Itinerary
5 Days
5 Days in Lithuania — The Perfect Itinerary
✍️ Niv Shimoni
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📅 Updated July
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⏱ 8 min read
Lithuania was just named one of Lonely Planet's top destinations in the world — and if you've never been, five days is all you need to understand why. This itinerary covers Vilnius Old Town (two full days), a day trip to Trakai's island castle, the underrated Art Deco city of Kaunas, and a relaxed final morning before your flight. Real places, real recommendations — not a copy-paste from TripAdvisor.
Cities
Vilnius · Trakai · Kaunas
Afternoon
Arrive in Vilnius
Arrival
Vilnius Airport (VNO) is efficient and easy to navigate — city centre in 20 minutes. Two easy options: Bolt or Uber (~€10–15) from the app, or public bus (routes 1 or 88, stops right outside the terminal) for €1 via the Trafi app (Lithuania's free bus ticketing app) or €1.50 cash — both take the same ~20 minutes. The Old Town is walkable from almost anywhere central.
🚕 Bolt / Uber
~€10–15
~20 min · door to door
🚌 Bus 1 or 88
€1 (app) · €1.50 cash
~20 min · download Trafi app for tickets
💡 Stay in or near Senamiestis (Old Town) for the first two nights — walk out at 10pm and still find life outside.
🚗 Considering a rental car?
Renting a car unlocks Lithuania completely — Trakai, Kaunas, and the national parks all become easy drives. Pick up at the airport on arrival (Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt all in the terminal).
💶 Cost: €25–50 / day
🏰 Vilnius → Trakai: 28 km · ~30 min
🏙️ Vilnius → Kaunas: 100 km · ~1h
⛽ Fuel: ~€1.60/L · diesel
Roads are well-maintained and well-signed. Parking is paid in all three city centres: Vilnius Old Town ~€1.50/hr, Kaunas centre ~€1/hr, Trakai near the castle ~€2 flat. Tip: park for free on the outskirts of Vilnius and take a bus into the centre — saves money and avoids the Old Town congestion.
Evening
First walk through Old Town
Sightseeing
Don't plan anything for the first evening — just walk. Vilnius Old Town is UNESCO-listed and genuinely beautiful. Start at Cathedral Square, wander down Pilies Street, duck into the courtyards off Literatų, and cross into Užupis for a drink. The city rewards wandering.
Dinner
Džiaugsmas
Restaurant · Modern Lithuanian
The hottest table in Vilnius right now — modern Lithuanian cooking with serious technique, a beautiful room, and a crowd that actually lives here. Seasonal menu, natural wines, no tourist traps. Mains €18–35.
💡 Book ahead — Džiaugsmas fills up fast, especially on weekends.
→ Explore Vilnius on the guide
Morning · 9:00
Backstage Roastery
Specialty Coffee
Vilnius has one of the best specialty coffee scenes in Eastern Europe. Backstage is the place to start: single-origin espresso, excellent pastries, and a relaxed vibe that doesn't feel like it's trying too hard. Grab a window seat and ease into the day.
→ Best coffee in Vilnius — full guide
Morning · 10:30
Cathedral Square & Gediminas Tower
Landmark
Cathedral Square is the heart of the city — the neoclassical cathedral, the bell tower, and the castle hill above it. Climb Gediminas Tower (the funicular costs €3, or you can walk up in 10 minutes) for the best view over the red rooftops of Old Town and the Neris River winding below. Lithuania's most iconic view.
💡 Look for the "Stebuklas" tile in the square — stand on it and make a wish. Locals actually do this.
Afternoon · 13:00
Užupis & MO Museum
Art & Culture
Užupis is Vilnius's artists' quarter — a bohemian neighbourhood that declared itself an independent republic in 1997. Walk across the bridge, explore the murals, galleries and studios tucked into the backstreets. Then head to the MO Museum for contemporary Lithuanian and Baltic art in a beautifully designed building. €8 entry, absolutely worth it.
