Open Travel Guide
Day trips from Vilnius

Best Day Trips from Vilnius 2026

The day trips from Vilnius that repay the journey — with transport, timing, and cost for each.

By Updated

This guide covers 6+ day trips in Vilnius — Trakai Island Castle, Kernavė Archaeological Site and Kaunas top the list. Every recommendation carries its practical details: typical costs, the best time to visit, and what to know before you commit.

Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, on the Neris and Vilnia rivers. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town, one of the largest medieval centres in Eastern Europe, mixes Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches with the bohemian Užupis district and a growing craft-beer and restaurant scene.

Top day trips

Handpicked excursions within easy reach.

28 km west of Vilnius

Trakai Island Castle

Train from Vilnius railway station (Geležinkelio g. 16) to Trakai station, about 35 minutes, €2-4 (~$2.30-4.60); LTG Link ltglink.lt

A red-brick island castle on Lake Galvė, once a residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, with the Karaite quarter nearby.

Highlights: Trakai Island Castle museum · Karaite kibinai pastries on Karaimų g. · Pedal boats on Lake Galvė · Užutrakis Manor park
35 km north-west of Vilnius

Kernavė Archaeological Site

Bus from Vilnius bus station (Sodų g. 22) to Kernavė, about 1 hour, about €3-4 (~$3.50-4.60); a few departures daily, check autobusubilietai.lt

UNESCO-listed hillfort valley on the Neris, the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with five hillforts and an archaeological museum.

Highlights: Five Kernavė hillforts · Museum-Reserve exhibition · Neris river valley walks
100 km west of Vilnius

Kaunas

LTG Link train from Vilnius railway station (Geležinkelio g. 16) to Kaunas, about 1 hour 15 minutes, €7-12 (~$8-14); ltglink.lt

Lithuania's second city, with an interwar modernist centre, a pedestrian Laisvės alėja and a medieval Old Town.

Highlights: Laisvės alėja · Kaunas Old Town and Town Hall Square · Kaunas Castle · Ninth Fort
About 215 km north-west of Vilnius

Hill of Crosses

Train from Vilnius to Šiauliai (about 3 hours), then taxi 12 km to the hill, or an organised day tour

A pilgrimage site covered by tens of thousands of crosses, a symbol of Lithuanian faith and resistance.

Highlights: The Hill of Crosses · Chapel and gift stalls · Pilgrimage history
About 20 km north of Vilnius

Europos Parkas Open-Air Museum

Bolt or taxi from the centre, 30 minutes, about €15-20 (~$17-23); organised tours also depart from Vilnius

A sculpture park near the geographic centre of Europe, with works by international artists set in a woodland landscape.

Highlights: Open-air sculpture trail · Geographic centre of Europe marker · Picnic areas
About 10 km south-west of the Old Town

Paneriai Memorial

Train from Vilnius railway station (Geležinkelio g. 16) to Paneriai stop, about 10 minutes, then walk 1.5 km; ltglink.lt

A memorial and museum at the site where about 70,000 people, most of them Jewish, were killed during World War II.

Highlights: Memorial grounds and pits · Museum exhibition · Walking paths

Trips by distance

How far you can go in a day.

Getting there

Transport options for day trips.

Train
LTG Link trains leave from Vilnius railway station (Geležinkelio g. 16); book at ltglink.lt
Bus
Coaches leave from Vilnius bus station (Sodų g. 22); check autobusubilietai.lt
Private
A private car with driver costs about €120-200 (~$138-230) per day
Tours
Day tours to Trakai and Kernavė run about €30-60 (~$35-69) per person on platforms such as GetYourGuide

Multi-day tours from Vilnius

If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.

Browse multi-day tours from Vilnius

We may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.

Day trip tips

Make the most of your excursions.

Tip

Check ltglink.lt for current train times; Sunday service is reduced

Tip

Buy tickets online or at the station; carry some cash for local buses

Tip

Start before 9:00 for Trakai in summer to beat the tour groups

Tip

Bring a rain jacket; Lithuanian weather changes fast

Tip

Bolt works for the last leg to Kernavė and Europos Parkas

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