Good to know
Good to Know
- Last Sunday of each month: most museums free—arrive early as crowds gather and some venues close earlier or limit free tickets.
- Ninth Fort is emotionally intense and essential for understanding Lithuania's Holocaust and Soviet history; allow 2+ hours and consider a guided tour for deeper context.
- Kaunas Old Town is quieter and less crowded than Vilnius Old Town, making it more peaceful for exploration.
- EU citizens get free entry to Devil's Museum on Wednesdays.
- The city is much cheaper to visit than Vilnius; budget-friendly museums and dining throughout.
- Aleksotas Hill funicular (€1) is a historic, photo-worthy experience; free alternative is walking up.
- Pažaislis Monastery (7 km away) merits a day trip; consider staying for its restaurant and gardens.
- Kaunas Castle ruins are modest—plan 1 hour unless you want extensive views from the tower.
- Laisvės Alėja, though not Europe's longest pedestrian street anymore, remains iconic and recently renovated with a musical fountain.
- Walk whenever possible to fully appreciate the city's interwar Art Deco architecture and street-level details.
Major Museums Art
M. K. ČIurlionis National Museum of Art
- Location
- V. Putvinskio g. 55
- Admission
- €4.00
- Notes
- Free on last Sunday of each month. Performance spaces for live music on site.
- Description
- Dedicated to Lithuania's most important artist, composer, and visual artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. Extensive collection including his surreal paintings, graphics, music recordings, and works by other Lithuanian modernists. Over 355,000 items total.
Devil's Museum (ŽMuidzinavičius Museum / Velnių Muziejus)
- Location
- V. Putvinskio g. 64
- Admission
- €3.00
- Notes
- Free for EU citizens on Wednesdays. Half price for students. Free on last Sunday of month. Artist's former flat preserved next door.
- Description
- One-of-a-kind quirky museum housing over 3,000 devil masks, statues, paintings, and carvings from world cultures. Created by eccentric artist Antanas Žmuidzinavičius (1876-1966). Playful rather than sinister atmosphere.
Vytautas the Great War Museum
- Location
- K. Donelaičio g. 64
- Admission
- €5.00
- Notes
- Student discount available (€2.50). Free on last Sunday of each month.
- Description
- Military history museum covering Lithuanian military heritage from earliest periods to present day. Exhibits on Great War, various historical eras, weapons collections. Mostly labeled in English and Lithuanian.
Atomic KGB Bunker Museum
- Location
- Outside city center
- Admission
- €15
- Notes
- Private museum; advance booking via email required. Tour-based visit, no fixed hours. €50 additional fee if visiting solo without group. Cash only.
- Description
- Cold War-era Soviet nuclear bunker located 20 feet underground. Displays gas masks, antique electronics, and exhibits about KGB surveillance and Soviet-era daily life under secret police regime.
Sugihara House
- Location
- Vilniaus g. 33
- Admission
- €3.00
- Notes
- Monday-Friday 11am-3pm, Saturday-Sunday closed. Small, unassuming residential building.
- Description
- Historic home where Japanese Vice-Consul Chiune Sugihara issued life-saving transit visas to 10,000-40,000 Jewish refugees during WWII. Museum documents his humanitarian actions and Lithuania's WWII Jewish heritage.
Museum of the History of Lithuanian Medicine and Pharmacy
- Location
- Rotušės a. 28, Old Town
- Admission
- €2.00
- Notes
- Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Guided tour available (€6). Free on last Sunday.
- Description
- Medical instruments, pharmacy equipment, documents, and personal items of doctors and pharmacists. Collection of 7,000+ items including household medical displays.
Museum of Lithuanian Aviation
- Location
- Veiverių g. 132
- Admission
- €1.59
- Notes
- Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm. Free on last Sunday of month.
- Description
- Aviation history collection with 18,000+ displays including 40 flying machines. Focus on Lithuania's aviation heritage and achievements.
Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum
- Location
- Rotušės a. 13, Old Town
- Admission
- €3.00
- Notes
- Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm. Free on last Sunday of month.
- Description
- Literature museum housed in Gothic 15th-16th century vaults among the oldest in Kaunas. Features Maironis memorial flat and exhibits on Lithuanian literature.
Must See Historic Sites
Kaunas Castle
- Location
- Pilies St. 17, Santakos Park, Old Town
- Admission
- €3.00
- Notes
- Climb the tower for river views. Free on last Sunday of each month.
- Description
- 14th-century medieval fortress at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers, featuring archaeological exhibits and a museum about Kaunas's history. The castle tower offers panoramic views.
Ninth Fort Museum (Kauno IX Forto Muziejus)
- Location
- Žemaičių plentas 75, outside city center (7 km west)
- Admission
- €8.00
- Notes
- Emotionally intense; essential for understanding Lithuanian history. Self-guided €3, guided tours available. Advance booking recommended. Outside grounds free to explore.
- Description
- Former 19th-century fortress and WWII Holocaust memorial site. The museum documents the fort's use as a Soviet prison and Nazi extermination camp where approximately 30,000+ people were murdered. Memorial monument on grounds.
Kaunas Old Town (Kauno Senamiestis)
- Location
- Historic district in city center
- Notes
- Free to explore on foot. Includes Vilniaus Street (most beautiful street), Town Hall Square, and various hidden courtyards.
- Description
- Medieval cobblestone streets with Gothic and Baroque architecture. Well-preserved authentic European old town atmosphere with charming squares, cafes, and merchant houses from the Hanseatic League period.
Kaunas Town Hall
- Location
- Rotušės a. 15, Old Town
- Admission
- €2.50
- Notes
- Free on last Sunday of each month. Active wedding venue on weekends.
- Description
- 16th-century Baroque white building nicknamed 'The White Swan,' now a city museum featuring archaeological finds, exhibits about Kaunas as interim capital (1920s-30s), and a tower with Old Town panorama. Tower prison cell and burgomaster's office visible.
Pažaislis Monastery
- Location
- Rumšiškės, approximately 7 km east from city center
- Notes
- Monastery grounds accessible to visitors; pilgrims and tourists welcome. Check for service times. Day trip destination.
- Description
- 17th-century Italian Baroque ensemble and Lithuania's largest monastery complex. Features frescoes by Michelangelo Palloni, beautiful gardens, and serene lakeside setting on Kaunas Lagoon shores. On-site restaurant.
Kaunas City Pass
- Public Transport
- Unlimited buses and trolleybuses included
- Purchase Locations
- Online, Kaunas Tourist Information Center, major hotels, Kaunas Airport, transport hubs, news stands, Lietuvos Paštas offices
- Note
- Specific pricing and full inclusion list varies yearly; check official source for current details.
- Description
- Tourist pass offering free/discounted entry to major museums and unlimited public transportation.
Included Attractions
- Kaunas Castle
- Devil's Museum
- Lithuanian Aviation Museum
- Pažaislis Monastery (discount)
Free Museum Sunday
- Name
- Free Museum Sunday
- Description
- Last Sunday of every month, most major museums offer free admission
- Timing Notes
- Arrive early; some museums close earlier or limit ticket distribution. Check individual opening hours.
Participating Museums
- Kaunas Castle
- Kaunas Town Hall
- M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum
- Devil's Museum
- Vytautas the Great War Museum
- Ninth Fort (free tickets at ticket office)
- Maironis Literature Museum
- Lithuanian Aviation Museum
- Open-Air Museum of Lithuania (Rumšiškės)
- Presidential Palace
- Underground Printing House (requires registration)
Free And Budget Attractions
Laisvės Alėja (Liberty Avenue)
- Admission
- Free
- Notes
- Car-free since 1980s. Popular for strolling and people-watching.
