8 Reasons Why You Should Visit Kaunas Over Vilnius

Vilnius is without a doubt the most popular destination for those traveling to Lithuania. Even though the capital of Lithuania is a wonderful place to visit, people should not forget about Kaunas, the second biggest city in Lithuania, because it also has plenty to offer! Here are the reasons why you should visit Kaunas instead of Vilnius.

Basketball

Kaunas Žalgiris, the historic Lithuanian basketball club, is located in Kaunas, making it the capital of Lithuanian basketball. If you want to see the real game of basketball in Lithuania, you must visit Žalgiris Arena. With all due respect to Siemens Arena in Vilnius, it has nothing on Žalgiris Arena.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bavlb3sBpBY/?taken-by=zalgirioarena

Freedom Avenue

The mayor of Kaunas

Kaunas has the most interesting mayor, who is not afraid to make bold and extravagant decisions. He is definitely a unique person, and his little promo video in which he is driving a Ferrari explains his character better than any words could describe.

European Capital of Culture 2022

Kaunas will become the European Capital of Culture in 2022, and that is a great achievement for any city in Europe! It only proves how hard people in Kaunas have worked to get the acknowledgment and also, it is one of the signs that Kaunas is becoming an increasingly popular place to visit every day. You have to see why Europeans think that Kaunas is worthy of being the cultural capital of Europe for yourself.

Kaunas has fewer tourists

As of today, Vilnius is still a much more touristy city than Kaunas, meaning that the former is noisier and more crowded. If you want to enjoy the best that Kaunas has to offer on your own or with your closest friends, you must do it as soon as possible, because Kaunas won’t stay hidden for much longer.

It is cheaper

From food to accommodations to souvenirs, most of the things are way cheaper in Kaunas compared to Vilnius. So, if you are traveling on a tight budget but still want to relax and be able to buy some treats for yourself, make sure to book your ticket to Kaunas instead of Vilnius.

Kaunas is greener

Even though there are plenty of wonderful parks in Vilnius, Kaunas is still a much greener place! Nemunas, the largest river in Lithuania, flows through Kaunas. There are also many parks and alleys where you can go for a morning stroll or have a family picnic.

Meet Lithuanians

If you want to learn more about traditional Lithuanian culture, you should visit Kaunas, as it is known as the city where people maintain the old traditions and customs. Vilnius is a spectacular and tolerant multicultural city, but you should opt for Kaunas if you want to feel and taste the real Lithuania.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.