- Lithuania – Kaunas & Vilnius
- May 2026
When deciding where to spend a long weekend, Lithuania wasn’t the obvious choice. Yet after several days exploring Kaunas and taking a day trip to Vilnius, I found myself wondering why more people don’t visit this fascinating Baltic country.
With its rich history, vibrant arts scene, beautiful architecture and relaxed atmosphere, Lithuania offered the perfect combination of culture, exploration and affordability.
Kaunas โ Lithuania’s Cool and Creative Second City
We chose to stay in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city and according to many locals, its coolest. Situated at the meeting point of the Nemunas and Neris rivers, Kaunas has become known for its thriving arts scene, UNESCO-recognised interwar architecture and strong sense of national identity.
One of the things we loved most was how walkable the city is. Most of the main attractions are within easy walking distance, allowing us to explore at our own pace without constantly checking maps or transport timetables.
Our accommodation was located in the Old Town, which immediately won us over with its cobbled streets, colourful buildings and relaxed atmosphere.
Unlike some European old towns that can feel overcrowded or overly commercialised, Kaunas felt authentic and unpretentious and it was so quiet. Small cafรฉs, independent restaurants and hidden courtyards seemed to appear around every corner.
Exploring the Historic Heart of Kaunas
Just a short walk from our accomodation lies Town Hall Square, one of the most attractive spaces in the city. The elegant white Town Hall, often nicknamed “The White Swan”, dominates the square and dates back to the 16th century.
Sitting outside one of the surrounding cafรฉs with a coffee and simply watching the world go by became one of those unexpectedly enjoyable travel moments.
Just a short walk from the Town Hall Square sits Kaunas Castle, a striking Gothic fortress dating back to the 14th century. Standing at the confluence of the two rivers, it is the oldest stone castle in Lithuania and one of the country’s oldest surviving brick castles.
It’s easy to imagine the strategic importance this location once held as you look out across the water.
As we wandered through the Old Town, we passed centuries of history, including Perkลซnas House, a beautiful Gothic building associated with Napoleon Bonaparte’s march through Lithuania in 1812.
Freedom Avenue and a Modern Creative City
Moving beyond the Old Town, Kaunas reveals another side of its personality.
Laisvฤs Alฤja, or Freedom Avenue, stretches for almost two kilometres through the city centre and is one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe. Lined with cafรฉs, shops and leafy trees, it creates a pleasant route connecting the Old Town with the newer parts of the city.
Kaunas also has a reputation as Lithuania’s street art capital. Colourful murals and contemporary artwork can be found throughout the city, adding a creative energy that blends surprisingly well with its historic surroundings.
One of my favourite discoveries in Kaunas was the Seed Sower statue. At first glance it appears to be a simple bronze sculpture, but there is something quite beautiful about its symbolism and setting. What makes it particularly special is the famous “Star Seeder” installation behind it.
After dark, carefully positioned lighting casts the sower’s shadow across a wall decorated with stars, creating the illusion that he is scattering them into the night sky. It felt like a fitting symbol for Kaunas itself, unassuming at first, but full of creativity and character once you spend time exploring.
A Day Trip to Vilnius
One of the advantages of staying in Kaunas is the excellent rail connection to Vilnius, Lithuanias capital city. The journey takes just over an hour, making it an ideal day trip.
Although only a short distance away, Vilnius feels noticeably different. Where Kaunas is relaxed and understated, Vilnius is lively, artistic and wonderfully quirky.
Its UNESCO-listed Old Town is packed with beautiful churches, grand architecture and winding streets that seem to reveal something new at every turn.
Pink Soup and Festival Atmosphere
By pure coincidence, our visit coincided with Vilnius’s famous Pink Soup Festival.
Inspired by Lithuania’s traditional cold beetroot soup, ลกaltibarลกฤiai, the city embraced every possible shade of pink. Streets were decorated, visitors wore pink outfits and the whole event created a fun, light-hearted atmosphere that added something completely unexpected to our visit.
It was one of those travel experiences that you couldn’t plan, yet became a memorable part of the weekend.
Discovering the Republic of Uลพupis
Perhaps the most fascinating area we visited was Uลพupis.
Often compared to Copenhagen’s Christiania or Paris’s Montmartre, both of which we have visited, Uลพupis describes itself as an independent republic within Vilnius.
Complete with its own constitution, flag, president and tongue-in-cheek sense of humour, it has become the creative and bohemian heart of the city, we even got our passports stamped!
The area is filled with artists’ studios, independent galleries, cafรฉs and public art installations. There is a unique atmosphere here that feels entirely different from anywhere else in Lithuania and I absolutely LOVE it.
Even after only a few hours, it was easy to understand why many visitors consider Uลพupis their favourite part of Vilnius.
Literature, Art and Hidden Discoveries
Another unexpected highlight was Literatลณ Street (Literature Street), a small lane in the Old Town dedicated to writers and literary figures connected to Lithuania.
The walls feature hundreds of small artistic plaques made from wood, glass, ceramics and metal, each commemorating a different author. Every piece is unique, turning a simple alleyway into an open-air art gallery and a celebration of Lithuanian culture.
It’s exactly the sort of hidden gem that rewards travellers who wander away from the main tourist routes.
Final Thoughts
Lithuania completely exceeded our expectations.
Kaunas offered a relaxed and walkable base rich in history, culture and creativity, while Vilnius provided a vibrant contrast with its artistic energy, quirky neighbourhoods and festival atmosphere.
From medieval castles and cobbled streets to colourful street art and the unforgettable Pink Soup Festival, this long weekend delivered far more than we expected.
If you’re looking for a European city break that’s affordable, easy to explore and still feels slightly undiscovered, Lithuania deserves a place on your travel list. Sometimes the best trips are the ones you hadn’t originally planned and for us, Lithuania was exactly that.
Mary's Outdoor Adventure's 