Kaunas city tour

The transfer to Kaunas by private car takes an hour. However, on the way you will make a short stop to have a glance on Lithuanian province – at the settlement Ziezmariai. Tts current population is about 3000 pax and this rural town has preserved many historical sites as they looked at the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century: a market square with natural stone paving, a church, an inn and houses of various craftsmen. The houses stand in their natural environment and help to understand a lot about Lithuanians farmer and his trading, agriculture, and ethnobotany.

Start the tour in Kaunas by immediate immerse in the city atmosphere: reach the best place for panoramic view of the city – Aleksotas Hill – by vintage funicular, which was opened in 1932 and has been a very trendy means of transport here until now.

The medieval Old Town, surrounded by two major Lithuanian rivers from three sides, is compact and full of original architectural sites, dating back to various historical periods: Kaunas castle – where the city history started, Town Hall, often referred to as the White Swan because of its shape and colour, Thunder House – an impressive residential houses of Gothic style built in the 15th century, symbolically associated with Hansa merchants in the city. Discover the “Time Machine” bridge and learn how the architecture of the city made its’ transformation from cosy storages of Hansa merchants to splendour and innovations of Art deco buildings. Continue to the Historical Presidential Palace, whose walls saw many joyful, dramatic and fateful events for Lithuanian history, and finally reach the longest pedestrian streets in Europe – Laisves avenue. The street’s length is almost 1.7 kilometres, and its layout clearly shows directions to the west and east. There are plenty of cafés, bars, restaurants, and cosy little shops on Laisvės avenue, so naturally, it is a favourite place of locals to have lunch here.

NATIONAL M. K. CIURLIONIS MUSEUM OF ART is the best place in Lithuania to become acquainted with the development of Lithuanian art history from ancient times to the present day. However, the primary mission of the museum today is to introduce the legacy of the most famous Lithuanian artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875-1911). He created a unique form of art synthesis by writing music to be listened while watching his particular paintings. His followers claim that should he been born in the West, he would have enjoyed a major worldwide fame.

THE DEVILS’ MUSEUM is the most unique and the only devils museum in the world. The museum contains a collection of more than 3,000 devils: creations of fine and applied arts, souvenirs and masks not only from Lithuania but from around 70 countries.

THE SUGIHARA HOUSE is the authentic modernist villa, where the Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara resided on the eve of Worl War II and issued life visas for war refugees. Together with Dutch diplomat Jan Zwartendijk they saved thousands of Jewish lives. Currently the building contains a museum to commemorate the deeds of Sugihara and attracts thousands of Japanese and Israeli tourists each year.

ART DECO MUSEUM is a private, recently thoroughly renovated flat in a beautiful art deco house. The owners of the property explain via the original furniture and interior accessories about the life of middle-class Lithuanians in the interwar era.

THE IX FORTH MUSEUM is one of the defences of Kaunas fortress and a historical and architectural monument protected by the state. In the Ninth Forth visitors may learn about the interesting and distinctive architecture of war of Kaunas Fortress defence and explore the examples of weaponry and accoutrements of World War I. Another part of the exposition is dedicated to the World War II and reveals the Nazi occupation and its crimes in Kaunas.