There are some truly unusual attractions in the city and a hire car is a great way to travel between them. First on the list should be the Wax Furnace Museum. The city was the centre of the wax industry in Europe in the 17th century and huge wax stones weighing nearly fifteen kilos were traded here.
Vytamtas Bridge is another enigma. Euphemistically called the longest bridge in the world the two countries either end of it once had different calendars meaning that it took thirteen days to cross the bridge.
Kaunas Airport Mini Guide
What's the big deal with Kaunas?
It’s an interesting city without a doubt but like many obscure cities in Northern and Eastern Europe it benefited from the arrival of budget flights and particularly Ryanair. Now flights operate with the company from twenty destinations Europe wide. The chance to go somewhere cheaply has combined with the city’s charms to make it a popular, if unusual destination. You can visit in winter if you love it absolutely mind bogglingly cold or before July in summer for mild but rarely hot days.
Remind me of how to get there?
Basically, it’s Ryanair from many UK destinations. Once at the airport it’s a nine mile/fifteen minute journey into the city centre. This can be accomplished by taxi – rates are reasonable, bus number 29 or shuttle bus 120 will also get you into town. Depending on the time of year, a hire car can be a good option allowing you to explore the city more easily whilst here.
What’s the airport like?
The airport is light, spacious and modern having opened in 1988. There is the availability of help for disabled travellers who have let the airport know of their arrival in advance and all public areas of the airport are accessible to wheelchairs. When you pass through arrivals you’ll find the public information desk on your right. Here they can help with onward travel by public transport whilst accommodation can be arranged at the tourist information office a little further along on the right. There’s a bank immediately next door to the information desk and another near the tourist information desk. There are also ATMs next to the main door. If you’ve hired a car then the offices are along the left hand wall of the hall.
What about the departures area?
Once you’ve gone upstairs at the airport to check in you’ll pass through to the departure lounge. Here there are four shops to help you spend your remaining cash – a florist, a bookshop selling the latest titles plus magazines and stationery, a kiosk that also operates as a mini-market and a duty free outlet with the usual duty free items. Wi-Fi is provided free across the airport and for an unlimited duration so you can complete work, check emails and social network sites before boarding.
There’s a small range of cafes and restaurants to choose from here including a bakery with fresh products, a coffee bar serving hot and cold snacks in three outlets across the airport and a chocolate bar which sells all kinds of chocolate cakes plus some savoury snacks and with it coffee, tea or hot chocolate. For those who have taken a liking to the Lithuanian beer, there are six types on sale in the airport’s beer bar.
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