Evening · 19:00
Dinner at BARN + rooftop drinks
Restaurant + Bar
BARN Bistro is one of the best dinner spots in Vilnius — seasonal Lithuanian produce, creative cooking, beautiful space. After dinner, head to 3M Žos Rooftop Bar for a drink with the Old Town spread out below you. In summer, this terrace doesn't get dark until 10pm.
→ Best restaurants in Vilnius — full guide
Morning · 9:00
Getting to Trakai
Getting There
Three easy options from Vilnius. Once you arrive, everything in Trakai is walkable — the castle is a 15-minute walk from the train station along a beautiful lakeside path.
🚆 Train — Recommended
€1.50
35 min · Vilnius Central Station · hourly
🚌 Bus
€1.50
~50 min · line 860 from bus station · frequent
🚕 Bolt / Uber
~€18–25
~30 min · door to door
💡 The train is the most scenic option — the last few minutes run alongside the lake. Buy your ticket on the platform or via the LTG Link app.
Morning · 9:45
Snapas Café
Specialty Coffee
Snapas is a small specialty coffee shop in the heart of Trakai — great coffee, relaxed vibe, and a good base before heading to the castle. Worth a stop before the crowds arrive.
Morning · 10:30
Trakai Island Castle
Historic Site · UNESCO
Built in the 14th century on an island in Lake Galvė, Trakai Castle is Lithuania's most photographed landmark — and it earns it. The red-brick towers rising from the blue lake are genuinely spectacular. Entry €12. Plan 1.5–2 hours inside, including the museum. Rent a rowing boat or kayak after for the best view of the castle from the water.
💡 Arrive before 11am in summer to beat the tour groups. The castle gets busy from midday onwards.
→ Complete Trakai day trip guide
Lunch · 13:00
Kibinai at Kiubėtė
Local Food
Kibinai are the Karaim meat pies that have been made in Trakai for 600 years — flaky pastry filled with lamb or beef, served hot. This is the one thing you absolutely must eat here. Kiubėtė on the lakeside has the best version in town. Order two. You'll want two.
Afternoon · 15:00 (Optional)
Hot Air Balloon over the Lakes
Experience · Optional
Trakai offers hot air balloon rides over the castle and surrounding lakes — genuinely one of the most spectacular things you can do in Lithuania. Around €100–120 per person. Book in advance during summer. Flights typically last 1 hour.
💡 If you book a late afternoon flight, check the last train back to Vilnius beforehand (typically around 9pm). Otherwise, a Bolt taxi takes ~25 minutes (~€20).
Evening · 18:00–19:00
Return to Vilnius
Getting Back
Three options back to Vilnius. You need to be back tonight — Day 4 departs at 8:30am.
🚆 Train — Recommended
€1.50
35 min · hourly · last train ~21:00
🚌 Bus 860
€1.50
~50 min · frequent · last bus ~21:30
🚕 Bolt / Uber
~€18–22
~25 min · door to door · any time
💡 If you book a late balloon (after 17:00), take Bolt back — don't rely on the last train.
Morning · 8:30
Getting to Kaunas
Getting There
Three easy options from Vilnius. The train is the most comfortable — scenic ride, no traffic, and you arrive right in the city centre.
🚆 Train — Recommended
€4–7
~1h 20min · Vilnius station · hourly
🚌 Bus
€5–8
~1h 20min · Lux Express / Ecolines · every 30 min
🚕 Bolt / Uber
~€40–50
~50 min · door to door
💡 Book the train at ltglink.lt — tickets from €4, choose your seat. Buses don't need advance booking.
Morning · 10:00
Laisvės Alėja & Old Town
City Walk
Kaunas was Lithuania's temporary capital between the wars (1920–1939) and still has the architecture to prove it — Modernist and Art Deco buildings that most European cities would kill for. Walk down Laisvės Alėja (the pedestrian boulevard), then into the medieval Old Town and along the confluence of the Neris and Nemunas rivers. It's a smaller, quieter, more local version of Vilnius.
💡 Kaunas was a European Capital of Culture in 2022 and has genuinely reinvented itself. The murals, galleries, and food scene are excellent.
