Welcome to Kaunas, Vilnius' older, wiser but edgier brother. Not only is it the country's elegantly ageing interwar capital, with an unforgettable east-west boulevard and surrounding streets lined with Art Deco and austere modernist structures, but it was also once on the front line of the savage Northern Crusades when armies led by knights of the cross tried – and failed – to conquer Lithuania, the last pagan nation in Europe (see our feature in this issue). It's a city looking to a rosier future too, to being European Capital of Culture 2022 for example, along with Luxembourg's second city Esch-sur-Alzette.
In this guide you'll find the best of what to do, see, eat and drink. We also have feature articles on the history, culture, customs, sports, where to travel in Lithuania, plus some pointers on local food. We also have a list of what's on. The print guide is published once a year, available at selected hotels, bookshops and kiosks. Don't forget to check out Lithuania's other cities Vilnius and Klaipėda and the sandy coastal resorts Palanga and Nida. Visit our facebook page to get the latest updates, and download our new free In Your Pocket travel app for IOS and Android.
City Essentials