"Kaunas: the backwater" Kaunas by sigthor_egle

Kaunas Travel Guide: 958 reviews and 1,682 photos

History & Present

If you are touristy tourist visiting Lithuania, you will probably come to Kaunas from Vilnius.. and get disappointed. It's not so shiny, welcoming or cosy town, it's not something you would not visit twice unless you had some business or love left here.

Kaunas actually has remarkable history: it has been Hansa trading town, Napoleon's army once got stuck here for a day or two, and Kaunas even had been the temporary capital of Lithuania since 1919 till 1940.

Old Embassy of Japan, Sugihara's house

Due to historical circumstances, Kaunas once was a capital of Lithuania. The government then sent talented young people to study abroad so they could build up in newest technological ways. It is believed that Freedom Avenue, which is considered to be heart pedestrian street of Kaunas, was formed around that time. Green streets around Freedom Avenue used to be embassies of various countries and most of those houses built then were inspired by modernist ideas.
... and Kaunas seems to be stuck in that time, except for few new shopping malls, changes in facades, it's as it used to be in 1990.

Confluence of rivers

Pazaislis monastery postcard

According to wikipedia, there are not so many towns in this World that are built on confluence of two rivers. It's Pittsburgh, Kuala Lumpur, Belgrade, Rovaniemi, Winipeg and Kaunas. Nature forms and says for the people how to build the town. The downtown is located very close to confluence of two biggest rivers in Lithuania: Nemunas & Neris.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Cheaper than Vilnius
Cons:Unsafe, boring place

Last visit to Kaunas: Apr 2009
Intro Updated Apr 26, 2009
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Reviews (16)

House of Perkūnas, Kaunas, Lithuania - Kaunas

House of Perkūnas (The Thunderer) Things to Do (2)

House of Perkunas (or The Thunderer, pagan Lithuanian god of Thunder) was built in 15th century for Hansaetic merchants... more travel advice

Egyptian spirit in the heart of Kaunas Restaurants (8)

This restaurant is located in a cosy little street in Kaunas down town, the restaurant has its own yard so people don't... more travel advice

Snow on cycleway in Kaunas, Lithuania - Kaunas

What happened to cycleway? Warnings and Dangers (2)

Kaunese inhabitants are incredibly lazy and apathic that they don't cycle themselves nor fight about their rights to... more travel advice

Crumbling Balconies! Warnings and Dangers (2)

For some strange reasons Lithuanians don't tend to fix their balconies even if they are in a prominent places. Be... more travel advice

Shopping (3)
See All Only one place to buy a trip on weekend

Transportation (1)
Transportation in Kaunas

Travelogues (1)

Written Jul 15, 2009

8 photos

Freedom Avenue + Downtown

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Comments (4)

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yumyum Apr 16, 2008 at 10:39 AM

Interesting page about Kaunas! I've been there several times and it's one of my favourite places in Lithuania.
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HORSCHECK Mar 25, 2008 at 3:05 PM

Interesting little page about Kaunas. I was in Kaunas in summer 2006.
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hunterV Feb 24, 2008 at 11:39 AM

Thanx for your good tips!
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kenHuocj Mar 30, 2007 at 7:29 AM

BAlconies falling aprt - sounds like Johanneburg Central and Hillbrow in South Africa - the negative aspects of the new SA ;-|||