4 Best Sights in Kaunas, Lithuania

Modernist architecture is an important part of Kaunas’s identity. In addition to viewing buildings from outside, you can visit a number of flats and houses that have been turned into museum pieces. One of these is located in a renovated interwar residential property at the corner of Gedimino g. and Donelacio g. The apartment is owned and managed by two businessmen devoted to Art Deco and modernism, and they have restored it carefully, preserving such precious details as the decorative wall borders. You'll need to reach out and make an appointment if you wish to visit.

The large church sits at the top of the green hill of Zaliakalnis, offering spectacular views of Kaunas and its surroundings. It is a beautiful example of sleek interwar Art Deco architecture, and was designed by Latvian-born Lithuanian architect Karolis Reisonas. Construction began in the 1930s, but due to war and occupation, the church was not consecrated until 2004. There are three chapels, one of them on the panoramic roof terrace, which is accessible by elevator. To reach the church from Kaunas city center, you can take the picturesque historic funicular.

The largest branch of the M. C. Ciurlionis National Museum of Art presents foreign art of various styles and periods. Initially, the exhibitions were based exclusively on the private collections of the eponymous Mykolas Zilinskas, an influential businessman and diplomat who started collecting art during his exile in Berlin in the mid-20th century and eventually donated his collection of more than 1,500 works to Lithuania. The building was erected in 1989, in Postmodernist style, featuring, among other things, granite from the same quarry as Lenin’s mausoleum.

Basketball is Lithuania’s national sport, and it is especially popular in Kaunas. The city's multipurpose arena—the largest in the Baltic states—is home to the successful BC Zalgiris, who play in Europe's top-tier basketball league. In addition to world-class basketball games at a reasonable price, Zalgirio Arena also hosts a range of other events throughout the year, including handball and soccer games, concerts, festivals, and exhibitions.