Druskininkai, located 130 km south of Vilnius, is the oldest and largest resort in Lithuania, famous for its mineral springs, healing mud, clean air and nature. Since the 19th century, Druskininkai has been considered the most popular and luxurious resort in the Baltics. In Soviet times, there were sanatoriums where the “Soviet cream” rested, in the 90s the resort was covered with dust, aged and wilted. Recently, however, Druskininkai has decided to restore its former glory by building an excellent water park, improving infrastructure and updating its hotels. Today you can spend a chic wellness weekend here for very sane money. Check andyeducation.com to learn more about the country of Lithuania.
Druskininkai information offices are located at:
- Gardino str. 3, tel. +370 313 608-00, 608-03, opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-17:15
- Ciurlionio str. 65, tel. +370 313 517-77, opening hours: Mon-Sun 10:00-18:45
How to get to Druskininkai
Druskininkai is located just 130 km from Vilnius. About 15 buses run daily between the capital of Lithuania and the resort. And it is convenient to get to Vilnius by Aeroflot planes or by Moscow-Kaliningrad train. In summer, you can go to Druskininkai through Belarus by train from Moscow to Grodno. It is only 40 km from the Belarusian border town to the resort. Buses and minibuses will overcome this distance in just an hour – even taking into account the border.
Treatment in Druskininkai
The resort treats diseases of the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, digestive tract, peripheral nervous system and respiratory tract, gynecological diseases, metabolic disorders (including obesity and diabetes). At the same time, the prices for treatment here compare favorably with European ones.
The medical base of the resort is sodium-calcium chloride water (used for baths and drinking), medicinal peat and sapropel. In addition, pearl, carbonic, iodine-bromine and turpentine baths, herbal baths, underwater shower-massage, vertical baths, therapeutic mud applications, galvanic mud therapy, therapeutic exercises in the pool or hall, therapeutic oxygen cocktails, massage and psychotherapy are used here.
Entertainment and attractions
Museum of the artist and composer M. K. Čiurlionis, museum of the artist and sculptor-modernist Jacques Lipchitz, church of St. Virgin Mary, Museum of the city in the villa “Lynxma”, museum “Forest Echo” (all about the forests of Lithuania), park of sculptural monuments in the village Grutas (8 km from Druskininkai). Not far from the city is the Dzukija National Park – the largest in Lithuania (147 species of flora and fauna of the park are listed in the Red Book).
The Forest Echo Museum (Girios Aidas) is located at Čiurlionio g. 102, tel.: (+370 313) 53901, opening hours: Wednesday-Saturday 10.00-18.00. The museum was founded in 1971, since then its collection has expanded and replenished significantly. Today, here you can see stuffed rare species of animals and birds, fairy-tale witches and other characters – the inhabitants of the forest, works of art made of wood, amber products, black ceramics, works of folk art. Druskininkai City Museum (address: Čiurlionio g. 59, tel.: (+370 313) 51024, opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.00-17.00) was created thanks to donations from the honorary resident of the city Petras Viščinis. Here you can see the exhibitions “The 19th century of Druskininkai in the works of Vasilijus von Rothkirch”; “The first doctor of Druskininkai”; “Interwar Druskininkai”. The museum is located in the old Linksma villa, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century near Lake Druskonis. Since 2001, the museum has also hosted music concerts and lectures. On weekends, traditional concerts of the Druskininkai Serenade are held.
The exposition of the Jacques Lipchitz Memorial Museum on Šv. Jokūbo g. 17, (opening hours: Tue-Thu 12.00-17.00) tells about one of the most famous modernist sculptors of the 20th century (life years 1891-1973). Another museum dedicated to famous people in Druskininkai is the Čiurlionis Memorial Museum (address: 35 MK Ciurlionio St, opening hours: Tue-Sun 11.00-17.00). The museum collection contains illustrations of the famous artist and composer, biographical documents, copies of paintings by masters from different countries. Here, the authentic atmosphere of the life of the Čiurlionis family is wonderfully conveyed. Notable is the VK Jonynas gallery (address: Čiurlionio g. 41, (+370 313) 55553, opening hours: Tue-Sun 11.00-17.00), founded in 1993. The gallery presents works, photos and films by Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas (1907-1997), who worked for a long time in Germany and the USA.
The park of sculptural monuments in the village of Gruto Parkas is open from Mon to Sun from 9.00 to 20.00. In the shade of fir trees and fir trees stands a Soviet monument from 1989, a heritage from different eras of Lithuanian sculpture.