- Description
- Historic 1.7 km tree-lined pedestrian boulevard dating to 19th century. Features shops, cafes, restaurants, museums, theaters. Recently renovated with iconic musical fountain. Stretches from St. Michael the Archangel Church to Old Town.
Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul
- Admission
- Free (donations welcome)
- Notes
- Active place of worship; check service times.
- Description
- Gothic-Renaissance cathedral in Old Town with miraculous 17th-century icon and magnificent organ. One of Lithuania's largest Catholic churches.
Church of St. Michael the Archangel (Soboras)
- Admission
- Free
- Notes
- Built in Tsar's era; landmark at Liberty Avenue terminus.
- Description
- Striking 50-meter tall Neo-Byzantine structure at end of Laisvės Alėja. Built 1893 for Russian garrison. Distinctive for domes and architectural style.
Perkūnas House (House of Perkūnas)
- Admission
- Free (exterior viewing)
- Notes
- View from outside; represents medieval Hanseatic trade heritage.
- Description
- 15th-century Gothic merchant house in Old Town steeped in legend. Connected to pagan god Perkūnas mythology. Striking red brick architecture.
Vytautas Park (ĄžUolynas)
- Admission
- Free
- Notes
- Good for relaxation after city sightseeing.
- Description
- Scenic park offering panoramic views of Kaunas and rivers. Walking trails through nature.
Aleksotas Hill Funicular
- Admission
- €1.00
- Notes
- Alternative: walk up hill for free. Short ride; historic experience.
- Description
- One of Europe's oldest still-operating funiculars, built 1935. Ascends to observation deck with panoramic views of Old Town, rivers, and city roofscape. Especially beautiful at sunset.
Yard Gallery (Street Art)
- Location
- Varnių g. 51
- Admission
- Free
- Notes
- Unique, authentic art experience away from tourist traps.
- Description
- Contemporary street art installation in Old Town courtyard. Vibrant, creative urban art space reflecting local artistic community.
Ninth Fort Exterior Grounds
- Admission
- Free
- Notes
- Museum interior has fee; outdoor grounds always accessible.
- Description
- Walking the outer grounds and viewing the monumental memorial from outside is free. Powerful historical experience without museum admission.
Sightseeing Notes
- Nearby Day Trip
- Open-Air Museum of Lithuania (Rumšiškės, 12 miles east) - Europe's largest ethnographic museum on 195 hectares. Adult €4 (€10 seasonal), student €2 (€5 seasonal).
- Photography Landmarks
- #KAUNAS sign in front of castle; Town Hall ('White Swan') at dusk; Aleksotas Hill sunset views; river confluence from castle tower.
- Interwar Modernist Architecture
- Kaunas designated European Capital of Culture 2022 for its exceptional Art Deco and interwar modernist buildings (UNESCO-recognized). Explore by walking Laisvės Alėja and city center.
Practical Tips
- Walking
- City center and Old Town are compact and easily walkable. Best for appreciating architecture and atmosphere.
- Language
- Most exhibits have English labels; some smaller museums Lithuanian only.
- Orientation
- Kaunas stretches east-west; can feel long. Central hub is Laisvės Alėja connecting new city to Old Town.
- Photography
- Respect museum policies; some areas may restrict photos.
- Time Needed
- Two days allows main attractions. One day possible for highlights from Vilnius day trip.
- Accessibility
- Some museums (Castle, Town Hall) have stairs; check accessibility for mobility concerns.
- Opening Hours
- Generally 10am-5pm weekdays; hours vary by season and venue.
- Public Transport
- Affordable bus/trolleybus system. Single ticket €1 (contactless card payment available).
National Holidays Free
National Holidays Free
- Day of Restoration of State (Feb 16)
- Day of Independence (Mar 11)
- Day of the State/Coronation of Mindaugas (Jul 6)
- International Night of the Museums (May)
- Kaunas Birthday Saturday celebration
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this history, museums & sightseeing research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Kaunas
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.