7 days in Lithuania: Vilnius, Trakai, Kaunas, Hill of Crosses and the Curonian Spit

Route at a glance

1. Day 1Vilnius Old Town
2. Day 2Trakai and Vilnius food
3. Day 3Kaunas
4. Day 4Hill of Crosses to Klaipėda
5. Day 5Curonian Spit
6. Day 6Žemaitija or Anykščiai
7. Day 7Back to Vilnius

Days 1-2: Vilnius and Trakai. Day 3: Kaunas. Day 4: Hill of Crosses and Klaipėda. Day 5: Curonian Spit. Day 6: Žemaitija or Anykščiai. Day 7: return to Vilnius.

You can do the first three days by train and bus. From day four, a rental car makes the route much easier.

Quick logistics table

Practical planning notes

Best overnight pattern

The cleanest version is two nights in Vilnius, one night in Kaunas, two nights in Klaipėda or Nida, and the final night back in Vilnius. That pattern avoids one-night packing every single morning and keeps the hardest driving away from your flight day. If you land late, count the arrival night separately and start Day 1 the next morning. If you must keep the trip to exactly seven calendar days including flights, sleep in Vilnius on the final night and treat Day 7 as a half day, not as a full sightseeing day.

Where to start and end the rental car

Do not rent a car for central Vilnius unless you need it. Parking is awkward, one-way streets slow you down, and the first two days work better on foot, train, bus or taxi. The efficient move is to use public transport for Vilnius, Trakai and Kaunas, then pick up a car either in Kaunas on the morning of Day 4 or in Vilnius late on Day 3 if the rental office hours are easier. Return the car in Vilnius before your last Old Town walk. Check whether one-way pickup adds a fee before you build the whole route around it.

Klaipėda or Nida for the coast nights

Klaipėda is the practical base. It has more hotels, easier parking, lower prices, late food options and fast access to the Smiltynė ferry. Nida is the atmosphere base. It is prettier, quieter in the evening and better if the Curonian Spit is the emotional centre of the trip, but it costs more and summer rooms sell out early. For a first Lithuania loop, Klaipėda is often the more practical two-night base. Choose Nida for time on the Spit itself, allowing for the ferry, Neringa’s vehicle-entry charge if driving, and the onward journey.

How to handle the Curonian Spit day

Start early. The day works best if you are at the ferry before the casual beach traffic builds. With a car, cross to Smiltynė, continue through Juodkrantė, stop for the Hill of Witches or a lagoon walk, then push on to Nida for Parnidis Dune and late lunch. Without a car, keep the day simpler and focus on Smiltynė, the beach and one bus-connected settlement. Do not try to see every dune, village and museum in one day. The Spit is better when you leave time for one long walk.

Driving rhythm and realistic distances

Lithuania is compact, but this route still has several transition days. Vilnius to Kaunas is easy. Kaunas to the Hill of Crosses and then Klaipėda is a proper travel day, especially if you stop for lunch or heavy rain slows the roads. Klaipėda to Nida and back can also fill a full day because the ferry, narrow roads, parking and viewpoints all take time. Build the route around two main activities per day. Three can work in summer with long daylight, but it starts feeling like administration rather than travel.

What to book ahead

Book coast accommodation first if you travel from late June to August. Next, book the rental car if you need an automatic transmission, child seats or a specific pickup location. Vilnius and Kaunas hotels are usually easier, but weekends can still rise around events. For Trakai, you do not need to over-plan if you are going independently, but check castle opening days before making it the centre of Day 2. For guided tours, book only the pieces that remove friction: a Vilnius food walk, a Trakai day trip if you dislike bus logistics, or a Hill of Crosses transfer if you skip the car.

Food and timing

Plan lunches around travel, not only restaurants. On Day 2, Trakai is the obvious kibinai lunch stop. On Day 3, Kaunas is good for a proper sit-down meal because the station, Laisvės alėja and Old Town are close enough to keep the day calm. On Day 4, do not leave lunch until after the Hill of Crosses unless you have snacks in the car. On Day 5, Nida is the best meal stop on the Spit, but in peak summer you may need patience. Keep one flexible dinner in Klaipėda for seafood, beer or a low-effort old town meal.

If the weather turns

Bad weather does not ruin this itinerary, but it changes the emphasis. In Vilnius, move time into museums, churches, cafes and food. In Kaunas, choose the Ninth Fort or galleries over a long riverside walk. On the Curonian Spit, wind and rain can make dunes and beaches feel dramatic but tiring, so shorten the driving stops and add a cafe break in Nida or Juodkrantė. If a storm hits the coast day, do not force a full outdoor schedule. Use Klaipėda, the ferry area and one Spit highlight, then keep the rest as a reason to return. Cross to the Spit only if the ferry is operating and conditions allow a safe visit. If sailings are suspended or the operator advises against travel, stay on the mainland and choose indoor visits in Klaipėda.

What to drop if the week feels too full

Drop Day 6 first. It is the route buffer, not the core of the first-trip loop. A slower version with Vilnius, Trakai, Kaunas, Klaipėda and the Curonian Spit is stronger than a rushed version that touches every region but never relaxes. If you travel without a car, also consider dropping the Hill of Crosses unless you book a direct tour. If you care more about nature than cities, keep the Spit and add a second coast day. If you care more about food, history and architecture, keep Vilnius and Kaunas longer and make the coast a shorter highlight.

Before you book

• Check flight times first. If your departure is before midday, plan the final night in Vilnius.
• Book coast accommodation before city hotels for July and August trips.
• Confirm rental car pickup hours, return hours and one-way fees before deciding where Day 4 begins.
• Check Trakai Castle opening days if it is the main reason for Day 2.
• Keep one rain plan for the coast: Klaipėda old town or a short Curonian Spit visit with a ferry crossing and one sightseeing stop.
• Avoid changing hotels every night unless you are travelling very light.

Budget and transport notes

The cheapest version uses trains for Vilnius-Kaunas and a car only for days 4-7. The easier version rents from day 3. Expect higher accommodation prices on the coast in July and August, especially if you sleep in Nida rather than Klaipėda.

When to change this route

• Winter: spend more time in Vilnius and Kaunas, less on the coast unless you like stark landscapes.
• No car: skip Hill of Crosses or book it as a tour, and use Klaipėda as a simple coast base.
• Families: drop the Day 6 detour and use that night to extend the two-night coastal stay to three nights in Klaipėda or Nida.