The 10 Most Beautiful Towns In Lithuania

Though most visitors to Lithuania don’t venture outside of its three major cities — Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipeda — there is certainly more to see. Almost 40% forested, Lithuania is a beautiful country with swaths of evergreen and birch forests, blue lakes and rivers, and cute small towns. Towns around the country have reason to attract visitors due to their spas, castles, and pristine nature. Read on to plan your trip to Lithuania’s ten most beautiful towns.

Raudondvaris

Raudondvaris, located along the Nemunas River, is well known in Lithuania for its beautiful Raudondvaris Manor Castle and gorgeous gardens. The grounds also feature stables, an ice house, and an orangery. Also in the town is a beautiful church, a museum, and several parks with playgrounds. Raudondvaris is a great town to visit if you are looking for a quick trip outside of Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city.

Kėdainiai

Trakai

Located just a short train ride from Vilnius, Trakai is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike due to its incredible red brick castle located on an island in a lake. Trakai is also known for its Karaite ethnic minority that gives the town a different feel due to its architecture. Delicious kibinai (a filled pastry) also originated in Trakai, making it a historic, ethnographic, and culinary destination.

Palanga

Though of rather mixed opinion among Lithuanians, Palanga is a popular summertime escape due to its beautiful beach. In the summer, Palanga is a bumping town full of parties, events, and visitors flocking to enjoy a bit of time in the sun. The main attractions in Palanga are the beach, the long boardwalk that leads out to sea, and the pedestrian street, Jono Basanaviciaus.

Kernave

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kernave holds approximately 10 millennia of human settlements. This massive archeological site is popular among local and international tourists, as visitors can walk through the former castle mounds. Atop the castle mounds, visitors will enjoy a view of Kernave town as well as the surrounding countryside. Kernave also features a small wooden chapel as well as several festivals held throughout the year.

Druskininkai

Druskininkai is a resort town in southern Lithuania that is popular with locals and international tourists from Belarus, Poland, and Russia. Druskininkai has a number of health resorts and spas and is surrounded by stunning forests. The town also features a large pedestrian street, two breathtaking churches, and several surprisingly tasty restaurants and cafes. The eerie Grūtas Park, full of old Soviet statues, is also located nearby.

Nida

Located on the Curonian Spit, Nida is one of the most beautiful towns on Lithuania’s 98-km-long coast. Edged by the impressive Dead Dunes, ample forest, and the Curonian Lagoon, Nida doesn’t just feature natural wonders. The homes in Nida are built in a traditional style, which is a colorful exterior with carved decorations on the eaves, and a characteristic weather vane. Because of its beauty, Nida is one of the most expensive places to visit in Lithuania.

Zarasai

With its stunning observation bridge, Zarasai provides one of the best overlook points in Lithuania. Other than the Zarasai Bridge overlook, the town itself is known as “a City Above Seven Lakes,” thus providing visitors with ample opportunities for water sports. Activities available in Zarasai include swimming in an outdoor pool, jumping from a 10-m-high diving board, biking on one of the islands in the lake, visiting Stelmuze Manor and so much more. Best to save a visit to Zarasai for the summer though!

Birstonas

Conveniently located only 30 km south of Kaunas, Birstonas is a popular spa escape. Relying on its naturally salty mineral waters, this resort town has been visited for those seeking cures to their ailments and for relaxation since the mid-1800s. In addition to spas, Birstonas features a beautiful pedestrian avenue, the Birstonas Church, and numerous lovely houses.

Vilkija

Bordered by the Nemunas River, Vilkija was a former Jewish settlement and was a site of a mass killing of Jewish people during the Holocaust. There is now a memorial on the site of a former mass grave with information given in Lithuanian and Russian. Another highlight in Vilkija is its beautiful brick church on a wooded hill that overlooks the Nemunas River.

Save

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.