“Sorry, I can’t meet you in person this week – let’s schedule a Zoom meeting. No, the time zone is the same - I’m on workation in Kaunas” - This excerpt is not from a sci-fi book but from a very concrete situation. Yup, you don’t have to travel to the other side of the world to get a break - in this case, all it takes is a short flight from your city in Europe and an additional hour on a train to change the environment.
Let’s say you’ve already found a place to stay for a week or so—the choice of hotels and Airbnb apartments in Kaunas is vast, and fans of modernism, Scandinavian minimalism, crispy hotel sheets, and authentic aura will feel right at home here. It all depends on your budget and desired location, really. Bear in mind that Kaunas is compact, and you can reach everything you need by bus, bike, or on foot.
Of course, if you don’t want to spend all your time in a hotel room, you can always join the local coworking community. Here’s a list of coworking spaces where you can rent a desk, a cubicle, or even a room… And who doesn’t like a free desk? When you order a cup of coffee, you can spend a few hours in (almost) all cafes in Kaunas, but not everyone can concentrate with all the coffee machine sounds.
Cosy, silence-filled spaces await in libraries. If you like the aura created by books and the inspiring view outside your window, come to Kaunas Vincas Kudirka Public Library, on Laisvės al. 57. Pro tip – be early, as many local freelancers like to come here, too.
Those looking for privacy will love the enclosed workspaces of the recently renovated Ąžuolynas Library, where you can write novel after novel in isolation from the outside world. You are also welcome to sit down in the library’s common areas. They even have massage armchairs and a green zone!
Kaunas Vincas Kudirka Public Library. Photo by J. Trofimov
Ąžuolynas library
Another library you should check out is the KTU library on the Student campus. Here, you’ll definitely be inspired by the stylish and ergonomic solutions and the most interesting research papers around you.
Artistic souls are invited to the Kaunas Artists’ House. The reading room of this cultural institution is open to all - books and magazines abound, there’s even a cassette corner and… wait for it… free coffee.
KTU library. Photo by Arvydas Čiukšys
Kaunas Artists' House reading room. Photo by Vytis Mantrimavičius
If the light bustle doesn’t scare you away or even attracts the muses, consider sitting in the lobby of Moxy, Kaunas’ most fun hotel. There’s a perfect balance of mood in the half-lobby-half-bar. Ibis Styles Kaunas Centre is another hotel that offers a symbiosis of comfort and inspiration. Once settled in one of its rooms, head upstairs to work in the panoramic restaurant Sky9 Terrace.
Photo by Moxy
ibis Styles Kaunas Centre. Photo by Jurgita Lukos
... you need to warm up and then calm down. Runners will love the Panemunės Šilas and the banks of the Nemunas or Neris rivers. It’s gratifying early in the morning and later in the evening - just when we need it, right? Cyclists are also welcome on these trails - you can ride down to Lampėdžiai lake and start your morning with a refreshing bath, or you can get your heart pumping by cycling up Parodos hill, or you can take a breather for the day by crossing the so-called HES bridge. In short, you can pursue your favourite active hobby during your workation in Kaunas.
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
Great news for those who can’t do without the most exciting auteur films and European cinema. Kaunas is home to Romuva, the oldest cinema in Lithuania, dating back to the interwar period when Kaunas was the Provisional Capital. The recently restored Art Deco building is a reminder of that golden age. There is always room for hot festival discoveries and classics in this film mecca on Laisvės alėja.
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
Another way to motivate yourself to finish that article, sheet, project, or budget is to do some eye yoga. Have you heard of it? Treat your vision with vast urban and natural panoramas by climbing up to the terrace of Kaunas Christ’s Resurrection Basilica, taking the funicular to the Aleksotas observation deck, or... taking a flight over Kaunas. One of Europe’s oldest aerodromes, named after iconic Lithuanian pilots S. Darius and S. Girėnas, is in perfect working order and open to the curious.
Photo by Andrius Aleksandravičius
Meanwhile, Kaunas’ map of art and culture is getting dense as we speak. Photography and contemporary art galleries swarm around the Town Hall, and after a day in the library, exciting events usually await right next door. We recommend checking out the museums - the exhibitions change frequently, and the curators are always surprising with their contemporary approach. If you’ve brought your bike, make sure you use it to get to the Kaunas Ninth Fort Museum, or maybe other objects in the former fortress ring around Kaunas will be of interest? Old forts are now even home to rave parties. If you’re excited about how to find out more, click here: kultura.kaunas.lt.
For more ideas on how to make the best of your workation, a long weekend with your computer or a creative residency, visit the Kaunas IN Tourism Information Centre at Laisvės al. 36. We offer tips for all professions!
