The essentials in Kaunas are the Old Town with Town Hall Square and Kaunas Castle, a walk down Laisvės alėja, the UNESCO-listed interwar modernism and a view over the city from a funicular or the Resurrection Church terrace. Below are 20 sights and ideas, grouped so you can plan each day on foot. Each topic links to one of our detailed guides.
Old Town
- Town Hall Square. The heart of the Old Town, with the white Town Hall that locals call the “White Swan”. The square was fully rebuilt in 2026. More in our guide to things to do around Town Hall Square.
- Kaunas Castle. The oldest stone castle in Lithuania, first mentioned in the 14th century, at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris.
- Santaka Park. Lawns and paths where Lithuania’s two largest rivers meet. Best in the evening.
- Perkūnas House. A Gothic building on Aleksoto gatvė and one of the finest examples of the style in the city.
- Vilniaus gatvė. A pedestrian street of cafés linking the Old Town with the New Town. Beneath it and around it are historic cellars, covered in our guide to the 1908 vaults at the Kaunas crossroads.
New Town and modernism
- Laisvės alėja. A pedestrian boulevard of about 1.7 km from the Old Town to St Michael the Archangel Church.
- Interwar modernism. In 2023 the modernist architecture of Kaunas joined the UNESCO World Heritage List. A route with addresses is in our Kaunas modernism walk.
- Vytautas the Great War Museum and garden. The museum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and carillon concerts in the tower.
- M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum. The largest collection of works by the painter and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis.
- Devils’ Museum. Thousands of devil sculptures and figures from around the world, one of the most unusual museums in Lithuania.
- Sugihara House. The former Japanese consulate where in 1940 consul Chiune Sugihara issued visas that saved thousands of Jewish refugees.
Viewpoints
- Žaliakalnis funicular. Running since 1931, it climbs to Žaliakalnis near the Resurrection Church.
- Resurrection Church roof terrace. The terrace looks over the whole centre and the Old Town.
- Aleksotas funicular and viewpoint. The funicular has run since 1935. At the top is the best view of the Old Town and the rivers, especially at sunset.
Beyond the centre
- Ninth Fort. A fort of the Kaunas Fortress that became a site of mass murder during the Second World War. Today it is a museum and a monumental memorial.
- Pažaislis Monastery. A 17th-century Baroque ensemble by the Kaunas Reservoir, one of the most beautiful in Lithuania.
- Ąžuolynas. One of the largest urban oak parks in Europe, next to the Lithuanian Zoo.
- Science Island. A new science centre on Nemunas Island, good for families and rainy days. More ideas in Kaunas with kids.
For the evening
- A Žalgiris game or a concert. Žalgiris Arena holds about 15,000 people. See upcoming dates in our events in Kaunas list.
- Dinner and bars in the Old Town. Cepelinai, local beer and cellar bars, in our guides to where to eat and cellar bars and nightlife.
How to plan it
The Old Town and Laisvės alėja take half a day on foot; save a second day for viewpoints and museums. A ready route is in Kaunas Old Town in 48 hours, seasonal tips in Kaunas through the seasons. Coming from Vilnius, see Kaunas as a day trip from Vilnius; flying in, see Kaunas Airport to the Old Town.
Header photo: Kaunas Castle. Photo: Tim Adams / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
Frequently asked questions
What should I see in Kaunas in one day?
In one day you can see the Old Town with Town Hall Square and Kaunas Castle, walk Vilniaus gatvė and Laisvės alėja to St Michael the Archangel Church, ride the Žaliakalnis funicular and look over the city from the Resurrection Church terrace. Keep the evening for a Žalgiris game or a concert.
Why is Kaunas on the UNESCO list?
In 2023 the interwar modernist architecture of Kaunas was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It covers buildings from 1919–1940, when Kaunas was the temporary capital, mainly in the New Town and Žaliakalnis.
What can I do in Kaunas when it rains?
On a rainy day try the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, the Devils’ Museum, the Vytautas the Great War Museum, Science Island and the Old Town cellar bars.
Do I need a car in Kaunas?
No. The Old Town, Laisvės alėja and most sights are walkable, funiculars climb to Žaliakalnis and Aleksotas, and city buses or a taxi reach the Ninth Fort and Pažaislis.
