It is impossible to tell about all of them, but there is an urban “necklace” in Lithuania that is really worth telling about. Its gems start in Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, then continues to the ancient capital Trakai, with a beautiful castle on an island, going westwards to the second biggest town of Lithuania – Kaunas, from there we go straight to the coast, to the seaport Klaipėda, and from there – to the Curonian spit, to the most distant town – charming resort Nida.

Three capital cities

Last year Vilnius celebrated its 700th anniversary of becoming a capital city of Lithuania and this year it will be exactly 100 years since the first UNESCO heritage Song and Dance festival took place. When celebrating, don’t forget to visit baroque and gothique rich Vilnius old town, with dozens of churches, over 20 monasteries, artistic Užupis Republic and much more. No wonder that Vilnius old town is entirely part of UNESCO heritage.

Trakai, about 30 km West from Vilnius, was the Lithuanian capital before it moved to Vilnius. In Trakai, although it is quite small, it is possible to find places of worship of several different religions and beliefs – Catholic and Orthodox churches, Karaim kenesa, pagan place of worship and, of course, the iconic castle on an island.

From the old capital Trakai to the once temporary (in the period between the two World Wars) capital Kaunas. There it’s worth visiting the old Town Hall, often called “White Swan”, and don’t miss a chance to walk through the longest pedestrian street – Liberty Boulevard, which connects new and old parts of the city, which was given the UNESCO Design City title. The oldest stone castle in Lithuania is also in Kaunas. But the biggest and the most hidden beauty is Pažaislis Monastery and Church, which form the largest monastery complex in Lithuania, and the most magnificent example of Italian Baroque architecture in the country.

To visit all these three capitals you can pick one or more of our tours: Vilnius city and surroundings, Around Vilnius city and Trakai Castle, Trakai Castle and Paneriai Memorial Park, Tour around Kaunas city.

… and for the desert

We move further West to the coast where the biggest Lithuanian port Klaipėda is situated. Don’t be surprised by the German-style architecture in the old town, because for many centuries Memel, as it was called more than one hundred years ago, was part of Prussia and later Germany. It is the oldest city in Lithuania, mentioned already in 1252.

And our last gem in this beautiful necklace is the resort town of Nida on the Curonian spit. It’s not only among the TOP10 European beaches, but the very location – narrow strip of land between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon – makes it even more diverse and romantic. Mentioned already in the 14th century, now still rich not only with picturesque dunes, but also stylish fishermen houses decorated in bright colours, carvings and boats.

To visit the Lithuanian coast, check our Tour to Curonian Spit National Park, 4-day Scenic Lithuanian Experience or 6-day Best of Lithuania. See you there!

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Paneriai – a reminder of painful history

Despite its remarkable landscape, Paneriai fame comes from its painful historic past. The Paneriai Memorial stretches over several hectares of pine forest and is home to monuments for people of all nationalities who were killed here. Inside the modern-day Paneriai memorial back in 1939 the construction of a Soviet military base started and initially was planned to house aviation fuel reservoirs. In 1941, following the German occupation of Vilnius, this territory was used as an execution site for prisoners of war. Later it became the place for executing local civilians, mainly Jews; many people of other nationalities perished on this site too. The sombre and reverent atmosphere at Paneriai Memorial Park targets 6 main human senses: hearing, vision, smell, taste, touch, and intuition. Architectural means help to create the mood of serenity, respect, and self-perception, having an intention to narrate about the painful past events intuitively.

Legendary Trakai

Trakai – once highly-valued town by the grand dukes of Lithuania – continues to emanate the spirit of the past to this day and is an attractive place because of its wonderful nature, traditional Karaim cuisine, and the magnificent Trakai Castle. An island, washed by the waters of Lake Galvė and home to Trakai Castle, takes your breath away at any time of the year. This unique reconstructed castle from the 14^th century can be enjoyed from the shore or from inside the Trakai historical museum. The Castle square is a famous place for hosting Medieval festivals, concerts and craft workshops.

Trakai is one of the most beautiful towns of Lithuania, offering a variety of activities to keep you busy, e.g. city residents and guests can fish or ride a water bike, etc. If you are visiting Trakai in summer, when Lake Galvė is fully navigable and not frozen, taking a yacht trip around the castle is the best way to explore and discover Trakai Castle.

If you would like to experience the true spirit of Trakai, you should not only opt for the private tour to Trakai Castle, but must taste the famous Karaim pastry kibinai made from specialty flour. Karaims are the smallest ethnic minority of Turkic origin in Lithuania living in Trakai from 14^th century, whereas the stories about the traditional dish of this ethnic group –  kibinai – travel well beyond Trakai. If you have some free time, you should enjoy these pastries at a peace and calm of a café offering a splendid view of the castle.

„Discover Lithuania“ – carefree travel in Lithuania!

Trakai castle and Paneriai memorial park tour is a tour for travellers willing to learn about the history of the country and spend some pleasant time in picturesque surroundings. The town of Trakai, situated in between three lakes, and situated 28 km west off the capital Vilnius, attracts over two million tourists every year. This is one of the most beautiful towns in Lithuania, with a charmingly romantic and historical atmosphere. To make your tour a smooth experience, reflecting personal preferences of travellers, and leaving long-lasting impressions, you have to choose a reliable tour operator. Discover Lithuania has been operating on the tourism market for many years. It is a private tour operator in Lithuania offering convenient guided tours to the most popular sites of Lithuania, including transportation and pick up & drop off services.

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