Vilnius day tour: Trakai Castle, Paneriai, Kaunas

Four centuries of Lithuanian history in one route through countryside and castles.

A private day tour from Vilnius covering four major sites across central Lithuania: the Paneriai Memorial (a WWII remembrance site), Pažaislis Monastery (baroque architecture), Trakai Island Castle (medieval), and Kaunas Old Town. The tour runs 6 to 8 hours with a driver-guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and bottled water included. Lunch and castle entry are optional at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Vilnius and central Lithuania

• Visit Paneriai Holocaust Memorial
• Stop at Pazaislis Monastery outside
• Tour Trakai Island Castle area
• Optional lunch at Karaim restaurant
• Optional boat trip around lake
• Visit Kaunas Old Town
• Return to Vilnius accommodation

The experience

The route starts at Paneriai Memorial, where up to 100,000 people were killed during the Nazi occupation between 1941 and 1944. From there, the tour moves through Lithuania's countryside (lakes, rivers and forests visible along the way) to Pažaislis Monastery, one of the most impressive baroque structures in the Baltic states. The monastery sits on a peninsula and draws visitors for its architecture alone, though note that Mondays allow only an outside visit.

After the monastery, the route heads to Kaunas, Lithuania's second-largest city and its former capital. The tour includes time in Kaunas Old Town before moving on to Trakai, where the fairytale Island Castle stands on a lake. Here you can choose to add a boat trip around the lake or eat lunch at a traditional Karaim restaurant. Both are optional. Like Pažaislis, Trakai Castle closes on Mondays (and Mondays and Tuesdays in December and January), so only the exterior is accessible those days.

The tour is private, which means the pace and stops can shift to suit your interests. A driver-guide leads in English, handles all transport, and brings you back to your hotel at the end of the day. The whole loop takes between 6 and 8 hours depending on how long you spend at each site.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Vilnius.
• driver-guide speaking English.
• bottled water.
• fuel surcharge.
• access to all four sites (Paneriai Memorial, Pažaislis Monastery, Kaunas Old Town, Trakai Island Castle exterior).

Options for this experience

3 options

Vilnius departure tour: Paneriai Holocaust Park, Trakai, KaunasUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00 and 10:00Includes pickup

Bigger groupUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00Maximum of 4 persons, includes pickup

Bigger group VANUp to 8 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00Van, includes pickup

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site€ 22

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Baltia Tour

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to set your own pace at each stop (linger at Trakai Castle or spend extra time at Paneriai Memorial) rather than move through sites on a fixed group schedule.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Paneriai Memorial and what will I see there?

Paneriai Memorial marks the site of mass killings during World War II, where Nazi forces and Lithuanian collaborators murdered tens of thousands of people from Vilnius's Jewish community between 1941 and 1944. The memorial includes outdoor grounds where you can walk and reflect on this history.

Can I go inside Pažaislis Monastery or is it just an exterior visit?

Pažaislis Monastery is open for interior visits most days, but on Mondays only the outside is accessible. The baroque structure and its setting on a peninsula are worth seeing either way.

Is entry to Trakai Island Castle included in the tour price?

Trakai Island Castle entry is optional and can be added at checkout. The tour includes time at the site, and you can choose whether to enter the museum or simply view the castle from outside. On Mondays (and Mondays and Tuesdays in December and January), only the exterior is available.

What's included in the tour cost and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the driver-guide, bottled water, and fuel are included. Lunch and any museum entries (Trakai Castle, Pažaislis Monastery if you want a guided interior visit) are optional and paid separately.

How much driving time is there, and will I have time to actually explore each place?

The tour runs 6 to 8 hours total and covers a large area of central Lithuania, but the itinerary is balanced so you have enough time at each site without feeling rushed. The countryside drive itself (through lakes, rivers and forests) is part of the experience.