum.
Kaunas Street Art
22. There are murals all over the place if you keep your eyes open.
23. The not so hidden anymore Yard Gallery is the best address in town.
24. You can even go on a self-guided Kaunas street art tour.
25. There are many amazing statues like the “Star Seeder”.Check this one out after the sun went down!
26. Find the Lithuanian crosses next to the eternal flame. Did you know that they are part of the UNESCO World Heritage?
Kaunas Restaurants
27. Eat doughnuts at Spurginė. Eat all of them - sweet and savoury - and wash them down with chicken broth.
28. Eat incredible cheap and delicious food at A. Andriukaitienės Firmos Valgykla or canteen.
29. Berneliu Uzeiga offers very affordable Lithuanian cuisine.
30. Etno Dravas might be a chain be we found the food convincing at every branch we went to.
Best Hostel in Kaunas
31. We stayed at The Monk's Bunk Kaunas which was right on the main street, clean, and had a good vibe.
Best Day Trip from Kaunas
32. The Ninth Fort is a part of the Kaunas Fortress, which was constructed in the late 19th century. During the occupation by the Soviet Union, the fort was used as a prison and way-station for prisoners being transported to labour camps. After the occupation of Lithuania by Nazi Germany, the fort was used as a place of execution for Jews and others.
33. Pažaislis Monastery is worth a detour from the centre for its stunning Italian Baroque architecture and beautiful frescoes.
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