Save some money while exploring fascinating tourist spots off the beaten path when you head to Baltic states such as Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Safer, less crowded, and more affordable than many other European destinations, cities like Tallinn, Vilnius, and Riga are home to many magnificent castles and manors. From medieval ruins and fairytale palaces to towering turrets straight out of a Harry Potter movie, here are 10 Baltic castles to add to your bucket list.
1. Trakai Island Castle
The first destination on our list is a spectacular, 14th-century red-brick castle topped with tower turrets. Trakai Castle is a captivating example of a Baltic medieval fortress situated on an island in the middle of Lithuania’s Lake Galvė.
Due to its strategic location, this well-preserved castle witnessed the rise and fall of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1795), which controlled a large area of territory from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
Trakai Castle’s construction began under Grand Duke Kęstutis during the fourteenth century. His son, Vytautas the Great, moved the state treasury to the island in 1409. During his rule, Vytautas turned the castle into a cultural center and masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Both sophisticated and formidable, Trakai Island Castle has had many functions over the course of its history. It has acted as a royal residence for the Lithuanian grand dukes, a center for political intrigue, a defensible bastion of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and a symbol of the nation’s power.
Today, visitors can walk around the castle and historical museum, which tells the rich history of Lithuania and offers glimpses into the grand dukes’ private lives. During the year, you can also attend cultural events such as historical evenings, ancient warfare demonstrations, and music festivals. Every August, Trakai Castle comes alive with arts and crafts days. Watch jewelry makers, potters, ironworkers, medieval knights, and jesters, or step into a bustling tavern which will transport you straight to the Middle Ages.
2. Edole Bishop’s Castle
Built in the mid-13th century, this convent-style Latvian castle brims with ghostly legends, stories of dwarf weddings, and bloodstains that keep reappearing in the spooky Red Room after Johann Behr stabbed his brother and love rival Friedrich to death.
The exact date of the Edole Bishop’s Castle construction is unknown. In 1253, the bishopric of Courland owned the area where the castle later stood. By 1559, Frederick II, the king of Denmark, bought the Bishop of Edole’s lands for his brother, Magnus, who became the new prince-bishop of Courland. This act sparked a fight between the Danish Crown and the previous bishop’s nephew, who won a hereditary right to the estate.
The aristocratic Behr family owned the castle and added Neo-Gothic turrets between the 16th and 20th centuries. In 1583, the first castle fire broke out during a fight between the Danes and the Poles. More fires ravaged the castle during the Polish-Swedish wars (1617-1622). Over time, the restored castle lost its medieval look and transformed into a Neo-Gothic style. During the 1905 Revolution, tragedy struck again when revolutionaries burned down the castle. The family rebuilt the castle within two years.
Despite these incidents, visitors can still spot the darker medieval walls, the lighter shade of the 16th-century walls, and the pale color of the modern façade.
Today, the castle, including its grand halls, wine cellar, cultural center, courtyard, and the original corner defense tower, is open to the public. Tourists can wander the park, explore the Alley of Love, or discover the elf oak tree. You can also visit the medieval gatehouse or take in the view from the bridge and moat that once guarded the castle from invaders.
3. Rundāle Palace
When you tour Latvia, enjoy fairytale winters or magical Baltic summers. Whatever season you plan your trip, Rundāle Palace is one castle you won’t want to miss. Designed by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the same architect who would later build the Winter Palace in St Petersburg for Empress Elizabeth of Russia, Rundāle Palace represents the crown jewel of Latvia.
Built in the 1730s for Duke Ernst Johann von Biron, the lover of Empress Anna of Russia, Rundāle Palace boasts a luxurious late Baroque style. The bright yellow and white palace offers visitors a chance to explore the Golden Hall, decorated with gold, frescos, and marble, which served as the duke’s throne room, the Grand Gallery, which once held sumptuous banquets, and the White Hall, decorated with stunning stucco pastoral scenes. In the West Wing, wander through the duke’s private chambers, parlors, and exhibition halls packed with fine arts and cultural displays.
The palace hosts a program of classical concerts and the annual International Early Music Festival, featuring Baroque music from the likes of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Purcell, and Monteverdi. In the French-style park, a formal garden showcases blooming roses, the Green Theater, parterre terraces worthy of Versailles, and a central fountain that offers magnificent opportunities to take photographs.
