Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Vilnius
You'll arrive in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, which held the title of European Capital of Culture back in 2009. After getting settled, take an orientation walk through the city to get your bearings and start familiarizing yourself with the layout. This gives you a chance to wander around and see what the streets feel like before diving into structured activities.
Optional Activities
- Orientation walk through Vilnius
- Train from Berlin to Warsaw (approximately 6 hours, direct connection)
- Train from Warsaw to Bialystok (approximately 2 hours)
- Train from Bialystok to Kaunas (approximately 6 hours, runs on Saturdays and Sundays only)
- Ferry from Kiel to Klaipeda/Lithuania (DFDS Seaways, approximately 20 hours, daily service)
Landmarks/POIs Vilnius - Day 2
Vilnius and Trakai
Following breakfast, you'll join a guided city tour that focuses on Vilnius's Baroque architecture and the UNESCO-listed Old Town. The tour covers St. Anne's Church, St. Stanislaus Cathedral, the town hall, and the Gate of Dawn. Later in the afternoon, head out to Trakai where you'll see the moated castle surrounded by wooded hills and the lake district. It's about an hour's drive from the city and worth the trip for the castle views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Vilnius
- Visit St. Anne's Church
- Visit St. Stanislaus Cathedral
- Visit town hall
- Visit Gate of Dawn
- Visit Trakai Water Castle
Optional Activities
- Self-drive rental car pickup in afternoon
Landmarks/POIs St. Anne's Church St. Stanislaus Cathedral Gate of Dawn Trakai Water Castle Vilnius Old Town - Day 3
Birstonas and Kaunas
Travel from Vilnius toward Birstonas, a small spa town located where three large Nemunas loops meet, known for its mineral springs and protected forests. You'll walk through the old town with its wooden houses and then check out the Nemunas Kilpu Regional Park. After that, continue to Kaunas and stop at Pazaislis Monastery, a Baroque structure sitting on the shores of the Kaunas Sea. The whole route takes you through some quieter parts of Lithuania.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Pazaislis Monastery
Optional Activities
- Explore Birstonas old town
- Excursions into Nemunas Kilpu Regional Park
Landmarks/POIs Pazaislis Monastery Birstonas Nemunas Kilpu Regional Park - Day 4
Kaunas, Nemunas Delta, and Klaipeda
Kaunas gets a guided city tour covering its history as Lithuania's secret capital during the interwar period. Then you'll travel along the Nemunas River through Jurbarkas to Silute and the fishing village of Vente. Next comes the Nemunas Delta Regional Park with its islands, bogs, and rare bird species. By afternoon you'll reach Klaipeda and take the ferry across to Smiltyne on the Curonian Spit, finishing the day in Nida.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Kaunas
- Ferry from Klaipeda to Smiltyne
Optional Activities
- Visit Vente fishing village
- Break in Nemunas Delta Regional Park
Landmarks/POIs Kaunas Old Town Vente Nemunas Delta Regional Park Curonian Spit Nida - Day 5
Nida
Spend the morning exploring Nida, where the traditional fishermen's houses stand out in their distinctive blue, white, and brown colors. Visit the Thomas Mann House and its exhibition, then walk up the High Dune to the Valley of Silence, which marks where a medieval plague cemetery once existed. You'll also see the Protestant church and cemetery featuring traditional Curonian wooden tombstones. The rest of your afternoon is free to relax or wander as you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Thomas Mann House
- Walk High Dune to Valley of Silence
- Visit Protestant church
- Visit cemetery with Curonian wooden tombstones
Landmarks/POIs Thomas Mann House High Dune Valley of Silence - Day 6
Juodkrante and Klaipeda to Palanga
Travel from Nida through Preila and Pervalka to reach Juodkrante, also called Black Village, the oldest settlement on the spit and known for amber mining. Stop at Hexenberg, or witches' hill, where wooden figures depict Lithuanian fairy tales and legends. Later, continue to Klaipeda for a guided city tour showing the old town, warehouses, half-timbered houses, Theater Square, and the Simon Roof Fountain. You'll end this day in Palanga.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Klaipeda
Optional Activities
- Visit Juodkrante
- Walk Hexenberg forest trail
- View wooden figures on witches' hill
Landmarks/POIs Juodkrante Hexenberg Klaipeda Old Town Theater Square - Day 7
Palanga and Hill of Crosses
Explore Palanga, a spa town with a white beach and charming old town atmosphere. A guided tour takes you to the Amber Museum, housed in Count Tiskeviciaus's former castle, and then through the botanical garden, romantic park, and rose garden. From there, head via Siauliai to the Hill of Crosses, an impressive site covered with crosses, rosaries, and crucifixes representing Lithuanian faith and traditions. You'll return to Vilnius by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Palanga
- Visit Palanga Amber Museum
- Visit Botanical Garden
Optional Activities
- Stroll through park and rose garden
- Visit Hill of Crosses
Landmarks/POIs Palanga Amber Museum Palanga Botanical Garden Hill of Crosses - Day 8
Departure from Vilnius
Your tour concludes today. Depending on your departure time, you might visit the Republic of Artists in Uzupis, a creative district that's developed since 1990 at the edge of Vilnius's old town. If you're driving, you'll return your rental car at the airport. Those on the guided tour will be transported to the airport with enough time to catch your flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Republic of Artists in Uzupis
Landmarks/POIs Republic of Artists (Uzupis)
