Itinerary Overview

D1–D2: Vilnius → D3: Trakai → D4: Kaunas → D5: Klaipėda → D6: Nida → D7: Palanga. Trains and intercity buses are available between Vilnius and Kaunas, and between Vilnius and Klaipėda. To reach the Curonian Spit, take a ferry and bus from Klaipėda.

D1–D2 Vilnius: Baroque Old Town

• D1: Arrive at Vilnius Airport → Check in to the Old Town → Cathedral Square → Gediminas Tower → Vilnius University Courtyard → Gate of Dawn.
• D2: Užupis District → St. Anne’s Church and Bernardine Church → Presidential Palace → St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church → Climb Gediminas Tower in the evening for panoramic views of the Old Town.

D3 Trakai: Island Castle on the Lake

Take a train or bus to Trakai in the morning (around 30 km away) to visit the red-brick castle built on an island in Lake Galvė, which houses a history museum. Have lunch at a Karaim restaurant by the lake and try kibinai (Karaim pastries). Rent a boat to explore the lake in the afternoon, then return to Vilnius in the evening or go directly to Kaunas.

D4 Kaunas: Where Old Meets New

Explore the Old Town Square and Town Hall, Kaunas Castle, and the Ninth Fort Memorial. In the afternoon, visit the 20th-century modernist architecture complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take an evening stroll and enjoy coffee along Laisvės alėja (Freedom Avenue). Kaunas was the European Capital of Culture in 2022.

D5 Klaipėda: Seaport and Ferries

Take a train to Klaipėda. Explore the Old Town, Theatre Square, and the King Frederick Bridge. Watch the sailboats in the harbor in the evening. If you have extra time, visit Palanga Beach or head to Smiltynė, the northern tip of the Curonian Spit.

D6 Nida: Dunes and Amber Bay

Take a ferry from Klaipėda to Smiltynė, then transfer to a bus along the coastal road to Nida. Home to Europe’s tallest moving sand dunes, the Witch Hill wooden sculptures, and lagoon sunsets, it’s one of Lithuania’s most unique UNESCO-listed landscapes. It’s recommended to spend the night in Nida.

D7 Palanga: Coastal Finale

Return to Klaipėda and then head to Palanga. Visit the Amber Museum, the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the long wooden pier. The beach is especially popular in summer. Return from Palanga Airport in the evening or go back to Vilnius to depart.

Tips

• The Curonian Spit charges an ecological fee for motor vehicles; non-drivers should use the ferry and bus combination.
• The train from Vilnius to Klaipėda takes about 4 hours; the Lux Express intercity bus is also comfortable.
• Trakai Castle is often closed on Mondays — check opening hours before you go.