Biržai

A northern town famous for its Renaissance-era Biržai Castle, brewing traditions and dramatic karst sinkholes in the surrounding countryside. Its bastion fortress overlooking Lake Širvėna is the region's standout historic sight.

Things to do

• Biržai Castle — Explore the restored Renaissance bastion fortress that now houses the Sėla Regional Museum with its history and art collections.
• Walk the Širvėna Lake footbridge — Cross the long wooden pedestrian bridge over Lake Širvėna, one of Lithuania's oldest artificial lakes, for views back toward the castle.
• Astravas Manor — Admire the elegant 19th-century Tiškevičius manor estate across the lake, connected to the town by the footbridge.
• Karst sinkhole trail — Drive to the Karvė's Cave (Karvės ola) and Kirkilai karst lakes area to see the dramatic collapsing sinkholes of the surrounding gypsum landscape.
• Kirkilai observation tower — Climb the wooden tower overlooking the scenic cluster of karst lakes near Kirkilai village.
• Beer heritage tour — Visit a traditional farmhouse brewery in the Biržai region, the heartland of Lithuanian rural beer culture, for tastings.
• Reformed Evangelical Church — See the town's Protestant church, reflecting Biržai's strong Reformation history under the Radvila (Radziwiłł) dukes.

Food to try

• Biržai kaimiškas alus — Sample the region's famous unfiltered farmhouse beer, brewed with old peasant traditions that make Biržai Lithuania's beer capital.
• Cepelinai — Try these hearty potato dumplings stuffed with meat, a Lithuanian staple served with sour cream and bacon.
• Kastinys — Taste this thick, warm churned butter-and-sour-cream dish, a northern Aukštaitija specialty eaten with boiled potatoes.
• Skilandis — Look for this smoked, air-cured pork sausage that pairs perfectly with a mug of local beer.
• Beer snacks (užkandžiai) — Order fried black bread with garlic or smoked cheese served in local taverns alongside farmhouse ale.

Local customs & good to know

• Respect the beer tradition — Local farmhouse breweries take pride in centuries-old methods, so treat a tasting as a cultural experience rather than just a drink.
• Radvila (Radziwiłł) legacy — Biržai was a stronghold of the powerful Radvila dukes, and their Protestant, aristocratic heritage still shapes local identity.
• Bring good walking shoes for karst sites — The sinkhole and karst lake areas involve unpaved trails and can be muddy after rain.
• Time your visit for summer festivals — The town hosts beer and heritage celebrations in warmer months when the castle grounds and lakeside come alive.

Nearby

• Lake Širvėna — 0 km
• Panevėžys — 58 km
• Burbiškis Manor — 67 km
• Anykščiai — 78 km