Kaunas

Modernist Charm on the Nemunas

Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city, lies along the Neman River. It has a mix of old and new architecture with many preserved 19th-century buildings alongside modern spaces. The city center features wide boulevards lined with trees and historic squares where locals gather for events. Kaunas is known for its cultural scene including museums, galleries and music venues. Its central location makes it easy to explore nearby nature reserves or take short trips to other parts of the country. The mix of history, art and green spaces creates a relaxed yet lively atmosphere.

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City in Lithuania

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.0

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

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4/5

English is widely spoken by younger locals, in hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions. Older residents may speak more Russian or Lithuanian, but you’ll have no trouble getting by in English in most places.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Kaunas Summary

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Strong in historic architecture and culture. Walk old town streets, visit art museums, relax in riverside parks and explore lively cafés and cultural venues.

Place score

7.4

Best at:

Walkable

Spotless

Museums

Architecture

Historic sites

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

❤️ 8

Couples

Lithuania – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted and commonly used, even for small transactions. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. Leaving 5-10% is common in restaurants.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not allowed and may result in fines.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in public areas but allowed in designated spaces.

Restoration of Independence (March)	Public celebrations and closures.
St. John's Day (June)	Bonfires and festivals.
Christmas (December)	Markets and closures.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112
Taxi apps:	Bolt, eTAKSI
Other:	Lithuania offers beautiful forests, lakes, and medieval architecture. Winters are cold, so dress warmly.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Kaunas, Lithuania

🌦️

Jan

❄️

Feb

❄️

Mar

🌥️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

☁️

Oct

❄️

Nov

🌦️

Dec

High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	May, Sep.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Daylight ranges from about 7 hours in December to 17 in June

Kaunas Jazz Festival, mid April to early May, and Pažaislis Music Festival, June to July

Many outdoor cafes and river activities run May to September, much quieter in winter

Don't miss

🏘️ Explore the charming cobbled streets of Kaunas Old Town
🏰 Climb Kaunas Castle for views at Nemunas and Neris rivers
🕯️ Visit the eerie Ninth Fort Museum and memorial
🎨 Discover colorful murals on Kaunas’ vibrant street art trail
🚡 Ride the Aleksotas funicular for panoramic city views
⛪ Admire Baroque beauty at Pažaislis Monastery nearby

You've been here?

Why travel to Kaunas?

Kaunas offers a unique mix of Gothic towers, art deco gems and vibrant street art, all set along leafy boulevards and the scenic Nemunas River. The city’s Old Town is packed with cozy cafes and quirky museums, while its interwar modernist buildings are so impressive they’re on the path to UNESCO World Heritage status. There’s a relaxed, student-driven energy thanks to several universities, making it lively but never overwhelming. It’s a fantastic place for those who love architecture, history and culture without the tourist crowds of bigger European cities. Just keep in mind, some areas are quieter at night and the weather can be unpredictable – pack for chilly evenings even in summer.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Kaunas Castle
2 House of Chiune Sugihara
3 Pažaislis Monastery
4 City Hall Square

🎡Places for activities

1 Vytautas the Great War Museum
2 Žalgirio arena
3 Kaunas Sports Hall
4 M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum
5 Zoo of Lithuania

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University
2 Oak Grove
3 Kaunas Lake

🎈Events

Kaunas Jazz Festival
Pažaislis Music Festival
Putvinskis Street Day
Kaunas City Days
Kaunas Biennial
Celebrate the River
Kaunas Fair
Christmas Market
Sakura Blossom Festival
Street Music Day

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Knowledge before you go

Stroll Laisvės Alėja early; cafés are best before crowds.
Use buses or trolleybuses for longer hops; Old Town stays very walkable for sightseeing.
Plan one modernist-architecture walk; Kaunas’ interwar buildings are a signature highlight beyond the castle.
Catch sunset at Aleksotas Observation Deck (or the funicular) for skyline photos across the Nemunas river.

How to travel to Kaunas

Kaunas International Airport offers direct flights to many European cities and is just a short drive from the center. Regular trains and buses connect Kaunas to Vilnius, Klaipėda and Riga. The main bus and train stations are centrally located, making onward travel easy.

Access summary

From Kaunas Airport (KUN): city bus 29G or taxi about 20–40 min.
From Vilnius: intercity bus or train to Kaunas usually 1.5–2 hours.
From Warsaw: long-distance bus or train to Kaunas roughly 7–9 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Kaunas

Kaunas has a good mix of boutique hotels, modern chains and budget hostels, especially around the Old Town and city center. For a quieter stay, look for guesthouses near the river or parks. Book ahead during festivals or major events.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Radisson Hotel Kaunas

9.0

Kaunas

9.3

Daugirdas Old City Hotel

8.9

Amberton Cozy Hotel Kaunas

8.4

BEST BALTIC Kaunas

8.5

VICTORIA Hotel Kaunas

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Kaunas

The city center is very walkable and public buses and trolleybuses connect all districts efficiently. Bike rentals are popular in warmer months and the funiculars are a quirky, historic way to reach hillier neighborhoods. Taxis and ride-sharing apps are widely available, but avoid unofficial cabs for safety.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-18 %

Daily expenses in Kaunas are around 18% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£41	£101	£273
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£11	£34	£75
🍝 Food per day	£25	£61	£182
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£6	£16

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£27
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£9.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£8
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£8.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.20

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.90
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£9
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.30

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£38
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£8.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Kaunas is generally very safe, especially during the day. At night, stick to well-lit areas and avoid the Vilijampolė neighborhood. Watch for pickpockets in crowded spots and use only official taxis or ride-sharing apps.

Health & Medical

Medical care is good, with modern clinics and pharmacies available in the city center. EU travelers can use their EHIC cards. No special vaccinations are needed, but travel insurance is always a good idea.

Accessibility

Most central attractions are accessible, but some Old Town streets are cobbled and uneven. Public transport is generally accessible and newer attractions have ramps and lifts, but some historic sites may pose challenges.

Tap water

Tap water in Kaunas is safe, clean and widely available. Public drinking fountains are rare, so carry a refillable bottle when exploring the city.