Alytus

Understand

The original medieval settlement was east of the River Nemunas around the castle. This town, sometimes called Alytus I, became part of the Tsarist Empire in 1795 with the river as the border. The west bank settlement or Alytus II developed from the 15th century around the site now occupied by the Church of the Guardian Angels; it became part of the Prussian Empire. The two only combined in 1915.

In the 20th century the city spread far beyond its core, mostly on the west bank. Major industries here are machinery and electrical equipment especially refrigerators and freezers, timber products such as furniture and pre-fab housing, and textiles including clothing and sportswear.

Tourist Information is based at Dariaus & Girėno g 1, corner with Alyvų tak. It's open M-F 09:00-18:00.

Get in

Alytus is 105 km west of Vilnius, and also linked by major roads to Kaunas, Lazdijai on the border with Poland, and Hrodna in Belarus.

Kautra buses run hourly from Vilnius, taking 1 hr 40 min by the direct route or 2 hr 10 min via Trakai. Bicycles are carried free on Kautra buses.

They run hourly from Kaunas, taking just over an hour via Prienai, and usually continue to Druskininkai or Varėna. From Marijampolė change at Kaunas. For timetables and fares see Autobusubilieta.

the bus station is on Naujoji g two km northwest of city centre. Not much here, the toilets are often locked. Some buses also stop in town centre on their way here.

Alytus has no railway service and the station 3 km west of town is of interest only to archaeologists of post-Soviet dereliction.

Get around

Town centre is walkable but you need wheels for outlying sights.

The main taxi operator is Alytaus Taxi (+370 315 42222).

See

is just a grassy knoll on the east riverbank, reached by Piliakalnio gatvė‎. It was wooden and first documented in 1377, though it's probably from the 11th century. It was wrecked by the Teutonic Knights and never rebuilt. Antanas Jonynas Museum south edge of town remains closed.