Day Trip to Trakai from Vilnius + Things to Do in Trakai

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Trakai was the medieval capital city of Lithuania! Today, visiting Trakai from Lithuania’s current capital city, Vilnius, is one of the popular day trips in Lithuania. A visit to Trakai not only immerses you in rich history but also in tranquil lakes and nature. This post covers how to do a day trip to Trakai from Vilnius and all the best things to do in Trakai. It also includes a travel guide with all the must-knows for a great day trip!

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Where is Trakai?

Trakai is located about 28 kilometers west of the capital city of Vilnius and sits within the Trakai National Park. Trakai is well known for it’s stunning lakes, including Lake Galvė, forests and castles.

What is the Best Time to Visit Trakai?

Trakai can be visited year long. Winter brings dreamy snow covered landscapes, foliage dazzles in autumn hues in the fall and the flowers bloom in the spring. Summer is perhaps the most popular time to visit where all attractions and restaurants will also be open but it’s also the most crowded.

How to Get to Trakai from Vilnius?

There are a few ways to get to Trakai from Vilnius:

Drive:

Trakai is about 28 kilometers west of Vilnius and it takes about 30 minutes on the A16. Once you get to Trakai, you can park at a designated spot. There probably will be attendants to guide you.

Taxi:

I got lazy and took a Bolt to Trakai in the morning. It cost me around 27 euros and took around 30 minutes. If you are hoping to get back to Vilnius via Bolt, there maybe a bit of a wait. Maybe it was the time of year I visited too. Perhaps Bolts will be more readily available in peak summer.

Bus:

Buses take around 30-35 minutes and depart every 30-40 minutes. A single ticket costs 2-3 euros. You can buy a ticket onboard (better to have cash) or at the bus ticket office. The ticketing office in Vilnius is at the Vilnius Bus Station that’s located across the train station. The bus station in Trakai is around 2.5 kilometers away from the Trakai castle.

Train:

Trains cost more or less the same as a bus and the journey takes about 40 minutes. Trains depart every hour or so from the Vilnius Train Station. The train station in Trakai is about 3 kilometers away from the castle.

In my opinion, the bus is better than the train because the station in Trakai is closer and buses can be slightly faster.

Guided Tours

See options below!

Is a Day Trip to Trakai Enough Time?

Yes, a day trip to Trakai is more than enough time to explore the town. The town itself is relatively small and if you go early, you can spend a nice full day in Trakai before returning back to Vilnius.

Things to Do in Trakai

I have written this things to do in Trakai section in order of appearance working backwards from the bus and train station. When you get to Trakai, you should aim to visit the castle first and then see the rest of the attractions mentioned. This way you will make your way back to the bus or train station efficiently.

Trakai Island Castle

Visiting the Island castle is one of the best things to do in Trakai on a day trip to Trakai. This castle was built in the 14th century and was the residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, including Vytautas the Great. However, the castle was damaged during the war with Muscovy in the 17th century and was not touched until it was rebuilt in 1951.

To get to the castle, you have to cross an iconic bridge.

Don’t forget to walk around the castle gardens before or after your visit inside the castle.

Visiting the Island Castle will probably be where you spend most of your time on this day trip to Trakai. Once inside, pay the entrance fee and then explore. You can visit the castle itself as well as the museum. The castle features the Ducal Palace, chapel, inner courtyard and the keep. The museum houses various artifacts from the castle’s history, including weapons, pottery, hunting trophies, coins, medals etc. It also has an interesting collection of decorative porcelain, glass, pipes etc.

See HERE for more information on opening times (differs by season) and HERE for ticket costs.

Photograph the Castle from the Observation Deck

Photograph the castle from across the lake at the “Castle Island Viewing Deck”. The castle in the backdrop of the lake makes for a stunning picture!

Walk Along the Lake

If you continue from the viewing deck, there is a boardwalk that goes along the lake. It’s really peaceful and a good way to avoid the crowds if needed. You will continue to see beautiful views of the castle from this boardwalk as well.

Take a Short Boat Ride

This is another one for the really nice things to do in Trakai list if the weather cooperates. Unfortunately, it was freezing when I visited (although it was in late April) and I had zero desire to freeze even more further out in the water. You can either do a boat tour or rent a paddle boat. There is also standup paddleboarding as well.

Have a Trakai Kibinai

A kibinai is a savory stuffed pastry which is a traditional Lithuanian food. To me, it’s best described as a Lithuanian empanada. They originated from the Karaite who came to Trakai in the 14th century. Senoji Kibinine is very popular for kibinai.

