Kėdainiai

Understand

If you're a bulk purchaser of sulphuric acid or phosphate-based fertiliser then you've come to the right place. Lifosa chemical complex 3 km southeast makes exactly what you seek, and employs almost a thousand in the town. The tourist draw is Old Town, but the reason it's there is because of trade and industry, equally grubby in bygone centuries. For example the town attracted many Scottish business folk and settlers in the 17th century, and had a large Jewish population (skilled, amongst other trades, in dye-stuffs for fabrics) encouraged to settle in "The Pale" in Tsarist times. This means that Kėdainiai has a multicultural history, and one of the best-preserved Old Towns in Lithuania outside of Vilnius. It's also easy to reach, within an hour's travel from Kaunas.

Get in

Kaunas has the closest airport (). It's north of that city and less than an hour to drive, but by public transport you have to double back via the centre. There are more flights to Vilnius ().

By road take A8 / E67 north from Kaunas, branching off onto Route 144. E67 continues to Panevėžys and Riga.

Kautra buses run twice an hour from Kaunas, taking an hour to Kėdainiai and continuing north either to Šiauliai or Panevėžys. From Vilnius travel via Kaunas. For timetables and fares see Autobusubilieta.

is south side of town. It's clean and functional enough, with a pizzeria and supermarket adjacent.

Four trains run daily from Vilnius, taking 90 min via Jonava and continuing to Šiauliai and Klaipėda, another 3 hours. For schedules, fares and tickets see LTG Link.

One direct train runs from Kaunas, taking an hour and continuing to Šiauliai, otherwise travel via Vilnius.

is 2 km north of town on Route 195, S Dariaus ir S Girėno gatvė. It's small but even the toilets are kept clean. Boss Kebab outside is open daily to 20:00. While you're here, see the minaret just across the tracks.

Get around

Kėdbusas is the local bus line, plying from the bus station to all outlying districts. Buy tickets on boarding from the driver, or from a kiosk and validate on boarding. You don't need the bus for the compact Old Town, best strolled on foot.

The main taxi firms in town are Taksi Kėdainiai (+370 690 44555) and Taksi Komfort (+370 615 52225).

See

thumb | 300px | Kėdainiai Old Town (Šv Juozapo bažnyčia) on Radvilų gatvė is the most attractive church in town, a wooden structure originally part of a Jesuit mission house. It had spells of disuse or misuse, as a barracks under the Tsars and an equipment store under the Soviets, but is again a Jesuit church. Didžioji gatvė is the heart of Old Town, running from Transfiguration Church west past the museum to Great (or New) Market Square. Once you get past the modern supermarket it's lined with traditional architecture. (Šv Jurgio bažnyčia) on Šėtos gatvė is a Gothic basilica built in the 15th century but rebuilt in 1840. It was originally Lutheran but handed over to the Roman Catholics in 1627. Mass is held at 10:00 and 12:00. (Didžiosios Rinkos aikštė) is at the foot of Didžioji gatvė. Evangelical Reformed Church (Evangelikų reformatų bažnyčia), built in 1631, is just west of Great Market Square on Senoji gatvė. Its chief feature is the tombs of the Radziwiłł noble family. Opening hours are erratic. thumb | 300px | The two synagogues on Old Market Square Kėdainiai minaret is west side of the railway station - you can amble to it across the tracks from the platform. It's 25 m tall in Ottoman style, free-standing and entirely decorative, with no associated mosque or even a single worshipper. It was built by General Eduard Totleben (1818-84) to commemorate his days as military engineer in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877/78, which broke Ottomans control of Bulgaria. One pl…

Do

thumb | 300px | The Minaret by the railway station Football: FK Nevėžis play soccer in 1 Lyga, Lithuania's second tier. Their home ground Kėdainiai Stadium (capacity 3000) is 2 km northeast of town centre. The playing season is April-November. Agurkų šventė in mid-July is the "cucumber festival" - this region grows lots. Ledų šventė first weekend in August is an "ice cream festival" - a promotional event by local producer Vikeda, with concerts, and a helicopter scattering tokens for free ice cream upon the town.

Buy

Maxima supermarket by the bus station is open daily 08:00-22:00. Lidl is nearby at J Basanavičiaus g 87B, open daily 07:00-22:00. Norfa and another Maxima are by Transfiguration Church at the entrance to Old Town.

Eat

Restaurants line Didžioji g in Old Town, serving trad Lithuanian fare. They include Greitas maistas, Paulvikta pizza, Novus Rex, Gray's House, Ursule and Beneto Karčema.

Drink

thumb | 300px | Pulpit in the Evangelical Church Old Town cafes serve alcohol, there isn't a free-standing bar.

Connect

As of Jan 2024, Kėdainiai has 5G from Bite, and 4G from Tele2 and Telia.

Go next

Kaunas south is mostly modern but has an interesting old quarter. Panevėžys north is modern and industrial, but has a museum and several old churches.