Trakai Travel Guide

  Trakai
by lotharscheer
 
  • Trakai
      Trakai
    by lotharscheer
  • Trakai
      Trakai
    by lotharscheer
  • Trakai
      Trakai
    by lotharscheer
  • Island Castle, Trakai
      Island Castle, Trakai
    by EasyMalc
  • Trakai Castle
      Trakai Castle
    by SWFC_Fan
 

Pro

matcrazy1 profile photo

 Castle with museum (history!), lanscapes, water sports, watching visitors :-), Karaime food 


Con

matcrazy1 profile photo

 No vacancy, too few accommodations :-( 


In a nutshell

Carletto76 profile photo

 A wonderful place in the middle of nature 

 

Explore Trakai

Things to Do  

Trakai Island Castle

Trakai Island Castle, Trakai

 EasyMalc Says:  There are two castles in Trakai - the remains of the Peninsula Castle, and the one everyone comes to see - The Island Castle.If you arrive by public transport you'll need to walk down through the village from the train station or bus station until you come to Lake Galve.... 

Trakai castle

Trakai castle, Trakai

 Nikolay_Ivanov Says:  Its a picturesque site when you are looking at it from distance. There is a bridge leading to the castle, which is located on a small island. The wall and the towers are harsh red. While entering through the gates, you feel the medieval atmosphere of the place. There are... 

Hotels  

Salos

 1 Opinions

Restaurants  

Senoji kibinine: Kibinine

Senoji kibinine: Kibinine, Trakai

 Raimix Says:  Restaurant called Kibinine by Karaits national food - kibinai. Karaites went to Lithuania in 14 - 15th century to be a part of Lithuanian army. They mostly create his culture in Trakai and Vinius. Some Karaits work in this restaurant. Restaurant's interior looks great:... 

Restoranas Karaliskas Sodas: Karaims and their... Turkish food

Restoranas Karaliskas Sodas: Karaims and their... Turkish food, Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  After a 2-3 hours visit to the Trakai castle I started to look for a restaurant for late lunch or early dinner :-). I was looking for a restaurant with tables outside, a nice view over Galve lake (with the castle on an island), good atmosphere and surely Karaims food. First... 

Restoranas Karaliskas Sodas: With pretty view

Restoranas Karaliskas Sodas: With pretty view, Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  Restaurant Karaliskas Sodas was located by southern shore of Galve Lake, a few meters above the water level. It assured beautiful view over the lake with a castle on an island - look at the cover picture in my intro taken from my table in that restaurant.Well, the tables and... 

Transportation  

By bus from Vilnus to Trakai

By bus from Vilnus to Trakai, Trakai

 lotharscheer Says:  Frequent buses from the Vilnus bus terminal to Trakai, Lt 4,40 take 1 hour 20 minutes and drave you mad by their snails pace, also frequent minibuses, Lt 6, take half the time but (at least on sundays) fill up very fast.In both cases you have to walk about 2 km to the island... 

Bus, train, car.

Bus, train, car., Trakai

 Raimix Says:  If to look for public transportation, the best way to reach Trakai from Vilnius is a frequent bus. It is taking you to Trakai bus station; it is about 2 kilometers away from Trakai island castle. If you take train, it is not so frequent schedule public transportation, and... 

My parking lot

My parking lot, Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  I arrived to Trakai by my own car from Druskininkai and I parked my car at small parking lot on my picture. It was guarded and paid (5 Lt) parking located very close to the walkway to the castle on the island. I paid when I left.Well, you can park a car on a street for free... 

Located very close to Vilnius

Located very close to Vilnius, Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  I drove to Trakai by my car from Poland via Budzisko - Kalvarija border crossing point. Then I turned right to highway 134 and via Druskinikai and through highway A4 and A16 I got to Trakai and then to Vilnius. Trakai was located in southestern Lithuania, 28km (17mi) west of... 

From Vilnius by car

From Vilnius by car, Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  I tried to get to Trakai from Vilnius during my first trip to Lithuania in May 2004. Hmm... I got lost because I didn't have exact map of Vilnius and area around. I was looking for wrong direction signs... Trakai. Well, from Vilnius there were direction signs to Druskininkai... 

Walk around

Walk around, Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  The best way to visit more than the famous castle is to walk around Trakai. Well, keep in mind that the town is not large but looong. Trakai is located on loong peninsula between the two longitudinal lakes. Buses and trains went to the basis of the penninsula which is... 

To the castle

To the castle, Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  The best and the cheapest way to get to the castle is to walk through this wooden bridge, on my picture. In real there were two bridges, first to a green island (Karaimka, Karvine s.) and the second to the next island where the castle was built. I do hope they will never... 

Shopping  

Street stalls: Basketball and gifts

Street stalls: Basketball and gifts, Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  This figure of basketball player, on my picture, was sold from street stalls, put one by one, along southern bank of Galve Lake, just north of the wooden bridge to the island castle.I saw a lot of gifts and souvenirs referred to basketball sold in Trakai and generally in... 

Suvenyrai, shop of amber: Souvenirs, amber...

Suvenyrai, shop of amber: Souvenirs, amber..., Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  This store/shop was placed in typical Trakai wooden house and offered various gifts, souvenirs and local craft like: wooden figures/statues, mugs and bells, ceramic plates and pots, Lithuanian witches riding a broom, rag dolls etc. Add quite good choice of amber jewelry from... 

Local Customs  

Basketball + beer = friendship

Basketball + beer = friendship, Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  I saw a lot of gifts and souvenirs referred to basketball sold in Trakai and generally in Lithuania. There were T-shirts with Lithuanian basketball players, with beer mug and inscription: "Vilnius = friends forever".Well, my recommendation, is to get to know more about... 

Karaims - Visit here!

Karaims - Visit here!, Trakai

 Toshioohsako Says:  Kinesa - Karaims, a minority religious group, worships here. The origin of the minority group seems to open to different interpretations, so I recommend viewers of this tip to open "Karaims in Trakai in Lithuania" site.Direction: go on the main road 2-3 minutes from Trakai... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Rykantai - old rennaisance church

Rykantai - old rennaisance church, Trakai

 Raimix Says:  Rykantai is a home of rennaisance style church, built in 1585. The church stands on the hill and visible when taking road Vilnius - Kaunas. Nowadays is not so much rennaisance churches left in Lithuania.It is interesting fact, that Rykantai was mentioned in Tolstoj book "War... 

Senieji Trakai - homeland of Vytautas the Great

Senieji Trakai - homeland of Vytautas the Great, Trakai

 Raimix Says:  Senieji Trakai is a village, known of its planning, still kept the same as from 16the century. Anyway, the main thing why people visit this place is a mound with a church. In medieval times, 14th century, Vytautas the Great born here, in nowadays not survived castle.Here... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Yachting :-)

Yachting :-), Trakai

 matcrazy1 Says:  I saw a few yachts sailing on lakes in Trakai and even more "parked" along shores of Galve Lake. Do you want to hire one? Follow the link below for more. Or go to look at them on the banl of Galve Lake, maybe 200 m north of the wooden bridge to the castle island. 

Favorites  

Trakai In You Pocket: highly recommended!

Trakai In You Pocket: highly recommended!, Trakai

 CatherineReichardt Says:  I have HORSCHECK to thank for introducing me to the 'In Your Pocket' series of tour guides, which we first had the opportunity to 'road test' in Tallinn (when the hotel we stayed in provided a copy of Tallinn In Your Pocket in each room).For my money, it's a much more useful... 

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Map of Trakai