Cheap flights to Kaunas from GBP19*

Vilnius might be the shiny, cosmopolitan first city of Lithuania but many think that its former capital, Kaunas, is where the country’s heart truly lies. Discover its enchanting streets, impossibly stylish cityscape, pastel-coloured façades and festive people, and do so as soon as you can. Chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2022, Kaunas is becoming an increasingly popular destination both as a result of a recent wave of modernisation and a history thousands of years in the making. Lovers of architecture and photography will be dazzled by its compact Old Town, flanked by hallmarks of European Art Deco and Lithuanian National Romanticism. Thanks to Kaunas’ rich legacy and creative spirit, as well as its 60-odd museums and galleries, it even bagged the UNESCO City of Design title in 2015. But cultural escapades are far from being the only things Kaunas has to offer. Avid festival-goers, fans of quirky attractions and outdoor enthusiasts will also find plenty of activities to keep them busy and happy during their Kaunas holiday.

 

A stylish Lithuanian getaway

Legend has it that Kaunas was established by a patrician in ancient Roman times, who had to flee Rome in fear of the merciless Emperor Nero. His son, Kunas, inherited the land where Kauna now stands, erected a fortress there and the rest is history – one that begs to be discovered. Kaunas sits at the union of River Nemunas and River Neris, a location that propelled the city to stardom, first as a medieval stronghold, then as Lithuania's capital when Vilnius fell under Polish rule between 1920 and 1939. The remnants of the former era can still be admired, strolling Kaunas’ dreamy Old Town and 14th-century fort, while the latter gave birth to some of the finest Neo-Romantic and Art Deco architectural heritage of the city. For the modern-day traveller, Kaunas’ strategic riverside position offers scenic paths for romantic evening walks with a tapestry of culture and history at every step.

 

Back to the roots

Lithuanian cuisine centres around locally grown root vegetables, like potatoes and beetroot, rye, greens, mushrooms, and delicious dairy products. Small wonder that its flagship meal is cepelinai or didžkukuliai, a hearty, filling combination of potato dumplings stuffed with meat, mushrooms or cheese, in a coat of bacon or sour cream. Lovers of soup will find a range of local specialities to swoon over, headlined by the red hot burokėlių sriuba, a comforting blend of beetroot, onions, carrots and celery, and the occasional pork. When it comes to appetizers, salted herring, or silké, is hard to beat in popularity. For dessert, raguolis, aka šakotis, is a must-try, if for no other reason than for its peculiar shape. Bernelių Užeiga, an Old Town staple brimming with tourists and locals alike, serves up the full range of Lithuanian classics, while critically acclaimed Uoksas wows with creative cuisine, and dishes such as beef aged with koji spores, with a side of celery and miso puree, and cabbage baked in hay. For the best spurgos, or Lithuanian doughnut, and some serious nostalgic thrills, go to Spurgine café. With a millennium-old farmhouse beer tradition, not to mention an ancient Lithuanian god specifically in charge of brewing beer and mead, Lithuanians are real beer enthusiasts and hold local brands the closest to their heart. A source of local pride, Volfas Engelman brewery was established in the 19th century and has been producing its namesake brew to this day.

 

The White Swan, Konstantinas and 3,000 times the devil

Start your Kaunas adventure at the meeting point of the city’s fast-flowing rivers, and let them be your guides through the city’s dainty Old Town. A piece of Renaissance dating back to the mid-16th century, Kaunas City Hall is hard to miss with its 53-metre-tall tower. Dubbed the White Swan, it often serves as a backdrop to newlywed couples, while the surrounding square plays host to local and international festivals, and come December, a sprawling Christmas market. Rising gracefully over the River Nemunas, the Kaunas Castle is the city’s oldest building, built in the 14th century to fend off crusaders. Today, it’s home to an art gallery and a roster of cultural events, and the source of several spooky legends, like that of the 16th-century prisoners whose souls are allegedly still haunting the old walls. Flooded numerous times by water and troops alike, the 15th-century Church of Vytautas the Great has quite a history as a prime example of Gothic architecture in Lithuania. The M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum is one of the country’s premier galleries that showcases the mesmerising works of famous Lithuanian painter and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, along with hundreds of thousands of pieces of Lithuanian folk and religious art. For a sharply different museum experience, drop by the Devil Museum with a collection of over 3,000 devil-themed artefacts. Kaunas is big on street art, too. So much so that there’s a special map available, titled Wallographer’s Notes, that walks you through the most jaw-dropping graffiti sites. Pick up your copy in the Tourism Information Centre, or any shop or café around the inner city.

