Summer isn’t just a season; it’s a state of mind. It’s that feeling of having all the time in the world, with a city at your feet brimming with layers of history, flights of fancy, culinary masterpieces, and style icons. Why not enjoy this state of mind in Kaunas, Lithuania?
The historic, green, elegant and conveniently located mid-size European city has fantastic opportunities to enjoy your summer. One does not need a special occasion to visit, but if you’re looking for reasons, we’ve rustled up twelve. We tried to stick to ten, but summer in Kaunas is simply too special to keep it all to ourselves.
On a sunny morning, Laisvės Alėja (Liberty Avenue) is a lime-tree-canopied catwalk, strolled by early birds and their four-legged companions. Order a coffee at one of the many cafés lining this pedestrian boulevard and watch the city awaken – you’ve got plenty of time before the museums and galleries open their doors. Come lunchtime, the avenue feels like a metropolis – everyone rushing, dashing, with the best spots for a midday meal snapped up even before noon. But linger until the evening, and you can become an actor in a romantic spectacle, with Kaunas’s trendiest restaurants and bars as your stage.
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
Post Malone, Guns N’ Roses, Robbie Williams, and Justin Timberlake. All in Kaunas in a single summer – and it’s no dream! Even if you don’t have a ticket to one of these gigs, we’ll let you in on a secret: on those nights when the Darius ir Girėnas Stadium is buzzing, the Žaliakalnis district takes on a surprisingly new character. It’s worth getting acquainted with it personally! Or perhaps something intriguing is happening this very weekend at the nearby Kaunas Sports Hall, surrounded by charming historic villas?
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
A trip to Pažaislis is more than an outing; it’s a veritable cultural pilgrimage. Start with the discovery trail meandering around the magnificent monastery complex – a true 17th-century Baroque masterpiece, one of the most beautiful in the region, beloved by pilgrims, music aficionados (the most important Pažaislis Music Festival concerts and acoustic star-studded evenings happen here), and filmmakers alike. After admiring the architecture and indulging at the Monte Pacis hospitality complex, relax by or on the Kaunas Reservoir.
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
On a warm summer evening, ordering a cool drink, sinking into a pile of cushions, leaning back, and escaping into a world of captivating dramas and comedies for a couple of hours – yes, Romuva's outdoor cinema is more than just an open-air theatre. It’s a truly Kaunas-spirited experience, created not just on the screen but also within the century-old stone walls surrounding this cultural oasis right next to Laisvės Alėja. And if the weather turns foul? Head to Laisvės al. 54, the oldest cinema in Lithuania, showing films all year round.
Photo by Gražvydas Jovaiša
During those two decades when Kaunas was Lithuania’s temporary capital in the interwar period, the city grew sevenfold. The city centre itself is packed with examples of modernist architecture, now on the UNESCO World Heritage list, from public buildings to private villas, all dating from that golden era. Crane your necks on Laisvės Alėja, V. Putvinskio, Kęstučio, K. Donelaičio, and Maironio streets and their courtyards, and you’ll collect a fair few impressive specimens for your photo gallery. The prize after such a Modernist safari? A traditional curd doughnut, or its jam-filled cousin, baked to a half-century-old recipe. Only at Spurginė, only on Laisvės Alėja.
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
In summer, Kaunas’s fountains come alive. The Laisvės Alėja classic at the S. Daukanto street junction – where the vast majority of dates happen – is one thing, but don’t forget Vienybės Square (Unity Square)! This Instagrammable space with its dynamic fountains is a perfect spot to unwind. Sitting at one of this square’s cafés with a large scoop of ice cream or a glass of iced tea and watching the water jets – that’s effective refreshment therapy on a hot afternoon. And if you do opt for a date on Laisvės Alėja, the famous Angolo Italiano ice cream will make it truly memorable.
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
Kaunas is a city born at the confluence of two rivers, so water-based fun is in its DNA. No worries if you don’t own a yacht – boat captains will whisk you away to the most beautiful spots on the Kaunas Reservoir to watch the sunset or celebrate a special occasion. You can also take a boat trip down the Nemunas River towards the resorts around Kaunas. The Raketa hydrofoil will take you all the way to Nida, just don’t forget to come back! Kayaking on the Nemunas or paddleboarding on the Neris are also increasingly popular and incredibly scenic ways for Kaunas folk to spend their leisure time.
Who said time travel isn’t possible? Just hop on a bike or slip on some comfy shoes. A few kilometres from Kaunas city centre, and you’re in an interwar resort, its little streets lined with wooden villas, and a pine forest tempting you to do just one more lap and fill your lungs with its scent. The Ipanema pizzeria on the Nemunas beach is a 21st-century addition, but it’s so good that the legend of these pizzas (or the occasional daytime parties hosted by the pizzaiolas) will surely last for ages.
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
White sand, shady trees, high-quality and aesthetically pleasing playgrounds, UNO adventure park and Wake Up Kaunas wakeboarding park for adrenaline junkies, a stylish beach bar… Not somewhere far, far away by the ocean, but just a half-hour bike ride from Kaunas centre. Lampėdžiai is Kaunas’ best-kept secret, bustling with activity even on weekdays. Kaunas people really do love a good holiday!
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
Spend your morning at the Science Island and Lithuania’s only planetarium (we recommend booking tickets in advance, otherwise, you’ll just have to admire the science centre’s impressive architecture from the outside). Treat yourself with a picnic in the park for lunch. Late afternoon can be spent at the Žalgiris Arena’s pool and saunas. After dark, attend a concert or a party in the arena itself. Jokes aside, if Nemunas Island also had a hotel, you could spend a week there without a dull moment. After your visit, don’t forget to wave to the Beast of Kaunas, whose sculpture adorns the eastern tip of the island.
Photos by Andrius Aleksandravičius
For those seeking tranquillity with a touch of the exotic, the VMU Botanical Garden, nestled in an old manor estate in Aukštoji Freda, is the place. For more than a hundred years now, an impressive collection of thousands of different plants has been flourishing here! Even if the weather turns, it’s worth a visit, as you can warm up in the spectacular glass orangery, no worse than a Mexican resort. Plus, the botanical garden often hosts classical, jazz, and quality pop music concerts and other events.
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
We’ve already mentioned that Kaunas was born from the love of the Nemunas and Neris rivers. That’s precisely why Santaka Park is one of Kaunas residents’ favourite spots for relaxation, especially as the sun sets. Make the effort to walk to the very tip of the confluence and, gazing at the horizon, squeeze your partner’s hand a little tighter. Watched the sun go down? Excellent, now the bars and cafés clustered in the mysterious and incredibly romantic Old Town streets await.
Photo by A. Aleksandravičius
You’ll discover even more Kaunas highlights by popping into the Kaunas IN Tourist Information Centres at Laisvės al. 36 and Rotušės a. 15. There, you can pick up free city maps and purchase unique Kaunas-themed souvenirs.
