Old Town in Riga vs. Vilnius

[Helsingborgaren]

Is Kaunas, the former capital of Lithuania and the ethnically wise most Lithuanian/Baltic city of the 3 big ones worth a day trip from Vilnius?

[barneyg]

Originally Posted by MagnusPetersson

Is Kaunas, the former capital of Lithuania and the ethnically wise most Lithuanian/Baltic city of the 3 big ones worth a day trip from Vilnius?

I found Kaunas mildly interesting as a pit stop (I did Vilnius-Trakai-Kaunas-hill of crosses-Rundale castle in Latvia.. Long day) but I don't think it's worth planning a day trip around it unless you have a specific museum in mind.

If you are lookking for a day trip from Vilnius I would suggest Trakai and the Soviet sculpture park near Druskininkai (90 minutes south toward Poland). Further away are Rundale castle (so. Latvia) or the dunes on the Baltic near Klaipeda (Curonian spit). The resort town of Palanga north of Klaipeda is nice too but only as a pit stop.

[notoshmeant]

Judging from the photos on internet, posts from tourists, and various guides, the city seems to be well worth a day trip. The oldtownscapes and the aerial view of the city look lovely. There are several old churches, Pazaislis Monastery, a castle and interesting architecture. By all accounts, the old town is pretty compact so one day is enough for a visitor to walk around there.
BTW I recently learned Riga used to be the biggest (or second biggest?) city in Sweden when it was part of Sweden in the 18th century while having been a very old viking's stronghold. The old town is now a world heritage site adjoining a large Jugentstil area.
I fancy visiting these areas someday.