Kaunas

Sukurta: 07 February 2023

Kaunas is the second largest city in Lithuania and was the former capital during the interwar period. The city is located in the middle of the country, at the crossing point of the main motorways and railway routes. This historic city was established in the 14th century as a cosy old town at the confluence of two rivers (the Nemunas and the Neris).

In 2022, Kaunas was designated as the European Capital of Culture.

The Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University is located in one of the oldest places in Kaunas – in two blocks of the Old Town on the Nemunas embankment. The buildings of the Kaunas Faculty reflect the prosperity of Kaunas City during the 16th century. This part of the old town of Kaunas, which has changed little over the centuries, is closely connected with the history of the Lutheran community and German merchants. Learn more about the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University.

Population/Size of the city

Living Expenses

Accommodation

There are many accommodation options for international students in Kaunas:

1. Kaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering University of Applied Sciences (KMAIK) dormitories in Girionys, Kaunas District
Dormitory administrator: Valda Gudynaitė
Email:
Phone: +370 37 383 082; mobile: +370 616 30488
Address: Liepų St 1-202, Girionys
2. Vytautas Magnus University, Academy of Agriculture dormitories in Akademija, Kaunas District
Email:
Phone: +370 37 752 258
Address: Studentų St 5, Room 102, Akademija, Kaunas district
https://zua.vdu.lt/en/studies/accommodation-and-campus/
3. SOLO SOCIETY student house in the city centre: http://www.solosociety.lt/
4. 1 Home agency – affordable shared accommodation for students: https://1home.eu/rooms/?location=Kaunas
5. Student Residence Hall in the old town: http://www.studentresidencehall.com/en/
6. Check ERASMUS IN KAUNAS Facebook group for private ads: https://www.facebook.com/groups/esnlithuania.org/?ref=group_header
7. Student housing ads: https://erasmusu.com/en/erasmus-kaunas/student-housing
8. Private ads: https://bit.ly/32bvdp4.
9. Cozy apartments: https://cozyapartments.lt

Contact person: Ilona Veitaitė, Academic Officer at the Study Office of Kaunas Faculty (e-mail: )

Dormitory prices range from €90 to €210.
Renting a one-room apartment in the city centre starts from €300, with accommodation further from the city centre available for €200. A student can rent a room and share an apartment with roommates – as a result, the rent will be lower.

Transport

It is easy to travel throughout Kaunas by public transport, which consists of red and green buses. Bus tickets can be purchased in three ways – directly from the driver, with a Žiogas card and with the Žiogas smartphone app. A monthly bus ticket with a student card costs €5.60, while a single ticket is €0.35-0.50. All bus routes can be found in the Trafi app.

Kaunas has an intercity bus station and a railway station, so it is easy to reach the other Lithuanian cities from Kaunas. Travelling from Kaunas to the capital Vilnius by train will cost €3.30-3.85 and by bus costs €4-4.50 for a student. The journey takes only an hour and a half.

The city also has a well-developed system of bicycles and electric scooters, with services offered by Bolt.

Culture & Entertainment

Christ's Resurrection Church

Christ’s Resurrection Church is the largest basilica-type modernist church in the Baltic States, and the only building in Kaunas whose white shape is visible from every side, as the tower is 70 metres high. There is an observation deck on the roof of the church, so visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Laisvės Avenue

One of the most important and popular streets in Kaunas is called Laisvės Avenue. For more than a hundred years, it has been the main public space of Kaunas City, reflecting the economic and cultural potential of the community. The avenue is lined with two rows of lindens. It stretches for around 1.6 km and is one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe.

Laisvės Avenue

Kaunas Town Hall

The construction of the Town Hall, also known as the “White Swan”, began in the 16th century. It represents the transition period from Baroque to early Neo-Classicism. In the Medieval Ages, the Town Hall, along with the main market place, was the centre of Kaunas. Today, it is used for wedding ceremonies, official welcomes of city guests, signing of agreements and other official events.

Pažaislis Monastery

Pažaislis Monastery is one of the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture in Lithuania, founded in the 17th century. Many visitors are surprised by the harmony between the architecture of Pažaislis Monastery and the surrounding landscape.

Pažaislis Monastery

Kaunas Castle

Kaunas Castle is located at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris Rivers and was built in the 14th century. It was an important defence site against the Crusader attacks. It is the oldest brick castle in Lithuania, and is the only one with two rows of defensive walls. Confluence Park is located next to Kaunas Castle.

St. Michael the Archangel’s Church

This Neo-Byzantine style building stands in the centre of a specially formed square on Laisvės Avenue. It was built in 1895. In the basement, there is a museum for the blind called “Catacombs of the 21st Century”.

St. Michael the Archangel’s Church

Kaunas Old Town

The Old Town of Kaunas is the oldest part of the city. The Old Town is dominated by historic, cultural and residential buildings, with limited car traffic permitted. The main street of the Old Town is cobbled.

Alfredas Bumblauskas, Tomas Vaiseta