Trakai between castles, lakes and Karaite culture

Trakai lies at the heart of a wooded lake district in eastern Dzūkija. Lakes, peninsulas and castles define the town, while museums and the Karaite community give it a distinctive cultural character. This means you can plan your stay from different perspectives: historic buildings and collections, landscape and water, or Karaite traditions. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your trip rather than limiting yourself to a single theme.

Castles, collections and art

Trakai Island Castle stands on an island in Lake Galvė; its address is 43C Karaimų Street. It is described as the only water castle in Eastern Europe. Inside the castle, the History Museum’s permanent exhibition spans 16 halls and features furniture, pipes, stamps, clocks, porcelain and glass, as well as hunting trophies. The exhibition thus brings together a wide variety of objects. The Island Castle also serves as a venue for exhibitions, concerts, festivals and celebrations. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the specific dates for your travel year.

Trakai Peninsula Castle is one of the largest hilltop castles in Lithuania. It covers four hectares and has eleven defensive towers of varying sizes. Sacred art is also represented there: the exhibition includes more than 200 liturgical works, valuable fine art and various sacred objects. The Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary also stands on the peninsula, which is surrounded by lakes. Among other things, it houses panel paintings, memorial monuments, relics and 18th-century candlesticks. Alongside the collections of history and sacred art, the AJ Chocolate Sculpture Museum offers a very different focus: chocolate exhibitions are displayed in four rooms, and most of the sculptures are life-size.

Lakes and peninsulas

Lake Galvė is more than just part of the landscape: water tourists and divers use it, and rowing and sailing teams train and compete there. Activities range from getting out on the water to organised rowing and sailing sports. The Karaite Bridge, also known as the Iron Bridge, connects the strait between Lake Galvė and Lake Totoriškės.

Užutrakis Manor Park is located in Trakai on a peninsula between Lake Galvė and Lake Skaistis. The terrace of the manor house offers panoramic views of Lake Galvė and the Island Castle. Also on the peninsula is the Sacrificial Hill, a 17-metre-high castle mound with views of Lake Trakai, which surrounds the peninsula, and the red Gothic Island Castle. Each of the different viewpoints and lakes gives the landscape its own connection to the castle and peninsula.

On the northern shore of Lake Galvė, the beach at Slėnis Recreation Park offers boat and pedal-boat rentals; availability may be seasonal. Swimming is recommended as a leisure activity at Lakes Akmena, Totoriškės, Galvė and Luka. If you plan to swim during your stay, check the current conditions at your chosen lake.

Karaite culture and festivals

Trakai is also shaped by its Karaite community. It has preserved its religious beliefs, customs and traditions, especially its language. Kybyn are part of its culinary tradition: traditional Karaite restaurants in Trakai serve this dish.

Annual celebrations include Žolinės, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, and Trakinės, the celebration of the coronation of the image of the Virgin Mary of Trakai. Both draw pilgrims from neighbouring countries and other regions. An international Karaim language camp is also held in Trakai every year, attracting Karaims and their descendants from around the world. If one of these events is important to your trip, check the dates for the relevant year.

Choose a holiday apartment to suit your travel plans

If your group has a range of interests, start by choosing between castles and collections, water activities, and Karaite culture and cuisine. This will help you select the themes you want to shape your stay. You can then choose where to stay according to your own travel priorities.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Madžiūnai, Kiemeliai, Avižieniai, Bezdonys, Švenčionys, Kaniūkai, Žydkaimis, Kernavė.

For the overview of the wider region: Vilnius District.