Wedged between the Neris and Nemunas rivers in south-central Lithuania, the city of Kaunas is a meeting place for more than just rivers. Here you’ll find academic institutions sitting side-by-side with historical sites from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, such as Kaunas Castle. The city’s student population and enduring nightlife also guarantee a list of leisurely things to do. These factors and its impressive art deco buildings earned Kaunas the revered title of European Capital of Culture in 2022.
Like many Baltic cities, Kaunas comes alive with the warmth of summer. The longer, sunnier days of June through August are ideally suited for long walks down Laisvės Alėja and along the city’s riverbanks. But they also bring with them the busiest period in the city’s events calendar, including the Kaunas Castle Operetta, which uses the city’s cherished landmark as a backdrop.
While Kaunas isn’t necessarily a large city, it is surprisingly long, stretching east to west. Walking around the Old Town and center of Kaunas is the easiest way to get anywhere, but the city’s bus network is there if you want to save your feet. Taking a bus is especially useful for getting to or from Kaunas train station, located on its own in the city’s southeast.
Travelers with odd and eccentric tastes won’t want to miss Kaunas’s Devil Museum, an attraction filled with diverse images of the devil from across cultures. Don’t worry, the exhibits are intended to be more strange and whimsical than alarming or pious. Nearby, you’ll also find the Žaliakalnis Funicular—one of two funiculars in Kaunas, the other being the Aleksotas Funicular across the river—for a more gentle experience.
