Below, you will find some pastime ideas for stay in Kaunas, whether it is sunny or wet. The list is by no means definite – more of them, including cosiest-hideouts-on-a-rainy-day special dedicated to museums and a few other suggestions for fall, to come.
Take pictures of modernist architecture
Some say the best seasons for photographing architecture are autumn and winter, because the leaves do not block the view. Well, there’s plenty of room for experimenting here in Kaunas, UNESCO City of Design. Download the app offering a handful of different routes for architecture lovers or get yourself a copy of Kaunas Architectural Guide. Don’t forget a thermos of hot tea.
Discover street art, graffiti and murals
The streets and walls of Kaunas have been experiencing quite intense times recently. Most of the iconic pieces have been commissioned by the NYKOKA street art festival, Morfai, Vytenis Jakas and Plūgas, a few of the numerous great local artists, have also been very busy recently. Members of the Street Art Berlin group visited Kaunas recently and were pleasantly surprised. What about you?
Visit the botanical garden
1.200 species of dahlias is one good reason to visit a botanical garden, right? There’s also a brilliantly warm greenhouse and a great historic manor to pose in front of. Open daily – in winter, too!
Watch a sports game or participate in one
Our list of reasons why a Žalgiris game should be on your bucket list could go on for ever. The Euroleague season in Žalgirio arena starts on October 13th (Belgrade's Crvena Zvezda will be in town), but there’s more to Kaunas than basketball.
The brand new Kaunas Hockey team are anticipating their debut in the Lithuanian ice hockey championship and their home arena is located near the Kaunas sports hall.
If you are a football person, do check out the schedule of FC Stumbras, the funkiest club in Kaunas at the moment. They will play against the legendary FC Žalgiris Vilnius in the historic S. Darius and S. Girėnas stadium, also in the neighbourhood of Kaunas Sports Hall, on Oct 21st.
There is an American football team in Kaunas, too – the Kaunas Dukes invite everyone to try the sports! Check their Facebook page for more information.
One more thing... Did you know one can play beach volleyball all year round in Kaunas? For sand in your hair and music in the air, visit the Rio arena located between Akropolis and Railway station.
Indulge in Lithuanian or world cuisine
A free #kaunastic gastro map can be picked up in tourist friendly places or downloaded here.
For a concentrated experience, gastronomic safari hosted by Sustainable Gastro is scheduled for October 12th and includes two delicious routes, 6 restaurants each. More information about it can be found here.
Start a business
Kaunas provides a healthy atmosphere to invest, open a branch or launch a business. Head to Kaunas IN Business for more information if you want more facts and figures, pay a visit to KTU Startup Space. If you are just exploring, then our list of co-working spaces in Kaunas is a good place to start.
See a dance performance
The 27th international dance festival AURA is scheduled for October 5th – 8th. If you cannot make it then, check out what dance theatre AURA has to offer in their repertoire. Kaunas State Musical Theatre and its legendary operettas and Kaunas State Drama Theatre that offers some shows in English are also recommended.
Pay a visit to Pažaislis monastery
The baroque complex of church and monastery in Pažaislis is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the region. The nature surrounding it, as well as the gardens inside the complex, are also worth a thousand compliments.
Pick some mushrooms
... if there are any left! Mushroom picking is the second national sport in Lithuania after basketball. Visit the woods around Lekėčiai, a small town on the border of Kaunas and Šakiai regions. But that is definitely just one spot out of thousands worth investigating.
Make a leaf angel
That is basically the same as snow angel but in autumn! The best spots to do that are the Nemunas Island, the Santaka Park, the Oak Grove and the City Garden next to the Kaunas State Musical Theatre.
Feel like Napoleon the Great
... and explore other panoramic views of Kaunas. The Jiesia hill is where Napoleon actually stopped on his way to Russia – he stood here and watched his army cross Nemunas. For great views, we also love the Owls hill in Žaliakalnis and the Aleksotas hill, both reachable by vintage funiculars. Climbing up the terrace of Christ’s Resurrection Church is a must. The church itself looks great, too!
Explore the 11th Kaunas Biennial
The main exhibition of this year’s edition is all over the city so the biennial literally cannot be missed. It will also inspire you to dig deeper into the history of Kaunas as each of the works of the main exhibition is site-specific and reflects a certain period or is inspired by a historic figure. Check the guide to some of the works and explore the whole programme of one of the most important events of contemporary art in the Baltics here. The exhibitions run through November 30th.
Get on a boat and sail to Raudondvaris
The picturesque valleys surrounding the Kaunas Lagoon and Nemunas make the best holiday pictures any time of the year, but, of course, the lush autumn palette is unbeatable. You can take a private boat trip to Juniper valley as the season has ended for cruises at Kaunas lagoon (ask the tourism information office at Town Hall for details!). Public trips to Raudondvaris manor are still available. The season ends in October, so be quick. You can contact Nemunas Travel company directly.
Spend an afternoon in the gallery boulevard
A few steps away from the Town Hall and the Cathedral, M. Valančiaus street is also called the ‘gallery street’. It is easy to lose track of time surrounded by contemporary Lithuanian art in Parko and Balta galleries or trying out the latest fashion items in the numerous boutiques squeezed next to each other. Nyčės Ūsai is the newest spot on the street, featuring jewellery, prints, books and delicious coffee. Meno parkas, one of the most important galleries of contemporary art in Lithuania, and Kaunas photography gallery, both a stone’s throw from M. Valančiaus street, are highly recommended to visit, too.
Visit a market and get a bargain
Farmers market is buzzing every Saturday near the Kaunas castle – what a location! Šilainiai market is great for locally grown vegetables, meat and dairy products. Aleksotas is the place to dig for some of the weirdest vintage stuff. Žaliakalnis is itself a historic landmark and is great for weekend grocery shopping. Urmas is basically a little shopping town (there’s a new pulled pork burger place there, too) full of everything. Stoties, or Station market is also known as the flower heaven. We have got a car market, too, in case you’re in need of new wheels...
