Star of Lithuania (Trakai (Lithuania))

Member Name: amullett

Product:	Trakai (Lithuania)
Date:	22/06/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great photo opportunity

Disadvantages: Over crowded on summer weekends

Trakai is one of the nicest places to go in Lithuania with its multiple castles, traditional Karaite food and lakes.

The city is wonderful at all times of the year with the frozen lake in the winter, the blooming flowers of spring, the swimming in the lakes in summer or the falling and swirling leaves of autumn.

Trakai has long been the home of the Karaites, who emigrated to the region centuries ago. They built their custom houses there, lived off fish and lamb and have continued to make their traditional food - the kibinas (kibinai plural) - until today.

The kibinas is perhaps the best reason to go to Trakai.

Ideal plan for the day - go to Trakai on a week day when it isn't so populated with weekenders. Arrive in the early morning, by train perhaps and wander along the shore of the lake until you see the castle on the island. Then go to the castle, visit the museum and when you start to get hungry, head back to the restaurants and have some kibinai and soup.

Locals will tell you that the traditional place to eat is Senoji Kibinine, but they are all good and do the food in their own way.

Cheap and brilliant!

Summary: Almost as good as a meat pie!