Trakai, Vilnius

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Our half day tour to Trakai Castle was the individual highlight of our 2 days in Vilnius. The fortified castle built on an island by Grand Duke Vietautas during the 15th century and now fully restored is magnificent.

Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy this castle and the magificent lake which surrounds the castle. Make certain you take your camera.

Lakeside has excellent restaurants with lake and castle views.

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Lake Galve is the tourist drop off point for Trakai Castle. The day we visited Trakai we were given 90 minutes to enjoy the lake and have lunch after our castle visit.

A beautiful lake with several islands, facilities for family picnics, a cyclist paradise to ride around the lake. There are hire boats, canoes etc to enjoy the waters.

The ideal place to enjoy the lake view is from one of the many restaurants and cafes. A most popular place for tourists and locals.

The lake is located 29km west of Vilnuis. A tour to Trakai costs Euro 29.

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Trakai is a beautiful place. A wonderful castle in a scenic lake setting. Takes about 30 min by car from Vilnius. I was on an organised tour, so do not know the prices and how to get there with public transport. But it is worthwhile to take a guide. You get to understand so much more of the history.
Next to the castle on the "landside" is a wonderful restaurant with a magnificient view on the castle. Plus they serve great food!

Sometimes it is become undiscovered, because this castle is outside Vilnius territory, about 20km from Vilnius. Trakai castle builded in XIV century by grand duke Vytautas aand it is most significant castle in Lithuania, located in island of Galves lake.

Less than an hour by bus from Vilnius, Trakai is an ideal place for a day visit.

Buses run every half hour from stands 6 and 7 at Vilnius bus station -- no need to get a ticket, pay the driver.

There is a 15th century castle, beautiful lakes and lots of places to eat and drink.

I'll be putting this on a separate page, but if you have half a day to spare, take the roughly 30-45 minute bus ride to Trakai and see two old castles, beautiful nature, and some unique local history. This was the former capitol in very early days.

Trakai – restaurated beautiful medieval castle, museum on the island in the lake. Former residence of dukes. You can take a swim with a yacht or boat. Trakai is not only the name of a castle, but the name of the town. Town is famous and for being home of Tatars, you can see houses in this style. Many lakes in these surroundings, there’s a hotel and sport base also. Wonderful place.

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Lake Galve is located 27 km (17 mi) west of Vilnius. A lot of local people come here weekends to swim. The water is clear and, at least when I was here, very warm (~20°C/~68°F).

around the courtyard an exhibition on prehistoric findings and on lithuania's grand duchy which extended from the baltic to the black sea....(once upon a time!)

and also most photographed castle...
trakai,former capital of lithuania,27km W of vilnius,a favourite place for an outing...
in the summer people swim and sail in the lakes around trakai castle...