Baroque in Vilnius, the island castle of Trakai and towering dunes along the coast: Three highlights from your holiday home in Lithuania!

Lithuania is a country that bears impressive witness to many different periods of history, from domed churches to an underground Cold War missile base! But this Baltic nation also presents itself as a holiday destination with family-friendly attractions. Think of the dolphinarium and shell museum in Kaunas, the high sandy coastline near Klaipeda and short walking routes through Dzukija National Park!

Visit the “showpiece city” of Vilnius from a holiday home in Lithuania

The absolute jewel of Lithuania, the capital Vilnius, is a well-preserved medieval city filled with monumental buildings! It is no coincidence that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to impressive churches such as the Catholic Cathedral with its colonnade, classical façade and separate bell tower. A city walk through the old town also takes you past the red St Anne’s Church and the Gediminas Castle Tower. Do you find the history of the former Soviet republic intriguing? Expand your exploration with a visit to the “KGB prison” near Tauro Kalnas Park.

Take a trip to the castle island of Trakai

After getting to know Vilnius, plan excursions to sights in the surrounding region as well. About half an hour’s drive from the city lies one of the most beautiful castles in the country: Trakai Castle. Not only its large size and orange-coloured appearance make this fortress a must-see. Its location on a small island, surrounded by Lake Galve with even more little islands, gives the place a special atmosphere. Drivers can easily get close by car and cover the final stretch on foot.

Tip: book one of the small boats or a cruise on the lake with the “terrace boat”, a fun excursion boat with a rooftop deck. Boarding is possible at the pedestrian quay of the island.

Dzukija National Park: the best park for a walk with children

Would you like to swap tourist hotspots for an authentic experience during your holiday in Lithuania? One of the best places to do so is Dzukija National Park. The beautiful stream landscape and forests come first, but the old cottages and charming little churches also make a walk here well worth it. Along the way you will see plenty, such as a clear forest stream, lovely viewpoints, wooden bridges and drifting sand dunes. Thanks to a shorter 7-kilometre trail, a visit to Dzukija Park is also suitable with children! For a longer hike, the area can be crossed via trails of 10 and 14 kilometres. Start your walk at the visitor centres in Merkine or Marcinkonys.

Explore Žemaitija National Park from a holiday home in Lithuania

Experience a special mix of lakes, forests and cultural sights, such as wooden church towers, in Žemaitija National Park. This area, changing in charm with every season, is a paradise for outdoor lovers and photographers thanks to its rich flora and fauna. Swimming and canoeing are ideal activities on the large Lake Plateliai, while walkers and cyclists can enjoy an extensive network of trails. The park also features a former Cold War missile base, now set up as a museum. Much of it lies underground, as the launch facilities were originally built below the surface.

Discover the elegant charm of Kaunas

A relatively unknown city in Lithuania, but certainly worth visiting from a holiday home in Lithuania, is the former capital Kaunas. A large square with a slender town hall tower and the remains of a castle fort are among the highlights of your visit. A special museum that sparks curiosity among Dutch visitors is the Amsterdamo Museum, a building designed in the architectural style of the Amsterdam School. Inside, the building is decorated with atmospheric Art Deco-style living rooms. Not far from the centre, you can enjoy a lovely walk through Oak Park, an oak forest with a zoo on site. The river flowing through Kaunas ends at the edge of the city in an elongated lake, where you can stroll along the shores via a boardwalk. From here you have views of the cliff banks and the hilly landscape in the distance. A monastery church and an ethnographic museum nearby make the area well worth a visit!

Do not leave the city before tasting Lithuanian dishes, such as potato pancakes at restaurant Etno Dvaras! One of the most beautiful city views is served to you on the terrace of Casa della Pasta, where you can look out over the magnificent Mykolo Basilica!

Walk through the high dune landscape of the Curonian Spit

Along the Baltic coast lies a long narrow peninsula with an authentic nature reserve. In some places, the dunes rise more than 50 metres high, giving you sweeping panoramic views over the spit, the sea and the lagoon. The landscape ranges from drifting sand to sparsely vegetated dunes and forests. Following the boardwalk paths through the vast high dunes, you walk through an area that feels somewhere between desert and lunar landscape. Along the lagoon coast, you also look out over an enormous steep sandy slope that descends into the water.

Tip: from your holiday home in Lithuania, plan not only a coastal walk on the Curonian Spit but also drive to the regional port city of Klaipeda! The sea museum is especially popular, with adorable penguins and a very long display filled with all kinds of shells!

Rent a holiday home in Lithuania

Would you like a holiday destination that immerses you in UNESCO World Heritage? Visit the cities of Vilnius and the beautiful island castle of Trakai! High drifting dunes along the Baltic coast offer unique views, and nearby you can enjoy a great family outing in Klaipeda. Wonderful walking routes for the whole family can be found in Dzukija National Park. Trails of varying lengths lead you through a fascinating mix of streams, forests, old cottages and charming little churches!

Are you a terrace lover? Then be sure to visit Kaunas from a holiday home in Lithuania, or bring your thermos for a cup of coffee on the rooftop deck of a cruise boat!