Kids want water, and there's more of it close by than most parents expect. This list gathers the lake and river beaches with sandy shores for summer swims, plus the indoor pools and water parks that keep them splashing when it's too cold outside. Pick a beach for a long July afternoon, or a pool for a gray Saturday in November.
Gilužis Beach sits on Gelūžė, a lake on the city's western edge and the deepest and cleanest one in the area. The shore is open and windier than most city beaches, so it draws sailors and water-sports fans, and a sailing club runs lessons for kids.
On land there's a playground, outdoor fitness equipment, an ice cream kiosk, and a barbecue area with grills, tables and benches.
Salotė Beach sits on the shore of Lake Salotė, close to the Pilaitė housing estates, and is looked after by Grinda, the city's maintenance company. Kids get a playground and a trampoline by the sand, plus two beach volleyball courts.
Four cafes and an outdoor coffee machine cover snacks, and there are changing cabins, toilets and a paid sauna. Grinda tests the water and sand and organizes lifeguards.
This is the first of two city-run beaches on Balžis, a small glacial lake ringed by pine forest. Wooden piers reach out over the water for swimming and sunbathing, and an adapted pier and ramp give step-free entry into the lake.
Behind the shore sit a grill area with tables and benches, changing cabins, public toilets and bike racks. The lake reaches 27 m at its deepest point.
A sandy beach on the Neris river, looked after by Grinda, the city maintenance company, which runs its lifeguard base here. Kids get a playground, basketball and beach volleyball courts, a boxing bag and new outdoor gym equipment. There are showers, a drinking water station, a grill area with tables and benches, and a stop for the river passenger boats.
A sandy Blue Flag beach on the left bank of the Neris, surrounded by trees and set away from the bigger crowds at Beach I next door. Kids get a playground and sand, and families can use the barbecue area with grills, tables and benches. There is also an outdoor gym, changing cabins, a drinking fountain and a free self-cleaning toilet, and a rebuilt footpath links it to Beach I.
The largest and longest city-run beach, a Blue Flag stretch of sand on a bend of the Neris river, backed by Valakampiai forest. The beach has a big sports area with six volleyball courts, beach football and basketball courts, a playground, and a barbecue area with grills and picnic tables.
A renovated footpath links it to Valakampiai Beach II.
Balsis is one of the city's best-equipped beaches and holds a Blue Flag. Three piers run out into the lake, and younger kids get their own swimming area next to a playground.
Older kids can use two beach volleyball courts, a basketball court and outdoor gym equipment, or rent a pedal boat or paddleboard. Walking trails circle the lake, with a panoramic lookout nearby.
Forum Sports Club is a members' club at Forum Palace whose pool hall has a 25 m three-lane pool with cascades and a separate kids' pool. Single-visit passes open it to non-members too.
Around the pool are saunas, Turkish and infrared baths and Jacuzzis, and the club also runs a supervised kids' club, a table tennis area and an outdoor basketball terrace.
Lazdynai is the largest pool complex in the city, built as a water sports base for the public and for athletes. It has a 10-lane, 50 m Olympic pool and an 8-lane, 25 m diving pool with towers up to 10 m.
A quarter of the big pool's floor can be raised for children's sessions, and a viewing stand looks over the water for watching lessons and swim meets.
A Polynesian-themed aqua park spread over several floors. There are nine slides, from family boat rides on the Ohana river to the 60 km/h Moreja volcano, plus the Dolphins' sea wave pool with waves up to 1.5 m and the 137 m Canoe river for floating on rings.
Smaller children get the Game island, eight platforms of tunnels and slides where they control the water jets, watched by lifeguards.
Kids want water, and there's more of it close by than most parents expect. This list gathers the lake and river beaches with sandy shores for summer swims, plus the indoor pools and water parks that keep them splashing when it's too cold outside. Pick a beach for a long July afternoon, or a pool for a gray Saturday in November.
Gilužis Beach sits on Gelūžė, a lake on the city's western edge and the deepest and cleanest one in the area. The shore is open and windier than most city beaches, so it draws sailors and water-sports fans, and a sailing club runs lessons for kids.
On land there's a playground, outdoor fitness equipment, an ice cream kiosk, and a barbecue area with grills, tables and benches.
Salotė Beach sits on the shore of Lake Salotė, close to the Pilaitė housing estates, and is looked after by Grinda, the city's maintenance company. Kids get a playground and a trampoline by the sand, plus two beach volleyball courts.
Four cafes and an outdoor coffee machine cover snacks, and there are changing cabins, toilets and a paid sauna. Grinda tests the water and sand and organizes lifeguards.
This is the first of two city-run beaches on Balžis, a small glacial lake ringed by pine forest. Wooden piers reach out over the water for swimming and sunbathing, and an adapted pier and ramp give step-free entry into the lake.
Behind the shore sit a grill area with tables and benches, changing cabins, public toilets and bike racks. The lake reaches 27 m at its deepest point.
A sandy beach on the Neris river, looked after by Grinda, the city maintenance company, which runs its lifeguard base here. Kids get a playground, basketball and beach volleyball courts, a boxing bag and new outdoor gym equipment. There are showers, a drinking water station, a grill area with tables and benches, and a stop for the river passenger boats.
A sandy Blue Flag beach on the left bank of the Neris, surrounded by trees and set away from the bigger crowds at Beach I next door. Kids get a playground and sand, and families can use the barbecue area with grills, tables and benches. There is also an outdoor gym, changing cabins, a drinking fountain and a free self-cleaning toilet, and a rebuilt footpath links it to Beach I.
The largest and longest city-run beach, a Blue Flag stretch of sand on a bend of the Neris river, backed by Valakampiai forest. The beach has a big sports area with six volleyball courts, beach football and basketball courts, a playground, and a barbecue area with grills and picnic tables.
A renovated footpath links it to Valakampiai Beach II.
Balsis is one of the city's best-equipped beaches and holds a Blue Flag. Three piers run out into the lake, and younger kids get their own swimming area next to a playground.
Older kids can use two beach volleyball courts, a basketball court and outdoor gym equipment, or rent a pedal boat or paddleboard. Walking trails circle the lake, with a panoramic lookout nearby.
Forum Sports Club is a members' club at Forum Palace whose pool hall has a 25 m three-lane pool with cascades and a separate kids' pool. Single-visit passes open it to non-members too.
Around the pool are saunas, Turkish and infrared baths and Jacuzzis, and the club also runs a supervised kids' club, a table tennis area and an outdoor basketball terrace.
Lazdynai is the largest pool complex in the city, built as a water sports base for the public and for athletes. It has a 10-lane, 50 m Olympic pool and an 8-lane, 25 m diving pool with towers up to 10 m.
A quarter of the big pool's floor can be raised for children's sessions, and a viewing stand looks over the water for watching lessons and swim meets.
A Polynesian-themed aqua park spread over several floors. There are nine slides, from family boat rides on the Ohana river to the 60 km/h Moreja volcano, plus the Dolphins' sea wave pool with waves up to 1.5 m and the 137 m Canoe river for floating on rings.
Smaller children get the Game island, eight platforms of tunnels and slides where they control the water jets, watched by lifeguards.