4. Gediminas Castle Tower
If you’re looking for captivating historical sites in Lithuania’s capital city, it’s hard to miss Vilnius Castle. The imposing Gediminas Tower sits atop a strategic hill overlooking the Neris River in the city center. This visual piece of history has long symbolized the Lithuanian state.
Its story starts in the early fourteenth century, when Grand Duke Gediminas (c. 1274-1341) arrived in the nearby forest for a royal hunt. According to legend, the grand duke dreamed he saw an Iron Wolf howling atop a hill. This single wolf sounded as loud as a thousand wolves. A Baltic shaman interpreted the dream as a prophecy that Gediminas would build a strong city that would make its voice heard worldwide. At the time, the grand duke kept his capital on Trakai Island, which he also discovered on a hunting trip.
Based on the dream, the grand duke, who founded the Gediminas dynasty, built the first wooden citadel. The area became the Grand Duchy of Lithuania’s capital city. In 1409, his grandson, Grand Duke Vytautas, strengthened the fort by completing it as the city’s first brick castle.
The stronghold became a formidable fortress designed to guard the city from invaders. It has survived many wars, including the Teutonic Crusades, the Battle of Vilnius in 1655 during the Russo-Polish War (1654-1667), and bombing from the Second World War.
Tourists can visit this iconic tower, take in its epic views, and learn more about the country’s fascinating heritage through historical artifacts and cultural exhibits that tell the story of Lithuania’s past and present. You can also visit the Palace of the Lithuanian Grand Dukes at the foot of the hill near Vilnius Cathedral.
5. Kaunas Castle
Kaunas Castle is another Lithuanian castle with major historical significance. Built to defend against the onslaught of the Teutonic Knights’ Northern Crusades, which sought to Christianize the Baltic region, it is the oldest stone castle in Lithuania.
With double defensive walls, a round tower, and a fascinating collection of medieval artifacts, this castle is situated on the banks of the Nemanas River in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second city and former capital. The castle rose during the 14th century under Grand Duke Gediminas.
Kaunas Castle was a major point of contention between the Lithuanians and the Teutonic Knights and changed hands on several occasions. After the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, in which Grand Duke Vytautas defeated the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order and strengthened the Polish-Lithuanian Union, the castle lost its military significance but continued to fulfill administrative and residential functions.
Today, visitors can uncover the castle’s history, legends, and ghost stories via interactive museum exhibits.
6. Taagepera Castle
Not all castles in the Baltic date from the medieval period. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Baltic barons funded some of the most spectacular castles in Estonia. Built between 1907 and 1912 as a home for Baron Hugo von Stryk, the stunning Art Nouveau castle at Taagepera in southern Estonia now houses the 1930s-style Wagenküll Hotel. Worthy of a Hercule Poirot novel setting, the hotel connects to the castle via an underground tunnel.
The castle boasts 30 rooms, a tower, a luxury spa, restaurant, and offers various recreational and sporting activities. The castle’s grounds include a garden filled with thousands of flowers, sculptures, and a magic forest. The castle hosts a range of activities throughout the year, and in the summer of 2024 the castle’s grounds hosted an Alice in Wonderland theme park with art installations inspired by Lewis Caroll’s novel. Taagepera Castle is the perfect getaway for a luxurious, stress-free holiday in a historic setting.
7. Cēsis Castle
Cēsis Castle is one of the most impressive castle ruins in Latvia. Surrounded by the Gauja National Park, this medieval fortress emerged during the 13th-century Livonian Crusades. Originally a wooden hill fort constructed by the Baltic Vends tribe, Cēsis Castle (known as Wenden in German) later became the headquarters for the Masters of the Livonian Order.
Due to its strategic location, Cēsis Castle became a center of wealth and power, serving as a vibrant trading center and a member of the Hanseatic League. In 1577, the castle also witnessed a significant battle when Ivan the Terrible invaded Livonia and laid siege to the fortress. The last defenders blew themselves up rather than surrender and let the Russians take them alive. In 1578, Tsar Ivan’s troops lost control of the castle during the Battle of Wenden when attacked by joint German, Polish, and Swedish forces. This defeat became a turning point in the Livonian War. The battle marked the end of Ivan’s Kingdom of Livonia and strengthened the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Tourists who visit Cēsis Castle receive a small lantern with their admission ticket. This creates a unique atmosphere for visitors while enabling them to navigate the narrow and dark staircase that leads up the circular Western tower. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the moat, medieval kitchen garden, castle park, and nearby forest from the vast, vaulted room that once contained the Master of the Livonian Order’s chamber.
