Kaunas

Kaunas, Lithuania

Founded as a fortress in 1030 at the confluence of two rivers, Kaunas, in the heart of Lithuania, is a city full of history, culture, and natural beauty. Start your trip by walking through its main artery, Laisvės Alėja, while you admire its beautiful architecture, and make sure you get familiar with the delicious Lithuanian dishes and the ancient bath traditions in a city that was once the admired place of Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz.

Population:

295,269 (2016)

Currency:

Euro (EUR) €1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

112

Opening Hours:

Business hours are usually from 8am–3pm on weekdays. Major shopping malls are open until 10pm or later. As of January 2018, liquor store opening hours are shortened from 10am–8pm (until 3pm on Sundays).

Newspapers:

Kauno diena
http://kauno.diena.lt

Lietuvos Rytas
www.lrytas.lt

Respublika
www.respublika.lt

DELFI
(The main Lithuanian news portal in English)
https://en.delfi.lt

The Baltic Times
www.baltictimes.com

The City

During its history, Kaunas was continuously regarded as one of the most important cities in what we call Lithuania today. Its brick castle, built in the 14th century, had earned the city an important position in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as well as internationally, in the Hanseatic League.

In the 20th century, Kaunas served as the national capital while Vilnius was invaded by the Russian Empire between 1919 and 1939. This period played an important role in Kaunas becoming a culturally rich city, often regarded in these years as the Little Paris for its spectacular architecture and bustling social life.

Sadly, Kaunas was not exempt from the tragic events of the past century, either. Given its significant Jewish community, it saw the killings of thousands of victims, and was heavily repressed by the Soviet rule, against which the June Uprising was organised here in 1941.

Perhaps it's her troubled history that helped Kaunas build such a captivating character, which a visitor today can still experience by taking a walk in the cobblestoned historic Old Town of the city that is going to be 2022's European Capital of Culture.

Do & See

Abundant in beautiful landmarks and interesting museums, Kaunas has a remarkable cultural heritage that celebrates Lithuania's eventful history.

Dining

Kaunas has many cosy restaurants promoting Lithuanian cuisine, so here are a few suggestions on where you can try the famous cepelinai (potato dumplings), saltibarsciai (borscht), or the dark rye bread—or something international, if that's what you fancy.

Cafes

Whether you are looking to get your daily caffeine fix, or are interested in the sweet cuisine of Lithuania, there are plenty of hidden gems in Kaunas waiting to be explored. Don't miss out on the local delicacies, such as the famous spurgos doughnuts, fruity pyragas, funny-shaped sakotis, crispy zagareliai stripes, and the tinginys chocolate salami!