Museums and galleries in Kaunas

Museums and galleries in Kaunas

1. See

   9th Fort Museum

   Kaunas Fortress was a military defensive complex encircling the city, with ten forts built by the Russians 1882-1915 to protect their empire from the growing power of Germany. But when World War I came, after 11 days of assault the forts surrendered, so the Fortress had impeded the enemy advance but proved far from impregnable. From 1920 much of it was demolished or turned over to other state use. The Ninth Fort was the best preserved and was put to horrific use during the Nazi occupation of 1941-44. You enter via the Exposition of Occupations which has the ticket office, and documents the wartime terrors, and the ensuing Soviet terror under Stalin. You then visit the 9th Fort and the 32-m-high memorial to the victims; the fort tunnels can only be seen by special tour.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00·Adult €8, conc €4, child 0-6 free

2. See

   Bank of Lithuania

   Grandiose neo-classical building of 1928. Primarily a commercial bank, it has a small exhibition of Lithuanian banknotes and coins of the First Republic, and occasionally hosts larger art installations.

   Mon-Fri 08:30-15:30

3. See

   Church of St Michael the Archangel

   Garrison Church; Soboras

   This beautiful domed building closes off the prospect down Laisvės Aleja. Opened in 1895, it was built in neo-Byzantine style for Russian soldiers based here, and to remind the townsfolk who was in charge. However the main reason to visit is the Catacombs (accessible M-F 10:00-14:00). You descend a spiral staircase into total darkness then feel your way through an underground obstacle course, eventually re-ascending a similar staircase into the light. It started out as an art installation but is now run by the Museum for the Blind, donations welcome. Not for the fainthearted, small children or anyone with difficulty moving around.

4. See

   Devils' Museum

   Antanas Žmuidzinavičius (1876-1966) was a distinguished landscape painter but now is better known for his huge collection of sculptures of devils. Some 3000 of them are here, from around the world but mainly central European.

   Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00 (Thu until 19:00)·Adult €8

5. See

   Galaunė House-Museum

   The house was built in 1932 for soprano Adelė Nezabitauskaitė-Galaunienė (1895–1962) and art historian Paulius Galaunė (1890–1988). The architect was Arnas Funkas (1898–1957).

6. See

   Gemstones Museum

   Small private museum with rare minerals and precious stones from around the world.

   Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-16:00·Adult €2

7. See

   House of Sugihara

   Diplomats for Life

   In 1940 thousands of Jews from Poland and Lithuania were desperate to get out, but they needed visas. The Dutch issued many visas for Curaçao and their Caribbean colonies, but getting there became much more difficult when Italy joined the Nazis and closed the Med. The main escape route was then across the USSR to the Pacific. In Kaunas the Japanese vice-consul Chiune Sugihara (1900-86) issued hundreds of Japanese transit visas, blithely disregarding orders to conduct all sorts of checks. He may have saved thousands of lives, as a whole family could travel on one visa; from Japan they moved on to North America and elsewhere. His mission ended when the embassy closed, Germany crushed Lithuania, and anyone who hadn't got out was exterminated. Sugihara spent his later years in obscurity in Japan; his Kaunas residence is now this museum.

   Adult €10, child or conc €5

8. See

   Kaunas Castle

   The first castle was built mid-14th century at the confluence of the rivers Nemunas and Neris. It was destroyed in 1401 and the new castle was constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries. It is the oldest building in Kaunas. Today the round tower houses an art gallery, and the castle hosts occasional festivals. The tip of the confluence is Santakos Park.

   Sep-May: Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-17:00; Jun-Aug: Tue-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-16:00·Adult €4, conc €2, child free

9. See

   LLB Museum

   Skansen-type outdoor ethnography museum on lake shore, with traditional buildings brought from around the country. In winter their interiors are closed up but you can still stroll around the park. Dogs permitted on leash outdoors.

   Daily May-Sep 10:00-18:00, Oct-Apr 10:00-16:00·Adult €10, conc or child €5

10. See

    M K Čiurlionis Museum of Art

    The Art Deco main branch of the museum was built in the 1930s and is next to the war museum. It showcases Lithuania's cultural heritage and especially the works of M K Čiurlionis (1875–1911), whose style ranged over symbolism, secessionism, abstractionism and romanticism. The building also houses the War Museum. It was designed by V Dubeneckis and is considered a significant example of Lithuanian modernist architecture; it is a candidate for UNESCO recognition.

