'''K?dainiai''' is one of the oldest cities in Lithuania. Found in 1372, it is located in geographical centre of Lithuania, by Nev??is river. It has about 30,000 inhabitants and is the 10th largest city of Lithuania.

Currently K?dainiai is one of seven cities of Lithuania that have old-towns. It is about 3 square kilometres in size and is one of the biggest old-towns in the country. Some of its buildings and squares dates XVII century or earlier.

It is widely accepted in Lithuania, that K?dainiai is one of the tidiest and pleasant cities in the country and local people are really happy about that. Recently there has been some effort to make the place more attractive to the tourists.

Get in

By plane

There are no local airports around the city. However, main airports of Lithuania (Vilnius (VNO) and Kaunas (KUN) international airports) are 150 and 50 kilometres away. After landing K?dainiai can be easily reached in couple of hours using bus or train. There are no direct routes from airport, so trip from airport to station and from station to station should be planned.

By car

As K?dainiai located in the centre of the country it is not difficult to reach the city by car. Main motorways of the country passes through the city. It is about 150 kilometres away from the capital Vilnius and about 50 kilometres away from the second largest city Kaunas.

By bus

K?dainiai could be reached by bus easily because a lot of buses from Kaunas goes to ?iauliai and Panev??ys through K?dainiai. However, city is almost inaccessible by bus from Vilnius (only 2-3 daily routes), Klaip?da, other East and West Lithuanian cities. The bus ticket from Kaunas to K?dainiai costs about 20 Litas.

By train

The main Lithuanian railway goes through K?dainiai. You can get by train from Vilnius, Klaip?da, ?iauliai, Jonava. The train ticket from Vilnius costs about 20 Lt, from ?iauliai about 15 Litas. Trip can be planned using Lithuanian railways website [http://www.litrail.lt].

Get around

By bus

K?dainiai has a local bus company "K?dbusas" which serves in the city ad local district. You can get to all city parts by city bus. Almost all buses a new and comfortable. You must enter through the fist bus doors and buy a ticket from the bus driver. Also you can buy the ticket from kiosk before but you must it give to mark for bus driver. The ticket costs 1.5 litas, it a little cheaper at the kiosk. Also, there are discounts for students and invalids. Buses is not th best way to get in any place in the district even if your destiny is not a far from the city because district bus service is poor and buses go not frequently to rural places.

There is private bus service at the city also.

By taxi

There are some taxi companies in K?dainiai. You can found their telephone numbers in bus stations, phone-boxes other public places.

See

K?dainiai city is a rich for its history. The main place you could be interested visit is old town. K?dainiai was a one of the main cities in Lithuanian history and this reflects in its architecture. Also, K?dainiai was a multinational and multi culture city here was big Jews, German, Polish, Scottish, Russian communities. K?dainiai even has 7 churches of various confessions and it is very unique that so little city has so many churches.

Old town streets, especially the main one Did?ioji is nice, cosy and tidy. You may start your travel from the city center where are located Orthodox church and gym which one was established by local nobleman Kristupas Radvila at 1647. Passing Did?ioji street you'll see old K?dainiai architecture. You should visit K?dainiai evangelical church. It was one of the main centers of Reformation in Lithuania. The guide you'll tell about reformation in Lithuania, the great Lithuanian-Polish noblemen Radvilos (Radzwill) and will take you to the tomb of some members of Radvilos. Other places you may be interested to visit are two Synagogues at the cobbly square Senoji Rinka square ("Old Market" because of being marketplace at the past). The Jew philosopher Vilnius Gaon was teaching in one of these synagogues. Nowadays it serves as museum and gallery and a guide you will tell about Jews history in K?dainiai. At the Naujoji Rinka (New Market) square you could see monument for Radvilos and one of few Lithuanian city halls, also you can walk through coast of Nev??is river. At the other coast of Nev??is Gothic church of St. George stands. You may be also interested to visit the main Catholic church St.Joseph which is made from wood and stands at Radvil? street. At the Did?ioji street you can also visit city museum which have rich collection of exhibits. At the main K?dainiai street Basanavi?iaus about 1 km from old town Janina Monkut?-Marks art museum is located.

Outside the old town the main tourist feature is one of two minarets in Lithuania. Despite there was no Muslim community in K?dainiai the minaret was built by Eduard Totlban as a monument for Crimean wars. It is located about 5 km from city center just near K?dainiai train station at the main city park.

Just some kilometers from K?dainiai are he geographic center of Lithuania at the Ruo??iai village. One of the main points of interest for Polish people is Polish writer Czeslaw Milosz home place at the little ?ateniai (Szatejny) village about 10 km from K?dainiai. There is a nice park and museum.

Do

There are two national annual festivals which take patt at the summer in K?dainiai.
  • Agurk? ?vent? (Cucumbers' festival) takes part at the middle of summer. K?dainiai is one of the main cucumber growing area at the country so it is usual to mention this tradition. The cucumber king is elected during the festival.
  • Led? ?vent? (Ice cream festival) takes part at the and of summer. It is organized by local ice cream producer Vikeda. There are big concerts at his time. The main festival attrcation is possibility to get ice cream for free. The tokens are taking down from helicopter.
  • There is one nightclub "Actyvity Zone" and "Vikonda" entertaining center at the city.

    Buy

    There is no big supermarkets in K?dainiai. But there is a lot of shops at the center and other city parts. The main are Maxima, Rimi, Norfa.

    Eat

    There is some restaurants at the old town. They generally are cheap but there is no a big assortment. You can eat typical Lithuanian meals.

    Restaurant "Smilga" [http://www.hotelsmilga.lt]

    Drink

    You can drink tea, coffee, beer, vodka, liker which could be found at cafe or restaurant.

    Sleep

    There is two hotels in K?dainiai, which are located at the old town:
  • Gr?jaus namas [http://www.grejausnamas.lt/index.php?id=about&lan=en]
  • Smilga*** [http://www.hotelsmilga.lt]
  • Contact

    K?dainiai has modern touristic information center [http://www.visitkedainiai.lt/index.php?1394632214]. The website contains a useful touristic information.

    Get out