Druskininkai

Understand

Druskininkai probably takes its name from druska, meaning salt - an essential commodity for food preparation and preservation in bygone ages. The town is far from the sea, but very salty water bubbled up from a dozen natural springs. From the 18th century it was believed that mineral waters could cure all sorts of conditions, the nastier the taste the better, so the town evolved into a spa. City dwellers came from as far away as Saint Petersburg, from 1862 sped by the railway to Warsaw, and genteel accommodation and entertainments encouraged them to linger. This continued when the town passed from Russian to Polish control, with the mighty General Piłsudski spending his summers here and pushing development. Demand for mineral water outstripped the natural springs but boreholes reached down towards the salt beds. The Soviets built great clunky spa hotels to rest their weary Stakhanovites, and a modern generation of "wellness resorts" follows in their footsteps.

Get in

Druskininkai is 130 km southwest of Vilnius, follow A4, which continues across the Belarus border to Grodno. From Kaunas take Highway 129 south past Alytus, 136 km.

Buses from Vilnius run hourly and take 2 hours. From Kaunas they're also hourly, taking 2 hr 30 min via Prienai and Alytus - one daily bus starts from Palanga and Klaipėda. For times and online tickets see Autobus Bilietai.

the "bus station" is just a draughty square.

Get around

Town buses reach the outlying villages. Buses 2C 3 3A 3B 3C run to the forest park. Buses 3C and 4B run to Česnulis sculpture park.

Taxi firms are Nice Taksi (+370 628 30502), Transfer-Taxi Druskininkuose (+370 615 22155), B Basalykienes (+370 313 51313) and E Buro (+370 313 51213).

See

(Dievo Motinos ikonos "Visų liūdinčiųjų Džiaugsmas" cerkvė) is a charming wooden Orthodox church on a roundabout on Laisvės a. Vila Radium is a fine wooden mansion 200 m north of JofAWS Church at T Kosciuškos g 7. It's private apartments so you just admire the exterior. Church of Saint Mary's Scapular (Švč Mergelės Marijos Škaplierinės bažnyčia) is opposite the town museum at Vilniaus al 1. It's a neo-gothic red-brick building of 1931. thumb | 300px | Joy of All Who Sorrow Church (Šv Apaštalo Baltramiejaus bažnyčia) is a sturdy neo-gothic structure in Ratnyčios 2 km southeast, rebuilt in 1921. is a village 4 km south of town, close to the border with Belarus, with many traditional wooden buildings.

Do

Ride the cable-car from Aquapark 1.2 km north across the river to Snow Arena. In 2024 an adult return ride is €6. Golf: Wolf Golf Club is 15 km north in the village of Kamorūnai. Narcissus Flower Festival is in April when the daffodils are in bloom. Druskininkai Resort Festival is over a long weekend at the end of May. M K Čiurlionis Music Festival is in June. Druskininkai Poetic Fall is in October, with poetry events here and in Vilnius.

Buy

thumb | 300px | Unwanted Soviets in Grūto Parkas Supermarkets near Aquapark are Iki and Rimi. Maxima is at M K Čiurlionio g 50, open daily 08:00-22:00.

Drink

Mineral water is what the place is renowned for. It rises from aquifers 300 m below ground and is almost twice as salty as sea water. This will cure you of a catalogue of ailments about as often as ordinary tap water does. Of course if you have cardiac or renal problems it'll finish you off. Bars include Senfortis by the orthodox church, and Bagira Lounge at Vilniaus al 20.

Sleep

thumb | 300px | Morning Fantasy by M K Čiurlionis

Connect

Druskininkai and its approach highways have 4G from all Lithuanian carriers. As of Feb 2024, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

Leipalingis old town is worth a quick look if you drive north towards Marijampole. Liškiava has well-preserved old buildings on the river bank northeast of Druskininkai.