    Tue Fri-Sun 10:00-18:00, Wed Thu 11:00-19:00. Closed Mondays·Adult €10, conc or child €5

11. See

    Museum of Aviation

    Two km south on the former Darius & Girėnas Airport, which now only has light aviation. The indoor exhibits (such as the flight simulator) closed during covid and have yet to re-open. So you can only see the outdoor collection of vintage aircraft.

    Mon-Sat 9:00-17:00·Adult €2, child €1

12. See

    Pažaislis Monastery

    Built from the 17th century as a Camaldolese monastery, this is a riot of Baroque thanks to its Italian architects and sculptors. During the 19th / 20th centuries the complex was variously a military stables, psychiatric hospital and art gallery but restored as a convent in the 1990s. The main sight is the Church of the Visitation.

    Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat 10:00-15:30·Adult €6, conc €3, child free

13. See

    Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum

    Old-style natural history museum with thousands of stuffed animals and skeletons.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00·Adult €6, conc or child €3

14. See

    Vytautas the Great War Museum

    Display of Kaunas' turbulent times from prehistory to the present day, with an immense collection of weapons and armour. One poignant highlight is the remains of Lituanica, a modified Bellanca Pacemaker in which Darius and Girenas flew east across the Atlantic in 1933; they were 650 km short of Kaunas when they crashed. You can climb the tower on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

    Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00·Adult €5, conc or child €2.50

15. See Not mapped

    Kaunas City Hall

    Built in renaissance style in the mid-16th century, when Kaunas was a flourishing city of merchants, and nowadays dubbed The White Swan. In 1836 it was reconstructed as a residence for Russian czars. The Wedding Hall (marriage registration office) was opened on the ground and first floors in 1973. The cellars house the Kaunas Ceramics museum' with hand-crafted crockery, tile stove ornaments, and roof tiles of impressive size The city history museum has of archaeological findings from the Old Town and surroundings of Kaunas. The exposition also reflects the lifestyle of the townsmen of the time.

    Tue Wed 10:00-17:00, Thu-Sun 12:00-18:00·Adult €10, conc €5, child free

16. See Not mapped

    Kaunas Picture Gallery

    This is a branch of the MK Čiurlionis National Art Museum in New Town. It houses 20th-century Lithuanian and émigré art, and a collection of North American Indian art.

    Tue Fri-Sun 10:00-18:00, Wed Thu 11:00-19:00·€8. You can also get a combined ticket with the M K Čiurlionis Museum of Art for a discount

17. See Not mapped

    Maironis Museum of Lithuanian Literature

    This is within Siručiai Palace and came to be the residence of poet and priest Jonas Maironis. It has a huge collection of books, manuscripts, artworks, and memorial items.

    Tue-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat Sun 10:00-17:00

18. See Not mapped

    Museum of the History of Lithuanian Medicine and Pharmacy

    Houses a huge collection of skulls, herbs, medical items and other relics.

    Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00·Adult €2, child €1. Cash only. Tours in English €15

19. See Not mapped

    Perkūnas House

    A striking example of "flamboyant Gothic", from 1440 until 1532 this was the offices of the Hanseatic merchants, then became a Jesuit chapel. The Jesuits again own it and it houses a small museum about Adam Mickewicz. Perkūnas was a Baltic pagan god of thunder, and around 1900 an image said to be of Perkūnas was found within its walls, hence the present name.

    Only open on Thursdays, 15:00-18:00

20. See

    Juozas Zikaras House-Museum

    The house of sculptor Juozas Zikaras (1881–1944).

    Tue to Sat, 11:00–17:00

21. See

    KGB Museum and Atomic Bunker

    By appointment only.

22. See Not mapped

    Mykolas Žilinskas Picture Gallery

    Closed for reconstruction, the re-opening date is not known.

    Closed·€10. You can also get a combined ticket with the Kaunas Picture Gallery for a discount

23. Do Not mapped

    National Puppet Theatre

    Shows for all ages and a museum of puppets.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Kaunas (CC BY-SA 4.0).