Explore the Karaite Neighborhood 

The Karaite are an ethic minority in Trakai with Turkic origins. In 1397, The Grand Duke Vytautas after his victorious march to the Black Sea brought back with him from Crimea several hundred Karaim families to serve as his castle guards. He settled them in Trakai where they retained their language and customs. Today, only about 200 Karaites live in Lithuania and about 20 of those families live in Trakai. In the Karaite Neighborhood you can see their traditional houses (identified by 3 windows), a Kenesa (synagogue) and a small but very informative museum where you can learn about the Karaites.

One thing I love about travel is how much I learn about people, cultures and things that I would have otherwise never know about. Just learning about the Karaite community itself made this day trip to Trakai well worth it for me!

Russian Imperial Post Office

You can see the outside of a former Russian Imperial Post Office. You can’t go inside but it’s on the way back to the station so make a quick stop to check it out from the outside.

Vytinė

Vytinė is a cargo ship that was used during the time of the the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 15th and 16th century. Today, you can see one of the ships in Trakai. I found this ship as I was walking along the lake between the Imperial Post Office and the Trakai Basilica. I am not sure if the location moves frequently as Google Maps has it pinned at another location. Ask a local if you can’t find this ship where I have pointed out.

Trakai Basilica

Officially known as the Trakai Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this church is over 600 years old!  It was founded by Vytautas the Great in 1409 as a gothic church but the style has since changed. The church is famous for its altarpiece; an icon of the virgin Mary with Jesus also from the 15th century. The underside has an inscription denoting that it is a gift from the Byzantine Emperor at that time to the Grand Duke Vytautas to commemorate his baptism.

Trakai Orthodox Church

This church is called the Trakai Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. It was closed when I visited but is a functioning church that belongs to the Russian Orthodox community. It was built in the 19th century to commemorate the defeat of the Polish-Lithuanian Uprising. The church towers and roof were destroyed during the First World War.

Unique Things to Do in Trakai

Hot air ballooning is definitely one of the more unique things to do in Trakai! I think it’s best suited for those who like to take a day trip to Trakai but are not interested in visiting the castle of any of the other sites. Or you could also contact the company and see if they would offer the tour minus the transportation to and from Vilnius.

Where to Eat in Trakai

There are a few places to eat between the Island Castle and the Peninsula Castle. As I mentioned Senoji Kibinine is very popular for their kibinai. Maisto oazė Terasa has good reviews and a good menu. Blynų namai also has very good reviews and an extensive menu consisting of traditional Lithuanian food. If you are looking for something more upscale, Apvalaus Stalo Klubas restaurant is a good one with good castle views. Bona Pizzeria is also right opposite the castle with great views and much cheaper prices than Apvalaus Stalo Klubas. They serve a bit of traditional food but also pizzas and burgers.

One callout is that most places maybe closed off season. I recommend taking some snacks with you if you are going in the winter months.

Places to Skip on Your Day Trip to Trakai

You may have read that Trakai actually has two castles, An Island Castle and a Peninsula Castle. The Peninsula Castle was built in the 14th century as a defensive structure protecting Trakai and Vilnius. Most of the castle was destroyed in the 17th century but some walls and towers remain. Honestly, I don’t think this is worth your time and in my opinion is skippable. The Island Castle on the other hand is a must in Trakai!

If you do plan to visit both, there is a combination ticket offered during weekdays.

Tips for Visiting Trakai

• If you can, go to Trakai early and visit the castle first. I visited the castle the first thing on my day trip to Trakai and when I was coming out there were hoards of tour groups coming in. I was really glad I missed all the crowds.
• Wear good walking shoes as you will have to walk a bit to the bus or train station.
• If you want to, you can take a picnic lunch and enjoy it on the banks of the lake.

Day Trip to Trakai by Tour

Sometimes, it’s so much easier for someone else to organize a trip and I totally get that. If you are looking for someone else to take care of all the logistics, then check out the tours below!

More Things to Do in Trakai

There are two more things to do in Trakai in the summer but you may need a vehicle for this. There is a local bus but it only runs in the summer months (May–September) and during the weekend (Saturdays and Sundays). This bus does the round trip from the Trakai bus station to the Manor (see below) and back. See HERE for the schedule and more details!

Hill of Angles – Hill of Angels was created to honor the 1000th anniversary of Lithuania and the 600th anniversary of the Trakai Basilica. The hill has around 44 angles and each angle is said to represent a spiritual/Christian quantity like faith, love, peace, prayer etc.

Užutrakis Manor– Užutrakis Manor is a late 19th-century residential manor of the Tyszkiewicz family in Užutrakis. You can explore the restored palace, which features impressive art, sculptures, furniture, and a small museum. The manor is only open in the summer and is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. More HERE!

Alternatively, you can also take the tour below which includes both of these places.

Spending a day in Vilnius? Read my detailed guide!

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