Trakai Island Castle: Ultimate Guide (2025)

Heading to Trakai Island Castle in Lithuania? You’re in for such a treat.

I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about a day trip to Trakai Castle, including:

• how to get there
• how long to stay
• certain details about the castle (and nearby) to not miss
• other things to check out in the area while you’re there

Much like Hill of Crosses, Trakai Island Castle was one of the highlights of my trip to the Baltic countries, and it’s definitely something you shouldn’t miss while visiting Vilnius.

Interesting Things to Know About Trakai Before Visiting

• Trakai Island Castle was once the only castle built on water in Eastern Europe. (It sits in the middle of Lake Galvė.)
• The town of Trakai was once the capital of Lithuania
• In the 1650s, Trakai town and castle were both completely destroyed in a war with the Russians.
• The current castle is a reconstruction of what it would have looked like in the 14th-17th centuries

Your Options for Getting to Trakai Castle

 Trakai Island Castle is about 23 km (14 miles) from Vilnius city centre – about a 45 minute car ride. There are a number of different ways to get there

Drive

If you’re renting a car, then you can drive yourself to Trakai Castle. There are a couple of free parking lots where you can park your car that are only a 5-10 minute walk from the castle entrance. Find current parking information near the castle here

Book a tour

There are a number of half-day sightseeing tours to Trakai from Vilnius. I booked a tour that included a self-guided exploration time of the castle (so we didn’t have a guide with us the whole time.) It also included exploring Trakai, and the local culture and food.

I recommend this 4-hour Trakai Castle tour which gives you time to explore the castle on your own, plus time to learn about the Karaim culture and try the food. ($150 per person, but doesn’t include food or the castle admission cost because its your own private tour guide.) If this doesn’t suit you, see several other options here

Bike from Vilnius and explore at your leisure

In the warmer months, and if you’re feeling active – it’s also possible to rent a bike and bike your way to the castle and explore the local town and culture. Read about the details here.

Public transportation

There are a number of public transit options between Trakai and Vilnius.You could take a public city bus, or the train – both are the cheapest and most eco-friendly ways to get to the castle and cost less than 5 euros each.

You would just need to make your way to the appropriate bus or rail station in Vilnus and purchase a ticket.

To get to Trakai by train

The train between Vilnius and Trakai leaves 6 times per day. It’s best to buy a return ticket on the spot, as you get a small discount. It only costs 2.80 euros per adult. See details and buy tickets here (in Lithuanian, but you can translate the page to the language of your choice.)

To get to Trakai by bus

To take the bus to Trakai, you’ll need to head to the Vilnius Bus Station which is quite small. Buses leave and return very frequently throughout the day, especially in summer. Tickets are 3 euros or less per adult. Buy tickets here

How Long to Spend at Trakai Island Castle

Walking around the whole castle doesn’t take too long. You shouldn’t rush it, but you also shouldn’t expect it to take all day.

I recommend around 2 hours to walk around Trakai Island Castle. That includes exploring the courtyards, the museum and artifacts and all the rooms inside, and the giftshop.

In addition to that, you may want to spend a bit of time in the town of Trakai as well.

So, if you’re booking a tour to Trakai, then I recommend one that will give you an opportunity to learn about the Karaim people, their culture and food.

While you’re in Trakai village, I recommend looking for a place where you can try a “kibani” which is a traditional Karaim pastry.

They’re filled with either meat, mushrooms, potatoes or cheese. (Some of them can be vegetarian – I checked since I don’t eat meat.)

There was a kibani food truck outside Trakai Castle where we grabbed one from, but you can also find them in restaurants in the village.

Other places to find kibanis in Traki village

• Trakų Dvarelis, a restaurant 7 mins walk from Trakai Castle. See menu
• Senoji Kibininė (restaurant) 15 min walk from the castle. See menu on their website

There are other restaurants as well. If you wall 10-15 minutes into the town of Trakai, you’ll see many options. The above ones are well rated and known for having kibanis specifically.

Trakai Island Castle FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about visiting Trakai Island Castle

Is Trakai worth visiting?

Trakai is absolutely worth visiting – for the castle, as well as to learn about the local Karaim people and their unique culture.

What is inside Trakai Castle?

Inside Trakai Castle, you’ll find rooms, staircases, a chapel, a museum with artifacts and a gift shop. Give yourself somewhere between 90 minutes and 2 hours to look through everything and take photos.

Why is the Trakai Island Castle famous?

The castle in Trakai is famous for being the primary residence of all the Dukes of Lithuania, until someone broke the tradition and built Gedima’s Castle which is in Vilnius. Trakai used to be the capital of Lithuania, so the castle is important. It also used to be the only island castle in Eastern Europe.

Final Thoughts on Trakai

I hope that this article has prepared you well for visiting the fairy-tale like Trakai Island Castle. It’s without a doubt one of the prettiest castles in Eastern Europe and definitely a bucket list thing to do in the Baltic countries.

Whether you’re in Vilnius as adults, or with kids, I highly recommend spending half a day to come out to this beautiful castle.