We’ll depart Vilnius for a tour of Trakai, the land of lakes and forests. Once the capital and residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, the 14th-century insular castle now houses an intriguing museum.
You’ll also learn of the Karaites, an ethnic minority, brought to Lithuania by Grand Duke Vytautas from the Crimea 600 years ago, and visit a unique Karaite cemetery.
Next, we’ll drive to Kaunas, the second-largest city in the country. Kaunas’ Old Town is postcard-perfect, with its Catholic churches, narrow streets and cobbled squares, cozy cafes, and art galleries.
We will continue walking along the main pedestrian street, Laisves Aleja, which looks much the same as it did before the war. We’ll stop at the National Art Gallery of M. K. Ciurlionis, the most famous Lithuanian painter and composer.