Jim's 4x Capital Fridays Vilnius, Trakai, Kaunas and Kernavė

5.0(5)9 hr 45 minEnglishBook 1 hour aheadVilnius, Lithuania

From

$189

A historical small-group tour from Vilnius to Trakai, Kaunas & Kernavė. Each of these capitals, however brief (Trakai told to be less than a decade) has a story to tell - from the ancient hill fort of Kernavė to the interwar capital of Kaunas.

Throughout this journey I will share the broad brush as well as pivotal moments which have shaped the beloved nation of Lithuania I now call home with my wife and son. I will also be playing songs, from eurovision to chants of the forest by the fire.

After a drive through the UNESCO old town and central business district of Vilnius, we will stop in the Soviet neighbourhood of Karoliniškės for a coffee (included).

Our next stop is Trakai and the beautiful island castle where you can try a traditional Kibinai pastry (included).

Kaunas will be 2 hours either together or solo, as you wish - you can also join me for lunch. We will take 30 minutes at the ninth fort victims of fascism monument on the way back.

Finally we have 60 mins in Kernavė!

Included

Stop at Baltic Brew in the Karoliniškės Soviet neighbourhood for a hot drink!
Bottled water
Kibinai of your choice in Trakai - Lamb, Chicken, Pork or Cottage Cheese and Spinnach!
Air-conditioned vehicle

Not included

Food is at your own expense.
Castle in Trakai or castle/museums in Kaunas.

What you'll do

St. Anne's Church
Maironio g. 8, Vilnius, Lithuania
Drive through the melting pot of Vilnius, first the UNESCO World-Heritage site Old Town and then the towering steel of the Central Business District.
Quick 10-minute coffee stop at Baltic Brew in the heart of the Karoliniškės Soviet blocks
10 min
Trakai
Trakai, Lithuania
Drive to Trakai covering the medieval history of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy, Crusades and a Union with Poland.
Angelu Kalva
Budos, Trakai, Lithuania
Stop at the Hill of Angels, built in 2009 as a site of spirituality and devotion.
15 min
Trakai Island Castle Museum
KaraimU G. 43C, Trakai, Lithuania
Explore the Karaim heritage in Trakai and option to see the castle island.
1 hourAdmission not included
Kaunas Castle
Pilies g. 17, Kaunas, Lithuania
Enjoy 2 hours in Kaunas at your own pace. We will park just outside the castle and you will have the option to meet again for lunch with me after 1 hour or to simply rendezvous back at the vehicle. Recommendations made.
2 hoursAdmission not included
Short drive and stop at the Monument to Commemorate the Victims of Nazism
Brutalist style and unveiled in 1984.
30 min
Kernave
Kernave, Lithuania
Drive to Kernavė and teleport back to the prehistoric times when Lithuania was but dense forests, rivers and swamps.
Kernave Mounds
Kernave, Lithuania
Explore the hillforts of Kernavė UNESCO Archaeological site and the open air museum of medieval homesteads.
1h 30m
Kaunas County
Lithuania
Drive to Kaunas, and fast forward to the 20th century as we head to the interwar capital.