MEDIEVAL HERITAGE

Just a short trip from Vilnius is the cozy small town of Trakai, home to Trakai Castle, a stunning medieval fortress located on an island in Lake Galvė, and the only island castle in Eastern Europe. Built in the 14th century, the castle played a significant role in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and was strategically important for defence. You can reach the castle by crossing the long wooden bridge or opt for a scenic yacht ride. In the winter the lake freezes over and becomes a natural ice-skating rink.

After suffering damage over the centuries, the Gothic brick castle was meticulously restored in the 1950s and 1960s and now houses a history museum showcasing artifacts such as medieval armour, coins, maps, and hunting trophies. In the fortress’s casemates, you can find applied art objects, furniture, china sets, and knightly armour.

After castle visit continue to lunch and cooking class in the Karaim community. Take this unique chance to get acquainted with the tiny nation that arrived to Lithuania in early 15^th century from Crimea, served in the court of Grand Duke Vytautas, and since then has preserved its own language, traditions and religion. Learn to bake a traditional Karaim dish called kibin (a small pastry, usually stuffed with minced meat) and taste other delicacies of the Karaim cuisine.

COUNTRYSIDE TO CITYSCAPE

Start your day with relaxed tour of Rumšiškės Open-Air Museum, one of Europe’s largest ethnographic museums, covering 195 hectares of rolling hills and forests. Established in 1966, it showcases the traditional lifestyles, work, and customs of Lithuanian peasants and townspeople from various regions.

The museum features authentic farmsteads, century-old buildings, technical facilities like mills and forges, and a township fragment where traditional crafts such as pottery, amber work, and linen weaving are demonstrated. It also includes a sector dedicated to the painful history of Lithuanian deportation and resistance.

Continue to Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city. Upon arrival, take the chance to explore the Old Town where you can marvel at Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Admire the so called House of Perkūnas, one of the most distinctive Gothic secular buildings in Lithuania that was built in the late 15th century by Hanseatic merchants and served as their office. Visit the monumental Christ’s Resurrection Basilica that offers panoramic views of the city from its rooftop terrace. Wander further to Kaunas Castle, located at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers. This medieval fortress offers a glimpse into the city’s historical defences and hosts various cultural events. On the way pay attention not to miss the murals and installations scattered throughout the city that make Kaunas an open-air street art gallery. Check out Europe’s longest pedestrian street Laisvės Alėja, lined with shops, cafes, and striking interwar modernist architecture.

Continue to the serene outskirts of Kaunas for a visit to Pažaislis Monastery, a stunning example of Baroque architecture and a significant cultural treasure, as well as a popular Catholic pilgrimage site. The monastery was originally established as a hermitage for the Camaldolese monks in mid-17^th century. The complex is renowned for its intricate façade adorned with detailed stucco work and sculptures, and its church, dedicated to the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, features a stunning altar, frescoes, and captivating paintings. The monastery’s hexagonal church plan and concave façade were innovative architectural solutions at the time.

LEGENDARY SPA DAY

Drive to Druskininkai and stop enroute to visit one of the most controversial establishments in Lithuania. Grūto Park, or unofficially sometimes called Stalin’s World, is a peculiar museum where soviet-era statues and soviet ideological relics have been preserved. After Lithuania restored its independence in 1990, a local businessman asked Lithuanian authorities to grant him possession of the Soviet sculptures that were taken down and dumped in different places, and founded a museum with features that are re-creating soviet gulag prison camps, including wooden paths, guard towers, and barbed-wire fences.

Spend the rest of your day enjoying the legendary SPA and waterpark in Druskininkai. Here you can swim in the sea-wave pool, go downstream or upstream in the river torrents, defeat your fears in spectacular water slides, warm up in the hot tubs, and indulge in an endless whirlpool of happiness. Enjoy the tropical heat, the ocean-blue water of the swimming pools, palm trees, saunas and bathhouses set up according to the traditions of different countries around the world, exotic massages, and endless fun all-year-round.