Downtown Forest Hostel and Camping

Before even venturing into town it’s worth spending some time in your Užupis surroundings – this artistic corner of the city has such a strong identity that it’s declared itself a republic, with its own government and constitution. A stroll around here is likely to take in street art, open-air sculptures and intriguing little shops and galleries, and should end with a wander up Altana Hill for views out over the city. And then down to the Old Town for strolls through the medieval streets to see Gediminas Castle, the cathedral, the historic university and the atmospheric Jewish quarter. There are heaps of fab places to eat in town too, including a Friday night open-air street food market Lithuania’s a pretty compact place, so you could easily use this site as a base for ventures to other corners of the country. The train and bus stations are about 20 minutes’ walk away, for outings to Trakai Castle (35 minutes by train) and Kaunas (an hour and a half).