← Swedbank Vilnius Marathon·1 night

Kaunas: Lithuania's Interwar Capital

Lithuania's second city and interwar-era temporary capital, with a dense concentration of Art Deco and Bauhaus-influenced architecture unmatched elsewhere in the country.

Duration1 night
TransitDirect train, around 1h10-1h20, hourly, up to 15 daily departures
DepartsVilnius

After the Swedbank Vilnius Marathon: Kaunas

The Route: Vilnius → Kaunas Logistics: Direct train, journey time around 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes over 104 km, running roughly hourly with up to 15 daily departures, earliest at 05:10 and last departing Vilnius at 21:35. All services run direct with no transfers. Marathon Month: September Duration: 1 night

Vilnius ──(~1h10-1h20 direct train, hourly, up to 15 daily)──> Kaunas
                                                                       │
                        Vilnius ◄──(direct train)──────────────────────┘

Kaunas served as Lithuania's temporary capital between the two World Wars, when Vilnius was under Polish control, and that two-decade period left the city with a concentration of Art Deco and early Modernist architecture unmatched anywhere else in the country. A little over an hour from Vilnius by frequent direct train, it rewards an overnight stay over a rushed day trip.

Night One: Laisvės Alėja and the Interwar Old Town

Laisvės Alėja, a long pedestrianised boulevard lined with interwar-era buildings, runs through the heart of modern Kaunas and is the natural starting point for exploring the city's architectural character. The street connects to Kaunas's own separate medieval Old Town at one end, a smaller and quieter counterpart to Vilnius's own.

Where to stay: Hotels cluster along and near Laisvės Alėja and through the adjoining Old Town, putting a visitor within walking distance of the city's main architectural sights. Check current rates and availability before booking, since specific properties were not independently verified in this research pass.

Where to eat: Restaurants and cafés line Laisvės Alėja and the surrounding streets, offering a range from traditional Lithuanian fare to more contemporary options.

Day Two: The Ninth Fort and Kaunas Castle

The Ninth Fort, a former Tsarist-era fortress used by both Nazi and Soviet occupying forces as a mass execution and deportation site, now houses a museum documenting this history directly and soberly, a significant and heavy counterpoint to the city's lighter architectural appeal. For a gentler second day, Kaunas Castle, a partially restored medieval fortress at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers, offers an easier, shorter visit.

Getting Home

Getting back to Vilnius: Return by the same direct train service. Check the current timetable before travelling.