Lithuania

Lithuania’s second largest city has a beautiful medieval Old Town (smaller than that in quirky capital Vilnius) that is worth visiting, and the Kaunas Castle, which is like a smaller version of the Trakai Castle. It is really an easy half-day trip from Vilnius, and there are plenty of excellent tours that will take you there, teach you about the history, and leave you some time to wander and explore. A must-do experience in the eccentric capital of Vilnius is walking the steep, cobbled road up to Gediminas Tower, named for the grand duke of Lithuania.

Whether you are looking to stay in one of the surrounding cities or make it as far as Vilnius on a day trip, Hill of Crosses is an absolute must-see destination while visiting Lithuania. The best way to visit Hill of Crosses is by including it on a road trip through Lithuania and Latvia.

From exploring Vilnius, a picturesque capital city, to enjoying local cuisine, to visiting Trakai Castle, which is the most beautiful castle to see in Lithuania, here are the best places to visit. There are plenty of fun places to visit in Lithuania -- from white sand dunes in the West, to stunning capital Vilnius in the Southeast. If the sights are not enough, you can dig deeper into Vilnius and Lithuanian history by reading a few guidebooks, visiting museums, or joining a city tour in Vilnius led by a professional local tour guide.

Most museums that you will find in Vilnius, or across Lithuania, are focused on the history or local culture -- just not in the Grutas Park. Most museums are geared towards the historical, and although Vilnius has its share of museums depicting the rich history of the city and country, this museum is a bit on the more interesting side of things. Known as the Museum of the Genocide, it is certainly a worthwhile stop on your sightseeing itinerary in Vilnius.

You can find the Occupation Museum and the Freedom Struggle, previously called Genocide Memorial Museum, in Vilnius. The Genocide Victims Museum is in the former headquarters of the Gestapo and the KGB in Vilnius, the capital city, and serves as a permanent memorial for everyone who lost their lives in the Soviet occupation of Lithuania following WWII. Recently renamed as the Museum of the Occupation and the Fight for Freedom, the KGB museum (as it is unofficially known) is looking at a difficult, troubling, tragic piece of Lithuanian history.

While not for the faint-hearted, the KGB Museum is certainly worth visiting because of the important light it shines on Lithuania’s troubled past. Located in an enormous building that served as KGBs headquarters for Lithuania’s capital and largest city, the museum houses many excruciating displays that document the 50-year occupation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union. Home to spectacular churches and cathedrals, cosy cafes, and bizarre art installations, Lithuania’s capital and largest city boasts one of Europe’s best-preserved Old Towns. One of the most visible attractions of Lithuania’s capital and largest city, the magnificent Saint Ann’s Church is located stone’s throw away from several of the Old Towns most prominent attractions.

St. Annes Church in Vilnius is one of Lithuania’s prettiest buildings, made of quaint brick towers and rising windows. St. Annes Church in Lithuania’s Capital is an amazing Gothic masterpiece, which was said to have caught the eye of Napoleon Bonaparte. While there is no conclusive proof that Bonaparte wanted to steal the church, he certainly found the capital of Lithuania to be an attractive location. Check out Vilnius’s many attractive churches, including St Annes Gothic Church and the St Peter and St Pauls church, where you will find the body of St Kasimiras, one of Lithuania’s most venerated dukes.

Known as one of the cities in SPA, and visited by locals, Anyksciai is worth the trip too, for tourists looking to go slightly off-the-beaten-path in Lithuania. Trakai Castle is also one of Lithuania’s most popular tourist attractions, being popular with tourists and locals alike. Kaunas is known all around Lithuania as a cultural town, with more than forty museums located here, along with the scenic Old Town district. Kaunas also has a nice little Old Town to explore (Kaunas was also a part of Hanseatic League, and every May, medieval festival Hansa Day draws many visitors to Kaunas), modern street art scene, a fair number of interesting museums to see.