Things to Do in Anykščiai
Anykščiai, Lithuania - Complete Travel Guide
Anykščiai reeks of pine sap and fresh-cut timber. The air carries that cool, resinous bite you only get deep in Lithuanian forest. Church spires poke above a sea of green. You'll hear the Šventoji river slap weather-beaten wooden piers. Mossy boardwalks give underfoot on the treetop path. Evenings taste of smoke-kissed šašlykai drifting from backyard grills while nightingales trade verses with karaoke from the town's single open-air bar. The place moves at the pace of swaying spruce tops. It still surprises you with a glass-walled spa plonked in the middle of nowhere and a tiny train that huffs past sculpture gardens nobody told you about.
Top Things to Do in Anykščiai
Getting There
From Vilnius, take the morning train to Ukmergė (two hours) then switch to the local 140 bus that rolls straight into Anykščiai bus station by early afternoon. Drivers can follow the A2 to Panevėžys, then cut south on the 114. The road slices through spruce plantations that smell of sun-warmed resin once you pass Kavarskas. In summer, weekend buses fill with families lugging picnic hampers. Board early or you'll stand in the aisle with a lap full of someone's cucumber jar.
Getting Around
The town itself is walkable in twenty minutes. You'll need wheels for the bobsleigh track, the ski slopes, and that tucked-away beekeeping museum. Local taxis hang around the Maxima supermarket and tend to quote flat rates cheaper than the meter would dare. Agree before you get in. If you're staying near the treetop path, several guesthouses lend bikes for a token fee. Coast downhill to the river beach while the breeze smells of blooming linden.
Where to Stay
Spa quarter around Eglila - glass hotels set among pines, five minutes' stroll to thermal pools
Old Town grid north of Church Street - timber houses turned into B&Bs, roosters instead of traffic
Šventoji river bend - several wooden cabins that let you fish from the back porch
Vytauto gatvė - mid-range guesthouses above bakeries, you'll wake to warm rye bread smell
Niūronys village near the Horse Museum - farm stays with barn-smell paddocks and home-made cheese
Seaside-style campers' field by the bobsleigh track - surprisingly quiet once the day-trippers leave
Food & Dining
On Vasario 16-osios gatvė you'll find Arklio Dvaras inside an old merchant house. They serve river perch with dill-laced potatoes that tastes of Sunday at grandma's. Skip the main square pizzerias. Head to the riverside canteen at the kayak pier. The cabbage soup arrives steaming with a pork rib bobbing like a savoury buoy. Prices are friendly enough for a second bowl. Evening crowds drift to the micro-pub at the old mill for kvas-soaked ribs and a pint of Anykšta beer brewed three blocks away. Malt scent drifts across the terrace while someone tunes a guitar.
When to Visit
Late May gives you long daylight, empty forest trails, and lilies of the valley valley releasing that sweet cloud under the treetop path. July is peak kid-season; attractions stay open until nine, but you'll queue for the bobsleigh and share the spa with splash-happy teens. September trades crowds for gold-leaf birch and that nostalgic wood-smoke smell. Some hotels close early, so ring ahead. Winter means ski slopes and a Christmas craft fair inside the Horse Museum barn. But daylight shrinks to seven grey hours.
Insider Tips
Bring a light jacket even in midsummer. The treetop platform sits above the thermal layer. The wind can slice through cotton.
Ask for the "trekking" ticket at the spa if you only want pool access without massage. Locals use it and pay noticeably less.
If the town fountain square smells of grilled pork, follow your nose to the white tent. It's the weekend šašlykų festival. Portions cost less than a city tram ticket.
Explore Activities in Anykščiai
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Anykščiai.
See All Anykščiai Tours on Viator