Meeting Lithuanian diversity in three weeks
2024
Highlights of the trip
During your stay you can enjoy the following highlights: Culture / Heritage, Faune and flora, Discovery, Adventure / Sports & Leisure, Free time, Relaxation / Well-being.
Best times to go
The best time(s) to go is/are : Printemps, Eté.
Petit Futé
Where to stay - Vilnius ?
The map of your stay "Meeting Lithuanian diversity in three weeks"
Detail of the stay : Meeting Lithuanian diversity in three weeks
How to get there - Vilnius
The centre of Vilnius
Steps: Vilnius
Start your visit with the Cathedral Square, which you will recognize by its imposing French classical style. Go up through the park to the Gediminas tower overlooking the square. At the top of the tower is a belvedere that offers a beautiful view of the city. Then take Gedimino prospektas, Lithuania's "Champs-Elysées". In this street is the Museum of the Victims of Genocide, more commonly known as the "KGB Museum"; moving, it evokes the hell of political prisoners under Soviet occupation. After having walked through Gedimino, leave the Cathedral Square and go up Pilies Street, which is full of restaurants and cafés; take the opportunity to take a break at one of its terraces. Continue your ascent along Didzioji Street, which will take you to the Town Hall Square. From the square, you will see the church of Saint-Casimir, recognizable by its crown-shaped bell tower and its pink colour. Walk past the Astorija Hotel and go up to the porte de l'Aurore.
Places of interest : TOUR DE GEDIMINAS ET MONT GEDIMINAS PORTE DE L'AURORE (AUŠROS VARTAI) AVENUE GEDIMINO (GEDIMINO PROSPEKTAS) RUE PILIES (PILIES GATVĖ) HÔTEL DE VILLE (VILNIAUS ROTUŠĖ) EGLISE SAINT-CASIMIR
Vilnius side
Steps: Vilnius
Start the day with the visit of the Church of Sainte-Anne to the red brick facade. Behind is all the churches of the Bernardins. Cross the river and then venture to "the Republic of Uzupis", a district of bohemian artists named "Petit Montmartre". Climb to Basteja, and let yourself be seduced by the sight. To the north of the city, do not miss the Saints-Pierre and Paul church. Its interior offers one of the best examples of Lithuanian Baroque. At the end of the afternoon you can go to the TV tower. From there you can admire Vilnius and its surroundings, and dine or enjoy a drink in the restaurant.
Places of interest : ÉGLISE SAINTE-ANNE ET COMPLEXE DES BERNARDINS TOUR DE LA TÉLÉVISION (TELEVIZIJOS BOKŠTAS) ÉGLISE SAINTS-PIERRE-ET-PAUL (ŠV. APAŠTALŲ PETRO IR POVILO BAŽNYČIA)
Trakai
Steps: Trakai
Trakai is a small town 28 km from Vilnius, famous for its lake and castle, which was once the capital of the Duchy of Lithuania. On the program, visit the castle and the Karaite Ethnographic Museum to discover this Lithuanian minority. If the weather is nice and hot, you can swim in the lake or rent a boat for a walk along the water. After lunch, take the road to Riga (3 hours) and, a few kilometres after the border, at Bauska, follow the signs for Rundale Castle. Located 80 km from Riga, this palace was built in 1740, at the request of the Duke of Birzov, by Franscesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the architect who designed the Winter Palace of St Petersburg. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful palace in the Baltic countries.
Places of interest : MUSÉE ETHNOGRAPHIQUE KARAÏTE (KARAIMŲ ETNOGRAFINĖ EKSPOZICIJA)
Kernave
Steps: Vilnius
40 km from Vilnius, the site of this small village is sublime with the Neris valley and its many hills. After a walk through the village and the old kolkhoz, you have to take the paths for a short walk or even a picnic in an exceptional natural site, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Return to Vilnius
Steps: Druskininkai
If cities are not your dada, another route may be considered: the discovery of the Neringa peninsula, via Klaipeda, instead of a stay in Kaunas. Or, closer, if you miss time, Aukstaitija Park with its many lakes is a good idea. If the relaxation is the program, it's in Druskininkai that you have to go for a thermal cure even a few days.
Kaunas
Steps: Kaunas
The second city of the country, and the old capital in the interwar, deserves a little visit. Its old town, castle and pedestrian street are very pleasant. Museums must be visited, especially the pharmacy, but especially the Devil's Museum, which is very picturesque.
Places of interest : MUSÉE DU DIABLE (VELNIŲ MUZIEJUS)
Kaunas, Neman Delta
Steps: Kaunas
Leave Kaunas to reach the Lithuanian coast and discover the charms of the small villages of the Curonian Lagoon and its culinary speciality: smoked fish. You can admire the quantities of birds that settle in this region during their breeding season (ornithological observatory), while staying with the locals in sublime houses. All of them will offer you many activities to discover the region.
Stroll
Take the day to walk and observe the surrounding nature.
Neringa Peninsula
Steps: Nida
Cross the lagoon towards Nida, this quiet and beautiful village. You can also visit Juodkrante and its Witches' Hill. Discover the dunes and the many views. Enjoy the lagoon, the beach and the pine forest where small wooden houses are hidden. And don't forget to swim in the Baltic Sea in summer or walk on the frozen lagoon in winter.
Peninsula Peninsula de Neringa
Continue exploring this magical place.
Nida
Steps: Klaipėda
From the Neringa peninsula to the port city of Klaipeda, take the ferry to Smitltyne and return to the mainland. You can admire the lagoon and the sand dunes that line the peninsula along the path
Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaipeda Klaiped
Steps: Kaunas
Klaipeda does not require more than one day for a visit to the old town. We drink the Svyturys beer! You can also visit the brewery, but you must book in advance.
Klaipeda- Palanga
Steps: Palanga
Palanga is one of the most popular seaside resorts in Lithuania. Enjoy the 10 km of sandy beach and let yourself be tempted by a jet-ski tour.
Park of Zemaitija
Steps: Plateliai
After the madness of the seaside resort, a small nature stay is welcome: visit of Zemaiciu Kalvarija, lake of Plateliai, and for the big thrill the former Soviet military base of Plokstine.
Lake Plateliai
You can go around the lake by bike or on foot according to your wishes. Renting a boat to sail on the waters of the lake is of course possible.
Siauliai
Visit of the city and its many museums.
Siauliai (bis)
Steps: Vilnius
Ascent to the famous Hill of the Crosses.
Places of interest : COLLINE DES TROIS CROIX (TRYS KRYŽIŲ KALNAS)
Druskininkai
Return to the south of the country for a moment of relaxation in the region of the mushroom and thermal cures.
Parkos Grutos
Visit this natural park where you can walk along the paths littered with statues from the Soviet era.