 

And all that jazz

Shopping in Kaunas deserves its own itinerary. The first stop, without a doubt, should be Urmas on Pramonės Avenue. The self-proclaimed trade town stretches over 90,000 square metres and houses some 2,500 shops selling everything from flowers to fur coats. With its 7,000 square metres, the in-house Kaunas Central Market is the single biggest indoor food market in Lithuania that lays out the best in local crafts, food and fresh produce. For a more relaxed shopping experience, combine your sightseeing tour with some retail therapy on Laisvės Avenue, Kaunas’ linden tree-lined pedestrian street, peppered with boutiques, cafés, and eateries. Vinyl collectors will find their personal heaven in Records Shop on Kęstučio Street browsing the thousands of rare records, CDs, audio cassettes and concert DVDs. Kaunas is always up for a good party. Round off your shopping or sightseeing trip with a refreshing cocktail or a pint of beer, or stop in a sport bar on Vilniaus Street with quiz nights and football match screenings. Prefer inflatable flamingos and lo-fi beats with your drink? Move on to the stylish Mojo Lounge on Rotušės Square, with its romantic rooftop terrace, resident and guest DJs, and the hottest weekend parties in town. Jazz fans better schedule their holiday in Kaunas for the spring. First organised in 1991, the Kaunas Jazz Festival attracts hundreds of jazz fans each April, and fills the streets with melodies and cheer.

 

Escape the city to get your green fix

Marvel at the natural riches of Santakos Park (Santakos parkas), located at the confluence of the Neris and Nemunas rivers. Kaunas’ lung boasts a huge grassy area, a playground for children and the Gothic-style St George the Martyr Church. The magnificent Pažaislis Monastery and the Church of the Visitation, 9 kilometres east of Kaunas, is the largest monastery and church complex in Lithuania, and a true feat of Italian Baroque architecture. Built in 1662 by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Great Chancellor of Lithuania, Krzysztof Zygmunt Pac, for Camaldolese monks, the treasured monument hosts the annual international Pažaislis Music Festival. Got time to squeeze more activities into your schedule? Head to the Lithuanian Zoological Garden situated in the Ąžuolynas oak grove park in south-western Kaunas. Opened in 1938 to raise awareness about protecting endangered animals and their natural habitats, today it has some 2,000 residents, representing 200 species from around the world.

 

Kaunas weather

Kaunas has a humid continental climate with warm and bright summers, fairly cold winters and mild springs and autumns. Overall, it’s more pleasant than in other Nordic countries, thanks to Lithuania’s proximity to the Baltic Sea. In fact, Kaunas has its very own microclimate, courtesy of the neighbouring Kazlų Rūda Forest which keeps humidity and strong winds at bay. The best time to visit? Probably in the summer, from June to August.

 

Kaunas airport

Located 14 kilometres from Kaunas city centre, Kaunas International Airport is Lithuania’s second biggest civil airport and the fourth-busiest across the Baltic states. It’s a true haven for last-minute souvenir shoppers, with shops selling everything from travel essentials and cosmetics through jewellery and toys to Lithuanian souvenirs. Get on bus no. 29G to reach Kaunas in just 40 minutes. Alternatively, car hire and taxi services are also available.

FAQs for booking flights to Kaunas

How to get cheap flights to to Kaunas?

Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Kaunas flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.

When is the best time to visit Kaunas?

July and August are also great months to visit, when the weather is warm and there are lots of cultural activities. July and August are among the rainiest months, but June experiences the most rainfalls; still, the climate is good enough to enjoy sightseeing. The coldest month is January: the average temperature is -3°C; it drops up to -5°C. For those on a budget, visiting from March to May is a good opportunity to enjoy the milder weather and reduced prices of hotels before the peak tourist season. This is a good time to enjoy Kaunas’s natural beauty and lively city life without the peak summer crowds.

How do I offset the carbon emissions of a Kaunas flight?

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