During summer weekends, the castle courtyard is filled with artisans in medieval clothing demonstrating traditional crafts such as basket weaving. Stop by the games master to play authentic period games or even slip into a suit of medieval armor to complete your experience.
8. Medininkai Castle
Looking for something fun to do around Vilnius? Medininkai Castle sits 20 miles to the west of the Lithuanian capital near the highest peaks in Lithuania, known as the Aukštojas and Juozapinė Hills.
Built in the fourteenth century during Gediminas’ reign, the castle rose next to one of Lithuania’s oldest and most significant trade routes. This castle witnessed many wars and retains its original medieval charm. From the outside, it might appear like a simple castle wall with four towers and defense ditches, but it offers magnificent views from the castle keep and observation deck.
You can choose a tour or explore the ruins at your leisure. Each floor offers a special exhibit, including an art display, a room packed with medieval armor and weapons, a hunting trophy exhibit, archaeological discoveries, and panoramic views of the Medininkai Highlands at the top.
Each year, during the last weekend in September, the castle hosts the Medininkai Castle Games. During this event, medieval knights, artists, and craftspeople bring the castle to life. Visitors can learn about important historical figures, discover castle legends, try their hand at firing pottery in a kiln, or take a shot at archery. Wander among living history artisans or watch medieval combat and dance competitions accompanied by the whiff of woodsmoke and the bustle of an authentic medieval village.
9. Kuressaare Episcopal Castle
Located on the island of Saaremaa, this 14th-century castle is one of the most magnificent fortresses in Estonia and the only intact medieval castle on the island.
Kuressaare Castle sits on an artificial island, protected by a moat, facing the Baltic Sea. The castle was damaged in the Great Northern War (1700-1721) during Peter the Great’s reign. Fought between Sweden and a Russian-led coalition, the conflict aimed to reduce the Swedish Empire’s power in northeastern Europe.
Today, visitors can explore a network of halls, passageways, and staircases that look straight out of Game of Thrones. The castle has a long and terrible history. Near the bishop’s chamber, a room looks down on the castle dungeon, where, according to legend, the bishop threw prisoners to hungry lions. The castle once reportedly contained the remains of a 16th-century knight walled-up alive in the basement by the Catholic Bishop of Ösel–Wiek due to a forbidden love affair. Today, the cell is known as the “cellar of the immured knight.” A memorial to the 300 people executed by the Nazis during their occupation of the island also stands outside the castle wall.
During the summer, you can stroll through the shady park, listen to concerts in the castle courtyard, enjoy a treasure hunt, try your aim at archery, rent a boat or bike for the day, and finish up at the 19-century Spa Hall turned into a restaurant.
Other local attractions include a nearby picturesque town with an art gallery, local handcraft boutiques, a museum, coffee shops, hiking trails, water skiing, a medieval church, a luxury spa, and even a meteorite site.
10. Cesvaine Castle
Whether you want to take a break from busy Riga or love spooky castles, don’t miss Latvia’s Cesvaine Castle.
Built in 1896 by German Baron Adolf Gerhard von Wulf, this enchanting castle offers a dramatic blend of Tudor, Neo-Renaissance, Romanesque, and Gothic styles. First designed as a hunting castle, it later served as a private school.
With a façade like a real, live Hogwarts, Cesvaine Castle won’t disappoint. You will find historic fireplaces, Gothic towers, secret chambers, and even a mysterious room full of doors that you can open one by one. In 2019, this atmospheric castle also served as the setting for the Latvian fantasy horror thriller The Sonata.
The castle park contains over 70 species of trees and shrubs which create a gorgeous landscape design. Visitors can wander through the gardens, visit the souvenir shop, or rent a boat to paddle across the scenic castle lake. When hunger hits, stop by the Cesvaine Castle Restaurant for a tasty fusion of European, Latvian, Mediterranean, and Georgian cuisine prepared by on-site chefs from locally sourced food. Cesvaine Castle is the perfect trip for anyone who enjoys history, food, and learning more about Baltic culture.
