🗺 Tourism Information
A beautiful town 30 km away from Vilnius. It used to be Lithuania's old medieval capital, however now a days the star of the show is a restored Medieval Castle surrounded by a lake in a breath-taking scenery backdrop. Recommended visits are both in during the summer being able to rent a pedal boat and in the winter when the lake freezes and you can Ice-skate.
To travel there you can take a train or a bus from the main station in Vilnius, the trip will only cost €2 one way and takes 30 min. Once you arrive take a right turn from the bus station in Trakai and walk during 15 min till you reach the Castle.
When you arrive and start walking around Trakai, pay attention to the classic wooden houses, typical from LIthuania which are dotted around the village.
As you walk closer to the castle, you will find plenty of places to stop to buy souvenirs and many eating places opposite the lake to enjoy a classic lithuanian meal and taste the Kibinai, which are authentic to the area. Also don't miss the opportunity if it's good weather, to rent a paddle boat for around 7€.
The main feature to see in Trakai, is it's beautiful castle:
Trakai Island Castle is an island castle, on an island in Lake Galvė. The construction of the stone castle was begun in the 14th century by Kęstutis, and around 1409 major works were completed by his son Vytautas the Great, who died in this castle in 1430. Trakai was one of the main centers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the castle held great strategic importance. Soviet Communists restored the castle and established the Trakai History Museum there. The entrance cost is 7€ for adults, this includes several galleries and grounds of the castle with access to the tower. Alternatively, you can also walk around the exterior of the castle wall, (no charge).
Trakai is a small town, which is easily seen with half a day, that is travelling from Vilnius, including the visit to the castle.