Afternoon · 13:00
Devil's Museum
Museum · Unique
One of the strangest museums in Europe — over 3,000 devil figurines collected from across the world, including a notorious Hitler-and-Stalin-dancing-on-Lithuania exhibit. It sounds dark; it's actually fascinating and strangely fun. €5 entry. Plan about 1–1.5 hours. Don't skip it.
Afternoon · 14:30
Kaunas Funicular & Aleksotas Viewpoint
Viewpoint
A short cable car (€1) lifts you up to the Aleksotas hill — the best panoramic view over Kaunas, the old town rooftops, and the two rivers meeting below. Takes 30 minutes tops and is completely worth it. Then walk back through the Old Town or grab a coffee on Vilniaus Street before dinner.
Evening · 19:00
Dinner at Dia + overnight
Restaurant · Modern European
Dia is one of Kaunas's finest dinner spots — modern European cooking, a carefully curated wine list, and an intimate atmosphere. A fitting end to a day in the city. Stay overnight in Kaunas — Day 5 starts with a relaxed morning before the bus back.
Morning · 9:00
Meno Materija — coffee & ceramics
Café · Ceramics Shop
A beautiful spot that's half café, half ceramics shop — local artists' work fills the shelves, and the coffee is excellent. No rush. Order something, browse, sit. The perfect last morning in Kaunas.
Late Morning · 11:00
Back to Vilnius
Getting Back
Depart around 11:00, arrive Vilnius ~12:30. Plenty of time for a last hour in the city before your evening flight.
🚆 Train — Recommended
€4–7
~1h 20min · Kaunas station → Vilnius · hourly
🚌 Bus
€5–8
~1h 20min · Lux Express / Ecolines · every 30 min
🚕 Bolt / Uber
~€40–50
~50 min · עד הדלת
💡 Train: book at ltglink.lt. Bus: lux.express or ecolines.net — cheaper online, choose your seat.
Afternoon · 13:30 (Optional)
Halės Market & last Vilnius wander
Market · Optional
Halės Market is a beautiful covered market from 1906 — local honey, cheese, amber, pickles, bread. Perfect for last-minute gifts or just wandering the stalls. Grab something to take home and spend your last hour in Old Town doing nothing in particular.
Evening
Departure from Vilnius Airport
Departure
Vilnius Airport is 10–15 minutes from the city centre by Bolt or Uber (~€8–10). Allow at least 1.5 hours before departure. The airport is small — security is fast — but VNO has essentially no shops once you're airside, so eat before you go.
Also read
Trakai Day Trip — The Complete Guide →
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Also read
Best Restaurants in Vilnius →
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Also read
Best Coffee in Vilnius →
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Frequently asked questions
Is 5 days enough for Lithuania?
Five days is the sweet spot for Vilnius, Trakai, and Kaunas. You'll really feel each city — two full days in Vilnius, a proper Trakai day trip, a full day in Kaunas, and a relaxed final morning. Any less and you'll feel rushed; any more and you can start adding the Curonian Spit or Aukštaitija National Park.
What is the best time to visit Lithuania?
May to September is ideal. June and July offer the longest days — it barely gets dark before 10pm — and the best outdoor conditions. August has the most festivals. September is quieter, cheaper, and still warm enough.
Do I need a car in Lithuania?
Not for this route. Vilnius, Trakai (by train, 35 min / €1.50), and Kaunas (by bus, 1h20min / €5–8) are all easily reachable by public transport. A car opens up national parks and the Curonian Spit, but isn't essential for these 5 days.
Is Lithuania expensive?
No — it's one of the most affordable countries in the EU. Expect €8–15 for a full restaurant meal, €3 for specialty coffee, €50–100 per night for a good hotel in Vilnius, and €1.50 for the train to Trakai.
Is Lithuania safe for tourists?
Yes, very. Lithuania consistently ranks among the safest countries in Europe. Petty crime exists as in any city, but violent crime targeting tourists is extremely rare. Vilnius Old Town is safe at night.
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