A weekend in Druskininkai
A resort on the Nemunas with a water park, saunas and a park of Soviet sculptures: about 2 h by bus from Vilnius.
Contents
Druskininkai in brief
Druskininkai is worth the journey for the water park, the saunas and the rest, not for walking around the town. From Vilnius the bus takes about 2 h 5 min, and from Kaunas about 2 h 15 min, so almost two full days are left for the weekend. The town municipality presents Druskininkai as the largest balneological resort within a radius of 500 km and the southernmost town in Lithuania (druskininkai.lt, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06).
In autumn and winter the resort is working. The water park is open until 31 January 2027 on the same weekly schedule, and the Snow Arena ski complex operates all year round.
Druskininkai is the largest balneological resort in this region and the southernmost town in Lithuania. The municipality states that about 350 thousand tourists visit every year, roughly half of them from abroad, and that over a year they use about 1.2 million overnight stays (2019 data from Statistics Lithuania) (druskininkai.lt, checked 2026-10-28).
The official date of the resort’s founding is 20 June 1794. Then, by order of King Poniatowski, a court physician studied the properties of the mineral water (druskininkai.lt, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-07). We did not check summer attractions (beaches, boats), so we do not list them. You will find the full price for two with particular dates in the article weekend in Druskininkai (in Lithuanian).
How to get there
Druskininkai is not in the FlixBus city search. The Kaunas and Klaipėda service times come from the national timetable data (checked 2026-10-17); the data has no fares for them, so we give no prices.
From Vilnius. On Friday, 6 November, services leave Vilnius at 07:20, 08:40, 09:35, 10:25, 11:00, 12:10, 13:05, 14:20, 15:40, 16:15, 17:10, 17:35, 18:20, 19:00 and 20:30, and on Sunday, 8 November, from Druskininkai at 05:25, 06:30, 07:00, 08:00, 08:30, 10:30, 11:15, 12:15, 13:00, 13:30, 14:50, 16:00, 17:45 and 19:05 (national timetable data, checked 2026-11-02). In both directions the journey takes from 1 h 50 min to 2 h 5 min; the fares are not in the data.
From Kaunas. On Friday, 6 November, the 14:05 service arrives at 16:20 (2 h 15 min); on Sunday, 8 November, the 14:20 service back arrives at 16:35. More trips: weekend trips from Kaunas (in Lithuanian).
From Klaipėda. On 6 November direct services take 4 h 50 min–6 h 50 min: the 17:00 service arrives at 21:50, and the 08:30 service at 15:20. From Klaipėda this is a longer journey than a usual weekend trip.
Buying tickets: how to buy a bus ticket.
Getting around
From the Druskininkai bus station (Gardino g. 1) to the “Aqua” water park (Vilniaus al.) it is 724 m on foot (about 10 min), to the V. K. Jonynas Gallery (Turistų g. 9) 987 m (13 min) and to the Jacques Lipchitz Museum (Šv. Jokūbo g. 17) 1,053 m (14 min), along an OSM walking route at 1.25 m/s (routing.openstreetmap.de, 8 October).
The municipality writes that all local buses have been replaced with zero-emission electric ones, and stops.lt shows the timetables and routes. It adds that Grūtas Park is easy to reach by public transport (druskininkai.lt FAQ, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06). We found no ticket prices on official pages, so we do not give them. We did not check the distances from the station to the centre.
Where to stay
We do not give accommodation prices: check them on the hotels’ websites for your dates. Two examples from hotel websites (checked 2026-10-06):
- By the water park. The “Aqua” hotel, 3 stars, 93 rooms, connected to the park (akvapark.lt, in Lithuanian). Good if you came for the water and the saunas.
- In the town centre. “Europa Royale Druskininkai” presents itself as a 4-star hotel in the heart of the town (hotel website, in Lithuanian). Good if you want to stroll and shop on foot.
How to choose: guide to choosing a place to stay for a weekend (in Lithuanian).
What to see
Spa Park. The tourist information centre’s page shows that “Glowing Pumpkin Evenings” take place in the Spa Park from 30 October to 8 November (druskininkai.lt, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06). The page has no programme or hours.
Grūtas Park
A park near Druskininkai with an open-air exhibition, museums, a zoo and a café.
V. K. Jonynas Gallery. Turistų g. 9. It is open Tuesday–Friday 10:00–17:00, Saturday 11:00–18:00 and Sunday 11:00–16:00; the last visitors are admitted 30 min before closing (museum, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06). The page has no ticket prices.
The Jacques Lipchitz Museum. Until 22 November the exhibition “Jacques Lipchitz. Pilgrim Sculptures” is on show (druskininkai.lt, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06).
Grūtas Park. An exhibition of Soviet sculptures outside the town; in October it is open 09:00–19:00, and from the start of November the hours are 09:00–17:00 (druskininkai.lt, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06). The park website’s certificate is invalid, so we did not check the ticket price.
What you cannot visit. The M. K. Čiurlionis House Museum is closed for reconstruction (museum, in Lithuanian).
All places are in the categories what to see in Druskininkai and what to do in Druskininkai.
What to do by season
“Aqua” Water Park
A water park in Druskininkai; the price depends on the duration, the day of the week and the visitor’s age.
