Day Trips From Vilnius: Trakai and Europos Parkas

If you are planning to visit the Baltic Countries, you must not skip Vilnius. This middle sized city close to the Belarusian border has a lot to offer. Its wonderful Old Town is full of Baroque pearls, but Vilnius boasts some exquisite Gothic and Neoclassical heritage too. You can spend days exploring its cobbled streets and entering museums and churches.

Additionally, the city is full of great coffee houses, perfect for people watching. Luckily there is even more. Amongst the several interesting day trips from Vilnius, we chose to go to Trakai and the Park of Europe (Europos Parkas), both fantastic places.

Day Trips from Vilnius: How to Choose the Right One

Vilnius offers plenty of choices for day trips out of town. Trakai and Park of Europe are the best options since they combine nature and architecture. Additionally, you can go there by public transport. Therefore, you get to reduce your environmental footprint while hanging with Lithuanians! That said, there are other options close to Vilnius.

Visit Kernave if you are into archeological sites. The charming little town was the medieval capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. If you like cities bursting with culture, go to Kaunas. The country’s second-largest city is the current European Capital of Culture. If unusual places are your thing, go to the Hill of Crosses. Though a bit far, you can either drive there or go on an organized tour.

Trakai

The little town of Trakai is well known for its impressive medieval castle, but also for the beautiful Trakai National Park that surrounds it. Trains and buses to Trakai depart from Vilnius Central Station and take some 40 minutes. From Trakai bus/train station you have to walk for almost half an hour to reach the Trakai Island Castle. Though you could take a local bus there, the road is so nice, dotted with cool wooden houses and lakes on both sides, walking is a must.

The Castle is arguably Lithuania’s most recognizable landmark so the place was overcrowded with tourists. No wonder, it’s really superb. After spending some time exploring this majestic building, we took a boat trip around the Galvé Lake. This is the perfect way to enjoy views of the castle and several manor houses.

Trakai Island Castle

Trakai Castle is a medieval castle on a small island in Lake Gatve. Its construction started sometime in the 14^th century and ended in 1409. It was one of the residences of the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This commonwealth of states included present-day Lithuania, Belarus, parts of Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Latvia.

The castle was severely damaged in the 17^th Century. It slowly fell into oblivion for centuries. Fortunately, it was refurbished to its former glory from 1951 to 1961. Today, Trakai is Lithuania’s most popular castle. It hosts festivals, archeological and historical exhibits, and a hunting museum.

Where to Stay in Trakai

You can visit Trakai on a day trip from Vilnius. However, spending a night in the town is a brilliant idea. Since most tourists leave in the afternoon, you will have the place for yourself! The best hotel in town is the French-style boutique hotel Apvalaus Stalo Klubas. The beautifully designed hotel is just 500 meters from the castle. Some rooms offer direct views. The spa is fantastic!

Viva Trakai is another great hotel close to the castle. Some of its vintage-style rooms have a sauna or hot tub. Others offer views of the castle. If you are traveling with your family or friends, stay at the lovely Spa Villa Trakai. It’s got large rooms and a beautiful chill-out garden. If you are driving around Lithuania, stay at the nearby Esperanza Resort & SPA. The outstanding 5-star hotel is by the lake.

Trakai Urban Walks

Trakai is a wonderful place to explore on foot. The town is on a narrow peninsula, and several streets connect the train station to the castle. Most sights are along the main street Vytauto. The street becomes Karaimu close to the castle. Nevertheless, the most scenic route is by the shores of Luka Lake. The lake is a couple of meters east of the main street. It is also slightly longer.

However, the best hiking paths in Trakai are close to the castle. There is a path on the island around the castle. Though it may be crowded, the views are breathtaking. Another wonderful trekking path is east of the peninsula. Cross the bridge next to Trakai Mound, turn left, and walk until the end of the path. The castle will be directly in front of you. You’ll be surrounded by the lake on two sides.

Other Things to Do in Trakai

There are plenty of things to see and do in Trakai apart from visiting the castle. We absolutely recommend taking a boat tour on the lake around the castle. The scenery is breathtaking, and you’ll admire the place from a different perspective. You’ll also see the 19^th Century Tyszkiewicz Palace (Užutrakis Manor Estate) from up close.

In the town’s center, don’t miss the two main churches: the Catholic Church of Nativity of Most Holy Mother of God, and the Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Museum-lovers should not skip the Trakai History Museum. Part of it is in the castle and the rest on Karaimu Street. The Karaim Ethnographic Exhibition is pretty cool too. There is even a museum of chocolate.

Where to Eat/Drink in Trakai

If you spend at least a few hours in Trakai, you’ll need to stop for lunch or dinner. Luckily, there are several great restaurants in town. The best restaurant in Trakai is at the Apvalaus Stalo Klubas hotel. What could be better than eating delicious food with views of the castle? Perfection!

If you want to try local food, have lunch or dinner at the Senoji Kibinine. They serve homemade Lithuanian cuisine in a beautiful traditional house. According to the locals, they have best kibinas in the country. If you are into sweets and cakes, stop by the AJ Sokoladas at the Chocolate Museum.

