Kaunas Old Town
Ideal: Ideal for city walks, local atmosphere, and routes beyond Vilnius.
When Poland took Vilnius in 1920, Kaunas became the provisional capital until 1939 and had to build state institutions from scratch. Those twenty years left the city a dense accumulation of 1920s–30s modernist architecture; that building ensemble joined the UNESCO list in 2023. Kaunas was European Capital of Culture in 2022. The old town sits at the tip of the peninsula where the Nemunas and Neris rivers meet, and you can walk all the way to the point where the two waters join.
Did you know?
Why was Kaunas once the capital?
From 1920 to 1939, while Vilnius was under Polish control, Kaunas served as the provisional capital. The modernist architecture built in that period was UNESCO-listed in 2023.
Is the Devils' Museum real?
Yes. Considered unique in the world, it holds over 3,000 devil figures. The collection began as one artist's personal obsession and grew through donations from around the globe.
Why is the confluence of the two rivers notable?
The Nemunas and Neris meet at the tip of the old town, and the area floods regularly in spring. The confluence is both a viewpoint and the reason the city exists.
Why go?
- To see Lithuania's second city from a more local angle
- To walk historic squares, old streets, and the riverfront
- To build a balanced city route outside Vilnius
Travel tip
Do not rush through Kaunas; combining the old-town walk with the Laisvės Alėja area works well.