Autumn. An adult ticket to the “Aqua” water park from 1 September to 30 November at weekends and on public holidays costs: 2 h €19, 3 h €23, 4 h €26, a whole day €32. With the sauna area: €25 / €32 / €37 / €43. On weekdays 2 h costs €13 and 4 h €18. The sauna area is for adults only and has 18 saunas (price list, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06).
The hours from 1 September to 31 January 2027; on schoolchildren’s holidays on 2–5 November the park is open 10:00–22:00, and on 6 November it is open 10:00–23:00 (opening hours, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-08):
- Monday–Thursday 12:00–22:00;
- Friday 12:00–23:00;
- Saturday 10:00–23:00;
- Sunday 10:00–22:00.
Snow Arena
A ski complex in Druskininkai with slopes, cafés and a panoramic platform.
Winter. The Snow Arena writes that it is open all year round; helmets are compulsory on the slopes, and children under 16 are admitted only supervised by adults (snowarena.lt, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06). We did not see a ticket price page, so we do not give prices.
More ideas. You will find autumn ideas in the article where to travel in Lithuania in autumn (in Lithuanian) and other spa options in spa weekends in Lithuania (in Lithuanian).
If it rains
On a rainy day in Druskininkai there are three indoor options. The “Snow Arena” and gallery details were read on 8 October.
- The “Aqua” water park. Hours and prices are in the section “What to do by season” above.
- The Snow Arena. The ski slopes are open Monday–Thursday and Sunday 10:00–19:00, Friday–Saturday 10:00–22:00. An adult 2-hour ticket costs €17 Monday–Thursday and €25 Friday–Sunday and on public holidays; a helmet is compulsory on the slope (opening hours, prices, in Lithuanian).
- The V. K. Jonynas Gallery (Turistų g. 9). Hours are in the section “What to see”. A ticket is €5 (€2.50 with a discount), and the price includes a virtual reality tour of the gallery (prices, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-08).
What to eat
Only two facts were checked. The café at Grūtas Park serves “Soviet” food and drinks (druskininkai.lt, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06). The “Aqua” complex has a restaurant-pizzeria and several cafés (akvapark.lt, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06). We did not check menus or prices.
Practical information
Currency. You pay in euros.
Local tax. The municipality gives €2 per person per night. Disabled people and minors are exempt (druskininkai.lt, in Lithuanian, checked 2026-10-06). The tax portal confirms that the decision has applied since 1 January 2024 (rinkliava.druskininkai.lt, in Lithuanian). Ask your accommodation whether it is included in the price.
Tourist information. The Druskininkai Tourism and Business Information Centre, Gardino g. 3, tel. +370 313 51777, [email protected].
Weekend plan
Friday. Leave Vilnius at 16:15 and you will be in Druskininkai at 18:20. In the evening the park is open until 23:00.
Saturday. At 11:00 the Jonynas Gallery. In the afternoon, 4 hours in the water park. In the evening the Spa Park and the “Glowing Pumpkin Evenings”.
Sunday. In the morning Grūtas Park (open 09:00–17:00 in November). Leave for Vilnius at 19:05 and you will be home at 21:10.
For another two-day trip choose from the weekend trips from Vilnius (in Lithuanian) or look at Kaunas.
FAQ
Does FlixBus run to Druskininkai? No, Druskininkai is not in their city search. The service times come from the national timetable data.
How much is the water park at the weekend? Weekend and public holiday prices are in the section “What to do by season”.
What is the local tax in Druskininkai? €2 per person per night; minors and disabled people are exempt.
Can I get to Druskininkai from Klaipėda? Yes, but on 6 November direct services take 4 h 50 min–6 h 50 min (national timetable data, checked 2026-10-23); there are no fares in that data.
Things to see and do in Druskininkai
By car: distance, time, fuel
By car
- From Vilnius: 130 km, 1 h 48 min one way. Fuel there and back: €32.97 per car, €16.49 each for two people.Calculation: 2 × 130 km = 260 km; 260 km ÷ 100 × 6.5 l/100 km = 16.9 l; 16.9 l × 1.951 €/l = €32.97.
- From Kaunas: 141 km, 1 h 47 min one way. Fuel there and back: €35.76 per car, €17.88 each for two people.Calculation: 2 × 141 km = 282 km; 282 km ÷ 100 × 6.5 l/100 km = 18.33 l; 18.33 l × 1.951 €/l = €35.76.
- From Klaipėda: 348 km, 3 h 32 min one way. Fuel there and back: €88.26 per car, €44.13 each for two people.Calculation: 2 × 348 km = 696 km; 696 km ÷ 100 × 6.5 l/100 km = 45.24 l; 45.24 l × 1.951 €/l = €88.26.
From Šiauliai, Panevėžys is not calculated yet: we do not have map data for this route.
This is an approximate calculation, not a price. Travel time without traffic or border queues. Fuel price: Lithuanian average, Euro-super 95 with taxes, 2026-10-19, the European Commission's Weekly Oil Bulletin (CC BY 4.0); consumption 6.5 l/100 km. Routes: MOTIS, car profile, no traffic conditions, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extracts, calculated 2026-10-29. There are no road tolls for passenger cars in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia; for Poland, see here (in Lithuanian).