Experience in Kaunas, Lithuania by Greta

What is it like to live in Kaunas? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Kaunas is the second largest city in Lithuania. But mostly people expect it to be much bigger than it really is. So, the first thing you should know is that you shouldn't expect it to be enormous. Because of this, it is not difficult to find places and find a way everywhere. People in the city are friendly, most of young people can speak English. Dormitories are usually near the city centre and it is easy to reach everything by foot.

What is the student lifestyle like in Kaunas?

Even though it is not a big city, students enjoy life here. Every day you can find activities here. There are lots of bars, cafes, pubs and clubs. There are also parks, where you can walk or jog when the weather is nice. What is more, ESN groups organise really fun events where you can meet Lithuanian traditions, also meet others as there are lots of foreign students in Kaunas. From my own experience I noticed that students are travelling a lot, because it is kind of cheap.

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How much does it cost to live in Kaunas?

If you study in Vytautas Magnus University, accommodation fee is between €2 and €5 per day which would be €60-150 per month. It depends if you share your room with 1-2 students, or if you live alone. Some students also find flats and the rent for a few people can be similar. Food and other things are also cheap.

Dormitories in other Universities have a similar fee. VMU dormitory.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Kaunas? Is there any advice you can give?

It is not difficult. Especially if you want to live in a dormitory. There are usually enough free spaces for foreign students.

I would recommend to stay in a dormitory as it is very close to city centre. But if you are not happy with your dormitory you can always find friends there and move to a flat together. VMU has really nice dormitories; KTU also has lots of dormitories but they are not the same: you can get a nice one but some of them are not that good condition. I don't know about LSMU dormitories, but once I went there and it looked pretty normal.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Traditional Lithuanian food is very heavy. When you eat it, you can really feel you are full. What is interesting is that most of our dishes are made from potatoes (believe me, there are a lot). My favourite is "balandėliai" which is made from cabbage, meat, rice and sauce and eaten with potatoes. There is also an interesting dish called "Šaltibarščiai" for foreigners it is known as "Cold soup" or "Pink soup".

What places would you recommend visiting in Kaunas?

1. Soboras (Šv. Mykolo Arkangelo Kauno įgulos katalikų bažnyčia)

2. Laisvės alėja

3. "Romuva"

4. Karo muziejus

5. Kristaus prisikėlimo bažnyčia

6. Kauno valstybinis Muzikinis teatras

7. Restaurant "Miesto sodas"

8. Vilniaus street

9. Prezidentūra

10. Šv. Apaštalų Petro ir Povilo arkikatedra bazilika

11. Perkūno namas

12. Vytauto Didžiojo tiltas

13. Amfiteatras

14. Kauno Rotušė

15. Kauno pilis

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Is it good to eat out in Kaunas? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

It is not bad as you can choose what you prefer. There are lots of restaurants, cafes, pizzerias and places for fast food. I always try new places, so I don't have my favourite one. If I want to eat fast and cheap I just go to take some sushi from "Stop and Go".

Is the nightlife good in Kaunas? Where is good to go?

Yes, you can find something going on almost every day. Most of the places are in the city centre, so it is easy to find. I think the favourite for foreign students and locals are "džem'pub", "Republic" but there are many more.

What advice would you give future students heading to Kaunas?

Don't forget to take a warm jacket as the winters are cold and the weather is unpredictable sometimes. But I am sure you would have a good time here.