The Open-Air Museum of Lithuania in Rumšiškės is a large outdoor museum showcasing buildings and settings from Lithuania’s ethnographic regions. From Kaunas, you can plan a visit around its seasonal hours and allow anywhere from a few hours to a full day for the grounds.
- Location: Rumšiškės, Kaišiadorys district.
- Size: 195 hectares.
- Typical visit: 2–5 hours or a whole day, according to the museum.
- Seasonal pattern: Grounds are open daily, with hours and interior access changing through the year.
What does the open-air museum cover?
The museum brings together buildings and settings representing Lithuania’s five ethnographic regions: Dzūkija (Dainava), Aukštaitija, Suvalkija (Sudovia), Žemaitija (Samogitia) and Lithuania Minor. Established in Rumšiškės in 1966, it covers 195 hectares.
The regional exhibitions show rural life through buildings dating from the end of the 18th century to the first half of the 20th century. Their subjects include household life, crafts, trade, agricultural machinery and ethnobotany. A separate town exhibition gathers buildings from across Lithuania to represent different periods.
That scale makes the setting part of the visit: the exhibits are spread across grounds rather than confined to a single building. If you’re planning time in the city as well, a walking guide to Kaunas Old Town can help you shape the rest of your itinerary.
How much time should you plan for the museum grounds?
The museum estimates that a visit takes 2–5 hours or a whole day. The grounds’ 195-hectare scale and the spread of regional and town exhibitions give you room to set a pace that fits your schedule.
For a shorter visit, focus on a selection of the regional settings rather than trying to cover the entire site.
With more time, you can add the town exhibition and take a broader look at the household, craft, trade, agricultural-machinery and ethnobotany displays. Interior exhibitions are not open in every part of the year, so factor that into your plan.
The museum roads are accessible with prams, strollers and wheelchairs. Surfaces include asphalt and gravel; the town square is stone-paved, with a smooth path around it. Visitors who need wheelchairs may enter the grounds by car free of charge.
When is the museum open, and what do tickets cost?
The museum is open daily, but hours, interior access and admission prices vary by season. Its grounds generally close earlier in the colder months, while interior exhibitions are open during the main May-to-September season and partly open in early October.
- January through March: Grounds open 10:00–16:00. Interior exhibitions are closed. Adult admission is €4; admission for schoolchildren, students and seniors is €2.
- April: Grounds open 10:00–17:00. Interior exhibitions are closed. Adult admission is €4; admission for schoolchildren, students and seniors is €2.
- May through September: Open 10:00–18:00, with interior exhibitions open. Adult admission is €10; admission for schoolchildren, students and seniors is €5.
- October 1–15: Open 10:00–17:00, with some interior exhibitions open. Adult admission is €10; admission for schoolchildren, students and seniors is €5.
- October 16 through December: Grounds open 10:00–16:00. Interior exhibitions are closed. Adult admission is €4; admission for schoolchildren, students and seniors is €2.
Tickets are available at the entrance or online. At the entrance, you can pay by cash or card. Admission is free on the last Sunday of each month, and the museum opens one hour shorter on the eve of a public holiday. Before you go, check the official site for current hours and ticket details.
How do you get from Kaunas to Rumšiškės?
From Daugirdas Old, a four-star hotel in Kaunas, the museum is about 20.5 km away. You can travel by minibus, intercity bus, train or seasonal boat, though some options leave you with a walk to the entrance.
Minibus from Kaunas
A minibus from Kaunas serves the “Muziejus” stop on weekends and public holidays from May through September. On other days, it serves the Rumšiškės pavilion stop, about half a kilometre from the museum’s central entrance. Check the museum’s official travel information for current service details.
Intercity bus
Intercity buses running on the Vilnius–Kaunas highway stop about 1.8 km from the museum’s central entrance. Consider that distance when deciding whether this option suits your day.
Train
The Pravieniškės train stop is about 5 km from the museum’s central entrance, so you’ll need to plan how to cover the final stretch.
Boat from Pažaislis
A boat sails from the old Kaunas Lagoon pier in Pažaislis to the museum every Sunday from May through September. For sailing details, the museum directs visitors to its Lithuanian-language timetable or to call +370 686 00829.
What should you know before your day trip?
If you’re driving, parking costs €2 for 24 hours. Vehicles may leave free within the first 30 minutes and within 30 minutes after a parking payment.
Dogs are allowed on the grounds except on Mardi Gras. They must be muzzled and leashed, and you need to bring bags for waste; dogs cannot enter exhibitions.
Food options include a tavern near the Lithuania Minor sector and a teahouse in the museum town. In season, the tavern is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00–19:00. The teahouse is open weekdays 11:00–17:00 and weekends 10:00–18:00.
If you’re dividing your time between the museum and the city, a one-day Kaunas itinerary can help you plan the city portion.
FAQs
Where is the Open-Air Museum of Lithuania?
It is at L. Lekavičiaus St. 2, LT-56337 Rumšiškės, Kaišiadorys district, Lithuania.
How long does a visit take?
The museum estimates 2–5 hours or a whole day. The time you need depends on how much of the grounds and exhibitions you plan to cover.
Can you buy tickets at the entrance?
Yes. Tickets are sold at the entrance and online, and entrance payments can be made in cash or by card.
Is the museum accessible with a wheelchair?
Museum roads are accessible with wheelchairs, though surfaces include asphalt and gravel. The town square is stone-paved and has a smooth path around it; visitors who need wheelchairs may enter the grounds by car free of charge.