Vilnius to Trakai & Kernave: Custom day trip with castles

Kernave was Lithuania's first capital, and you walk among five of its ancient hill-forts.

A custom day trip from Vilnius to Kernave and Trakai combines two sites central to Lithuanian history. Your local guide leads you through Kernave's UNESCO-protected hill-forts and archaeology museum, then to Trakai's island castle on the same afternoon. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You choose which optional sites to add (Dukstas forest path with pagan sculptures or Uzutrakis mansion) at no extra cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kernave and Trakai highlights

• Drive to Kernave from Vilnius
• Explore 5 hill forts and archaeology museum
• Visit Dukstos Oak-Wood walkway (optional)
• Stop at Neris river-bank viewpoint or Uzutrakis mansion
• Visit Trakai Island castle museum
• Optional boat trip in Trakai
• Have lunch in traditional Karaim restaurant

The experience

The drive from Vilnius to Kernave takes 40 minutes, and on the way you can stop at the Cognitive Walkway of Dukstos Oak-Wood if you want to add it. Once there, you explore five hill-forts that once ringed the medieval capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, walk through the archaeology museum, and browse the hand-made souvenirs shop. The site is open daily except when the museum closes on Mondays.

After Kernave, the route includes a possible stop at a viewpoint overlooking the Neris river-bank or Uzutrakis mansion: both optional and free to add. Then you head to Trakai, where the island castle sits in the middle of a lake. You can walk around the castle grounds and visit the museum inside. A boat trip on the lake costs extra if you want it. The castle is closed Mondays from October through May, and Mondays and Tuesdays in December and January, though you can still see the exterior. A traditional Karaim family restaurant in town serves lunch if you choose to eat there.

Your guide speaks English and travels with you in a private vehicle. You pick the size at checkout (van, bigger car, or bus depending on your group). Bottled water is provided. The tour runs between four and six hours depending on which optional stops you choose and how long you spend at each site. Entrance fees to the museums and castle are not included in the base price, so you decide which ones to enter when you arrive.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• a local English-speaking guide.
• transport in a private vehicle of your choice.
• bottled water.

Options for this experience

4 options

Customized day trip from Vilnius to Trakai and KernaveUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00 and 10:00Pickup is included

Bigger carUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00 and 10:00Pickup is included in the larger car option

VanUp to 8 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00 and 10:00Pickup is included in the van option

BusUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00 and 10:00Pickup is included in the bus option

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Baltia Tour

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you have a free afternoon in Vilnius and want to see two towns that shaped Lithuanian history without arranging separate transport. The optional stops you can add for free (the forest path and the mansion) let you shape the day around what interests you most, and the fixed route gets both Kernave and Trakai done in a single outing.

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Top questions

What are the five hill-forts at Kernave, and how long do you spend there?

Kernave's five hill-forts are the remains of fortifications that surrounded the medieval capital. The itinerary does not name each one individually. You explore them on foot with your guide, visit the archaeology museum, and browse the shop. The time you spend depends on your pace and whether you enter the museum, but the site is built into a half-day portion of the tour.

Can I add Dukstas forest path and Uzutrakis mansion without paying extra?

Yes, both are optional stops you can add for free. The Dukstas forest path features a wooden pagan sculptures walkway and lies on the route to Kernave. Uzutrakis mansion is a possible stop on the way from Kernave to Trakai. You tell your guide which ones you want to include.

Is the boat trip on the lake at Trakai included?

No, the boat trip costs extra. It is available in Trakai if you want to add it when you arrive at the castle.

What happens if I visit Trakai castle on a Monday in winter?

From October to May, Trakai castle is closed on Mondays, so you can only see the exterior and walk the grounds. In December and January, it is also closed on Tuesdays. You can still visit the castle grounds and the town, but the museum inside will not be open.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the base price. A traditional Karaim family restaurant operates in Trakai where you can eat, and you pay for your meal there.

What size vehicle will I travel in?

You choose at checkout: a van, a bigger car, or a bus, depending on your group size. Your guide and driver travel with you, and bottled water is provided throughout the day.