Europos Parkas

Since we were lucky enough to have an extra day, we decided to visit a completely off the beaten track destination: Europos Parkas. It was a bit tricky getting there. The bus leaves from a tucked away corner in the middle of a socialist style neighborhood. No worries, Lithuanians are so nice that all you have to do is ask and they will gladly help you.

Europos Parkas is a large lush forest, one of the nicest in Lithuania. The trees are huge and the air is so fresh you can walk for ages. That’s not all; it is an open air museum showcasing 90 artworks from 27 countries. To us, it is the best of both worlds: a natural forest with outstanding art. Additionally, supposedly the Park is Europe’s geographical Center. We loved the place!

Open-air Museum of the Center of Europe

Local artist Gintaras Karosas founded Europos Parkas in 1987 when he was still a student. He created the first sculpture for the park four years later. However, the park became internationally famous in 1996. American artist Dennis Oppenheim designed a sculpture for the park that year.

The sculptures vary in shape, material, and size. Some are smaller than humans, while others are almost 33 feet (ten meters) high. Karosas created two of the most popular pieces: the LNK Infotree and the Monument to the Center of Europe. The other famous one is the multimedia presentation Voices Underground by Patricia Goodrich.

Where to Stay near Europos Parkas

Unfortunately, you cannot stay inside the park. Actually, there are no hotels or guesthouses nearby. The closest accommodation to Europos Parkas is 3 miles (5km) from the park. Sodyba Baltalaukis villa is a nice traditional house perfect for a group of friends or a family.

If you are driving, stay at the B Apartment. Located close to Balsys Lake, it’s a great place to spend the night. If you rather stay in Vilnius, we suggest A.V.Goda Hotel, at the end of the city by the road to the park. The three-star hotel has it all: a great location, comfortable rooms, and first-class service.

Europos Parkas Hiking Trails

The Park of Europe covers a pretty large area of 123 acres (50 hectares). Therefore, you need time to visit all of the exhibits. The good thing is that the park’s website offers different routes. Choose the one that suits you and enjoy. You can do the short route in 30 – 60 minutes. It covers 11 major pieces by the path connecting the entrance to the building.

If you have time, we recommend you do the long tour. It takes you through 52 interesting pieces in about two hours. You’ll enjoy unique art within beautiful scenery. If you have more time, walk to Neris River, or the nearby Holocaust Memorial. It is dedicated to the 1767 Jews killed here by the Nazis during WWII. We walked everywhere and loved the park.

Other Things to Do in the Area

Apart from visiting the sculptures, there aren’t many things to do in Europos Parkas. Instead, visit the surrounding area. You can get to Lake Balsys by the same bus that goes to the park. It’s a beautiful lake with a hiking path all around. From there, walk to Glubinas Lake; it’s only 20 minutes away.

There is a lovely neoclassical palace on the same road, but closer to Vilnius. We are talking about the 18^th Century Verkiai Palace. It is another former residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. If you have a car, we suggest driving to the Geographical Center of Europe in Purnuškes. There is a nice monument and another lake.

Where to Eat/Drink near Europos Parkas

If you get hungry or thirsty, don’t worry. Luckily, there is a restaurant inside Europos Parkas. They serve delicious international food in a beautiful setting. Please note that you may have to book your table and choose your meal beforehand. If you don’t, you’ll have fewer options.

If you are driving, stop by the Armenian restaurant Araks 15 minutes from the park. They serve traditional harcho and lavash. The beautiful terrace overlooks the lake. If you stop by the Verkiai Palace, don’t miss the opportunity to dine inside. Its restaurant is one of the best in the country.

How to Get from Vilnius to Trakai and Europos Parkas

You can get from Vilnius to Trakai by train or bus. Though we prefer trains, there are only seven a day. Otherwise, you can take one of the frequent buses. They leave from the Central Bus Station next to the Train Station in downtown Vilnius and end their journey at Trakai’s Bus Station. From there, it’s a 30-minute walk to the castle.

To get to Europos Parkas from Vilnius, take a taxi, a bus or walk to Bronius Laurinavičius Square in Žirmūnai, Vilnius’ largest municipality. Take bus 66 there and you’ll be in Europos Parkas in 25 minutes. On weekdays, there are approximately 2 buses every hour, from 6 AM to 10 PM. There is only one bus per hour on weekends. Take a look at the bus schedule here.

Organized Tours to Europos Parkas and Trakai from Vilnius

Though it’s not that easy to reach Europos Parks by public transport, there aren’t any organized tours that you can take. Thus, the only way is to take the bus or drive there yourself. Once in the park, you can follow the routes we mentioned above. You can find detailed itineraries on their website.

On the other hand, you can visit Trakai via an organized tour. The most popular option is the Trakai Tour with Audio Guide. It includes transportation and an audio guide. Another popular tour is a full-day trip to Kaunas, Trakai, and the Paneriai Forest. You’ll visit three of Lithuania’s most iconic places, though on a tight schedule.