Walking Routes in Siauliai
Šiauliai is a city for walking. The centre is flat, the main boulevard is pedestrian, and the main sights sit within about 1.5 km of each other. You do not need a guide, and the tourist office at Vilniaus g. 213-90 (+370 41 523 110) lists official routes if you want a plan. Wear comfortable shoes, and in winter bring grips, as the paths around Lake Talkša can be icy.
Vilniaus gatvė boulevard
The pedestrian part of the street is 1.28 km long, running from Žemaitės g. to Draugystės pr. It was created in 1975 and the tourist office calls it the first of its kind in Lithuania. Along the way are bronze figures, fountains including the Pelicans fountain, the Bell of Love sculpture and the Cockerel Clock, which greets passers-by in 14 languages at 12:00 and 18:00. The Photography Museum at no. 140 has a rooftop terrace with a camera obscura, 1 EUR from 1 March to 31 October. In summer a “Šiauliai” board game is played along the boulevard, and a paper version is free at the tourist office.
Sundial Square to Lake Talkša
From the boulevard, Sundial Square is a short step away. Here stand the 18 m sundial obelisk, topped by a gilded Archer, and the Renaissance cathedral on the south side. From the square, the Iron Fox sculpture on the Talkša shore is a few hundred metres on. The whole stretch takes about an hour with stops.
Talkša eco trail
The eco trail is 5 km long with 19 oak-log information stands in three languages. It starts near the Archer, nicknamed the Golden Boy, follows the lake through the Žuvininkai district and passes the Gate of Love and a spot called the Place for Dreams. It ends at the Salduvė hillfort, about 5 km from the centre, which is also a sunrise spot. A separate 1.8 km bike path runs along the lake. Swimming in the lake is not recommended.
Top 10 Places route
The tourist office’s Top 10 Places route covers about 6 km and is rated at roughly 9 hours with visits. It links the Balts’ Road centre, the cathedral, Sundial Square, the Iron Fox, the Cats Museum, Frenkel Villa, the boulevard, the Rūta museum, the Cents Room and the Botanical Garden. The Rūta museum is on Tilžės g., about 1.9 km from the Frenkel Villa end of the boulevard, so the route suits two half-days.
Šiauliai From Above
This 5 km route takes about five hours. It includes the Sun Terrace playground, the Photography Museum terrace, Resurrection Square, the cathedral tower with a guide and Salduvė Hill.
A walk of remembrance
At the former entrance to the Šiauliai ghetto, on Traku g. at the corner of Ežero g., a memorial stone was set up in 1993. It recalls the ghetto established in July 1941. The city’s Jewish population fell from about 8,000 to about 500. The stone can be visited at any time. Come as a visitor to a place of remembrance, not as a sightseer, and keep this stop separate from the rest of the walk.
Practical tips
- Allow half a day for the boulevard, the square and the Talkša shore.
- Museums along the boulevard charge 8 EUR for adults, and admission is free on the last Sunday of each month.
- The cathedral tower can be climbed only with a guide.
Read more: sightseeing in Siauliai and solo activities .
The official routes are on Visit Šiauliai and the eco trail is described on Baltų kelias . If you want a guide, compare options on GetYourGuide .