Aukštaitija National Park

Aukštaitijos nacionalinis parkas

Lithuania's oldest national park, a lush realm of over 120 interconnected lakes, dense pine forests and traditional wooden villages. Ideal for canoeing, hiking and experiencing rural ethnographic heritage in places like Ginučiai and Šuminai.

Things to do

• Canoe the interconnected lakes — Paddle the chain of lakes around Ladakalnis and Baluošas, exploring hidden channels and reed-lined shores that define the park.
• Climb Ladakalnis Hill — Ascend this sacred glacial hill for a sweeping panorama over six lakes, one of Lithuania's most iconic viewpoints.
• Visit the Ancient Beekeeping Museum — Explore Stripeikiai's open-air museum showcasing traditional log hives, honey harvesting tools and forest beekeeping heritage.
• Explore Ginučiai Water Mill — See the restored 19th-century wooden water mill, now a museum and guesthouse, still holding its original milling machinery.
• Wander Šuminai ethnographic village — Stroll through this preserved village of old wooden homesteads set on a peninsula between lakes, showcasing rural Aukštaitija life.
• Hike to Baluošas Lake island — Trek forest trails to Baluošas, the park's deepest lake, famed for its island that itself contains a small inner lake.
• Visit Palūšė church and village — See the 1750 wooden Church of St. Joseph with its separate bell tower, the park's gateway hub for boat and bike rentals.

Food to try

• Kastinys — A traditional Aukštaitija whipped sour-cream and butter spread served warm over hot boiled potatoes.
• Cepelinai — Zeppelin-shaped potato dumplings stuffed with minced meat, topped with sour cream and pork crackling.
• Forest honey — Locally harvested honey from the region's old beekeeping tradition, sold at homesteads and the Stripeikiai museum.
• Smoked lake fish — Freshly smoked perch, pike or eel from the park's lakes, a staple of local fishing households.
• Bulviniai blynai — Crispy grated-potato pancakes served with sour cream, a hearty rural breakfast or lunch.
• Gira — A refreshing traditional fermented bread drink often offered in rural guesthouses and village fairs.

Local customs & good to know

• Respect the sacred hills — Ladakalnis and other hills were ancient pagan worship sites, so treat them as places of quiet reverence.
• Base yourself in Palūšė — The village serves as the park's main visitor center where you buy fishing permits and rent canoes and bikes.
• Book homestead lodging early — Rural guesthouses in Ginučiai and nearby villages are limited and fill fast in summer canoeing season.
• Follow lake protection rules — Motorboats are largely banned and camping is only permitted at designated sites to preserve the fragile ecosystem.

Nearby

• Palūšė — 4 km
• Ginučiai Watermill — 5 km
• Ignalina — 9 km
• Labanoras Regional Park — 18 km