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π±πΉThings to Do in Lithuania
From Vilnius's baroque old town to the island castle of Trakai - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Vilnius has one of the largest baroque old towns in Northern Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage site that feels noticeably different from the more Nordic-influenced capitals of Estonia and Latvia further north. A lake-island castle and a genuinely strange, deeply symbolic hill of crosses round out a country still relatively light on international tourism. Here are 6 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Vilnius Old Town
A UNESCO World Heritage baroque old town, one of the largest in Europe, with Gediminas' Tower overlooking the city from a hill at its edge.
π Vilnius
π Nearest station: Vilnius railway station, a 15-minute walk to the Gate of Dawn at the southern end of the old town, with trolleybuses running up Gedimino avenue.
Trakai Island Castle
A red-brick castle built on an island in Lake Galve, connected by a wooden footbridge - the only island castle in Eastern Europe and one of Lithuania's most photographed sights.
π Trakai, near Vilnius
π Nearest station: Trakai, 30 minutes from Vilnius by train, then a 2km walk along the lake to the castle causeway - buses from Vilnius bus station also run every half hour.
Hill of Crosses
A pilgrimage site near Ε iauliai holding over 100,000 crosses left by visitors over more than a century, repeatedly bulldozed by Soviet authorities and rebuilt each time by the Lithuanian public.
π Near Ε iauliai
π Nearest station: Siauliai, then bus towards Joniskis and a 2km walk from the Domantai stop; the hill has no service of its own and taxis from Siauliai are the simpler option.
Uzupis, Vilnius
A bohemian neighborhood across the river from Vilnius's old town that declared itself a satirical independent republic in 1997, complete with its own tongue-in-cheek constitution posted on a wall.
π UΕΎupis, Vilnius
π The republic of Uzupis is across the Vilnia river from the old town, a 10-minute walk from the Cathedral - no transport needed, and its constitution is on the wall in 30 languages.
Curonian Spit
A UNESCO-listed sand dune peninsula shared with Russia's Kaliningrad region, with some of the tallest shifting sand dunes in Europe and pine forest villages along the Baltic coast.
π Curonian Spit
π Take the train or bus to Klaipeda, then the ferry across to Smiltyne and a bus down the spit to Nida, about an hour - the spit is a national park with a vehicle entry fee.
Kaunas
Lithuania's second city and interwar-era capital, with a well-preserved collection of Art Deco and modernist architecture from the 1920s-30s period.
π Kaunas
π Nearest station: Kaunas, with trains from Vilnius taking about an hour and a quarter; the old town and Laisves aleja are a short trolleybus ride from the platform.
Mark Lithuania, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Lithuania?
3-4 days covers Vilnius and Trakai well. A week lets you add Kaunas and the Curonian Spit without rushing.
What's the best time to visit Lithuania?
May-September has the mildest weather, best for the Curonian Spit's beaches and dunes. Vilnius's Christmas market runs through December; winters are cold and dark.
Is Lithuania good for a first-time visit?
Yes - Vilnius's old town is walkable and increasingly well set up for tourism, and it remains one of the more affordable Baltic capitals to visit.
Do I need a visa to visit Lithuania?
Lithuania is part of the Schengen Area, so citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa arranged in advance. Check the official visa information for your nationality: urm.lt.
What are some things to do in Lithuania on a tight budget?
Walking Vilnius's old town and Uzupis costs nothing, the Hill of Crosses is free to visit, and Lithuania is one of the more affordable countries in the Baltics and wider Europe for food and accommodation.
Can I rent a car in Lithuania, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and it is the easiest way to reach the Hill of Crosses and the Curonian Spit. EU and EEA licences are valid as issued; other visitors need an International Driving Permit with the home licence. Minimum age is usually 21 with a young-driver fee under 25. Headlights are required at all times year-round, winter tyres are mandatory from November to April, and the Curonian Spit charges a vehicle entry fee at the Smiltyne ferry. The Transport Competence Agency publishes the rules at ltsa.lrv.lt; cars come from Sixt, Avis and Hertz.