🏰 Trakai Castle: the pearl of medieval Lithuania

Last updated Feb 23, 2025

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Trakai Island Castle is a rare place that is always beautiful and has something to do at any time of the year . Judge for yourself: in winter everything is snowy, atmospheric and with plenty of illumination on the coast; if it’s really cold, the lake freezes and you can skate around the castle. In spring and summer, everything turns green and blooms – it’s obvious why it’s worth going. In autumn it is colorful and picturesque. In warm weather, you can sail around by boat or even on a yacht.

Most of Trakai is an island about two kilometers long. Lake Galve, on which a Gothic castle stands, is one of the deepest in Lithuania. And in general, the castle is the calling card of the country (one of many, of course), but it is definitely one of the most popular attractions. Must see!

A little history

If you believe the chronicles of Trakai Castle, the construction site was chosen by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas, who noticed an attractive hill while hunting. The construction of the fortress took almost 100 years. In the form in which we see the castle now, it was completed only by 1409 – the end of the reign of Vytautas, at the same time it was moved to Trakai to the capital of the then Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The castle-castel became one of the main princely residences. Later, the castle was repeatedly destroyed and restored. In 1962 it was made part of the Trakai Historical Museum.

Among the interesting facts: the castle once had an incredibly progressive heating system at that time. During construction, cavities were left in the walls, which in frosty times were filled with hot air from the basement to the hotel rooms, thus warming the halls on the upper floors.

What to see?

Coming to Trakai and not visiting the castle museum is a crime. Admission for adults is 10-12 euros depending on the season. You can take an audio guide in English.

Refresh your knowledge of history and get caught up in the many archaeological finds. And the photos from inside the castle are no worse than from the famous wooden bridge from the outside.

The central building is decorated with chic frescoes and stained glass windows. Among the exhibitions are collections of weapons, coins, porcelain, jewelry and much more.

The castle is made of red brick and stone with defensive towers around the entire perimeter. The citadel is considered an architectural monument of the Gothic style. In the summer, medieval festivals, fairs and concerts take place in the courtyard.

How to get there?

You can get to Trakai by taxi, or by bus or train from Vilnius. The distance from the capital is about 28 kilometers. The ride takes from 30 to 45 minutes, one-way ticket from 2 euros. I chose the train, especially since it is new, beautiful and two-story. On the way back, the ticket office at the station was not working, so we had to buy a ticket from the conductor on the train itself. The girl hardly spoke English, but even with her fingers it was easy to explain herself.

Important: the distance from the station to the castle is about 2 kilometers, so the options remain: either take a taxi, or wait for the bus, or you will have to walk. But you will see a lot of interesting things along the way, especially if the weather is good. I was in Trakai in winter, but still had a lot of fun.

What else is interesting in Trakai?

Trakai is a small island town with a population of about 5,000 people. It's really easy to get around on foot.

For example, on the road to the castle from any train station (they are almost nearby, cross the road) you can see the Dominican monastery, a church, colored wooden Lithuanian houses, a Small castle, a church and several attractions associated with the Karaites – a separate ethno-religious group that is still during the time of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania she settled there. Later, Karaites served in the personal guard of the grand dukes, and Trakai became their cultural center.

What to eat?

Be sure to try the Karaite pies – kibinai. They are made from puff pastry with the most popular fillings: meat, vegetables, mushrooms, cheese. Getting to know the city also means getting to know the national cuisine, right? There is a restaurant right opposite Trakai Castle, you won’t miss it, next to it there will be several banners with a win-win offer – 1 pie for 1 euro. Delicious! Especially with broth, fruit drink, shish kebab – it’s impossible to leave there hungry and unsatisfied, I think. Plus, around the castle there will be a number of souvenir shops for every taste and budget. Most are handmade.

Usually people go to Trakai for a day, to take a break from the bustle of the city, but if you decide to stay overnight, there will be no problems. Although take into account seasonality, of course. There is plenty of outdoor entertainment: fishing, bike rides, boat rides, picnics, plein airs. So have a pleasant and inspiring journey!