Food destinations within easy reach of Vilnius, worth the early start.
Food destinations within easy reach of Vilnius. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Famous for: Karaim kibinai pastries and lakeside dining by the Trakai castle
Trakai is the Lithuanian Karaim community's home, with kibinai pastry shops by the lakeside castle. Senoji Kibininė and Kybynlar are the canonical stops.
Famous for: Lithuanian second-city food scene, including the Volfas Engelman brewery and a wave of new fine-dining rooms
Kaunas is Lithuania's second city. The Volfas Engelman brewery from 1853, the new Nüman fine-dining room (sister to Elven) and a strong Šnekutis pub anchor.
Famous for: Lithuanian spa-town food: forest game, mushroom dishes and honey-based mead drinks by the Nemunas river
Druskininkai is Lithuania's oldest spa town 130 km south of Vilnius. Forest-game menus, mushroom dishes and honey-mead drinks define the Dzūkijan day trip.
Famous for: Lithuanian lake-country food: forest mushrooms, lake fish and rural farmhouse dining
Aukštaitija National Park is Lithuania's lake-country 120 km north of Vilnius. Farmhouse dining, forest mushrooms and lake fish anchor a culinary day trip.
Famous for: Lithuanian fruit wine and cider, including the Anykščių vyno apple-and-honey wines
Anykščiai is the home of Lithuanian fruit-wine 130 km north of Vilnius. The Anykščių vyno cellar runs apple-and-honey wine tastings with a small museum.
Famous for: Lithuanian Samogitian cuisine including žemaičių blynai potato pancakes and curd cheese
Šiauliai is the gateway to the Hill of Crosses pilgrim site. Samogitian-cuisine cafes near the hill serve žemaičių blynai and curd-cheese plates.
Famous for: Lithuanian seacoast cuisine and the Švyturys brewery from 1784 by the Baltic
Klaipėda is Lithuania's Baltic port. The Švyturys brewery from 1784 runs visits; the Old Town offers seacoast seafood and smoked fish from local fishermen.