Lithuania: Cities to Coast by Public Transport
Trains and buses connect Vilnius, Trakai, Kaunas, and Nida, with no car rental required.
Designed for first-time visitors who prefer not to drive. Stay two nights in Vilnius with a day trip to Trakai, head to Kaunas to see the Old Town and the Ninth Fort, then take a bus to Klaipėda and cross the water to spend two nights in Nida. Intercity trains and buses are reliable, but reaching the Hill of Crosses by public transport is time-consuming, so it is skipped here to allow for more relaxed time on the coast.
Buses on the Curonian Spit run frequently in summer but are limited in the low season, when museums also have shorter hours.
Day by day
Day 1 · First Look at Vilnius Old Town
Vilnius（Vilnius Cathedral & Cathedral Square、Gediminas' Tower、St. Anne's Church、Užupis）
Take the airport bus or train to the city center (approx. 20 minutes). Spend the afternoon walking around the Old Town; a funicular is available to the tower.
Stay: Old Town
Day 2 · Trakai Island Castle & Southern Old Town
Vilnius（Trakai Island Castle、Vilnius University、Gate of Dawn）
Take a regional train to Trakai in the morning (approx. 35 minutes), then return to Vilnius in the afternoon for a walking tour.
It is about a 30-minute walk from Trakai station to the castle; taxis are also available.
Stay: Old Town
Day 3 · Kaunas Old Town and Funiculars
Kaunas（Kaunas Castle、Kaunas Old Town、Laisvės alėja、Žaliakalnis Funicular、Christ's Resurrection Basilica）
Take the train to Kaunas (approx. 1 to 1.5 hours). Explore the city on foot or by local bus, and ride the funicular up the hill.
Stay: Kaunas Old Town
Day 4 · Ninth Fort and Head to the Coast
Kaunas（Ninth Fort） → Curonian Spit (Nida)（Klaipėda Old Town）
Take a local bus to the Ninth Fort in the morning (approx. 20 minutes), then take an afternoon bus to Klaipėda (approx. 3 hours).
The train from Kaunas to Klaipėda requires a transfer and is slow; buses are highly recommended.
Stay: Klaipėda
Day 5 · Ferry and Bus via Hill of Witches to Nida
Curonian Spit (Nida)（Juodkrantė、Hill of Witches、Nida Village、Nida Evangelical Lutheran Church & Cemetery）
Take the pedestrian ferry to Smiltynė, take the bus to Juodkrantė to explore, and then continue by bus to Nida.
Stay: Nida
Day 6 · Parnidis Dune and the Beach
Curonian Spit (Nida)（Parnidis Dune、Nida Lighthouse、Thomas Mann Cultural Centre、Nida Beach）
Spend the day walking or renting a bicycle. The dune trails and Baltic beaches are all close to the village.
The Thomas Mann House is closed on Sundays and Mondays in the low season; check opening hours in advance.
Stay: Nida
Day 7 · Sea Museum and Return to the Capital
Curonian Spit (Nida)（Lithuanian Sea Museum） → Vilnius
Take the bus to Smiltynė (approx. 1 hour), cross by ferry, and take the train back to Vilnius (approx. 4 hours).
If you are flying out tonight, note that the last train arrives late; staying an extra night is recommended.