Kaunas walking tour & city guide
An old town, a castle and interwar modernism.
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Kaunas, Lithuania's second city, stands where the Neris and Nemunas rivers meet. Between the World Wars it served as the country's temporary capital and was rebuilt in a modernist style so distinctive that its interwar architecture now carries the European Heritage Label.
The Old Town and the castle
The Old Town is centered on Town Hall Square, where the white Town Hall, known as the 'White Swan', stands among Gothic and Baroque buildings. The red-brick Kaunas Castle, at the meeting of the two rivers, dates back to the 14th century, and the Perkūnas House is a fine example of brick Gothic.
Laisvės Alėja and the modernist city
Laisvės Alėja, the 'Freedom Avenue', is a pedestrian boulevard lined with lime trees that runs for more than a kilometer to the white Church of Saint Michael the Archangel. The streets around it hold dozens of 1920s and 1930s modernist buildings, from the Central Post Office to the Vytautas the Great War Museum.
A historic funicular climbs Aleksotas Hill for a view over the Old Town. Kaunas was a European Capital of Culture in 2022, and its museums include the unusual Devils' Museum, with thousands of figures of devils.
Top sights in Kaunas
- 1
Laisvės Alėja
A long pedestrian boulevard.
- 2
Kaunas Castle
A medieval brick castle at the meeting of two rivers.
- 3
Town Hall Square
The 'White Swan' Town Hall and Old Town.
- 4
Aleksotas Funicular
A historic funicular with city views.
- 5
Church of Saint Michael the Archangel
A white neo-Byzantine church.
Food markets & where to eat in Kaunas
Laisvės Alėja
Cafés and terraces along the boulevard.
Old Town
Traditional restaurants around Town Hall Square.
Kaunas Central Market
The city's main market for local produce.
Food to try in Kaunas
Cepelinai
Lithuania's famous potato dumplings.
Kepta duona
Fried rye bread with garlic, a beer snack.
Varškėčiai
Fried curd cheese pancakes.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Kaunas
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in KaunasCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Kaunas.
- eSIM for LithuaniaStay online from the moment you land.
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