Trakai Historical National Park

Trakai Historical National Park surrounds the town of Trakai in Lithuania and protects a network of lakes, peninsulas and islands that include a prominent medieval island castle. The park’s most visited feature is the brick Trakai Island Castle, set on Lake Galvė.

Visitors commonly explore the castle, take short boat trips to the island, rent kayaks and walk trails around the lakeshore; the park landscape is a mix of water, wooded shoreline and small historic settlements. The site is a major regional cultural attraction and a popular day-trip from nearby Vilnius.

The island castle was constructed in the 14th century by the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as a defensive and administrative centre and has been restored and presented as a historical monument. The surrounding lakes and manor houses reflect later estate development and recreational use.

The park sits around the town of Trakai, roughly 28 km west of Vilnius, in a lake-dotted landscape in southeastern Lithuania.

• Proximity to Vilnius: Trakai town and the island castle lie about 28 km west of Vilnius, making the park a common day-trip destination from the capital.
• Local culture: Karaim cultural heritage is visible in the area; the local Karaim community and its traditional pastry, kibinai, are a regional highlight.

What to See #

• Trakai Island Castle: A brick-built Gothic-Late Gothic island castle located on Lake Galvė that is the park's principal landmark and visitor focal point.
• Lakes and shoreline: The chain of lakes and shoreline areas that form the park landscape and provide routes for boating, hiking and lakeside recreation.