Siauliai Outings for Parents and Kids
Travelling with children in Šiauliai comes down to the weather. The museums are small, hands-on and quick to see, and the lakeside park fills the dry hours. Everything below is close to the pedestrian boulevard, so you can change plans without a long walk or ride. Prices are in euros.
When it rains
Bicycle Museum, Vilniaus g. 139. This is the busiest stop for children, because visitors can try modern and antique bicycles and ride a velomobile. A recreation area is set aside for resting. The permanent exhibition, “Bicycle and Lithuania”, opened in 2004 and includes bikes built by the local Vairas factory. A ticket is 8 EUR for adults and 4 EUR reduced, and one or two adults with children under 18 receive a 50 percent family discount. It opens Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 to 18:00, Wednesday 10:00 to 19:00, and weekends 11:00 to 17:00.
Cats Museum and animal garden, Žuvininkų g. 18. Cat figures and objects from many countries fill the rooms, and three live cats greet visitors. The small garden next door keeps pythons and other snakes, lizards, crocodiles and a monkey. Šiauliai has no zoo in the usual sense, so think of it as a short stop of an hour or less. It opens Tuesday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00 and Saturday 09:00 to 16:00.
Photography Museum, Vilniaus g. 140. The roof terrace has a camera obscura that throws the outside view onto a screen. The terrace costs 1 EUR, or 0.50 EUR reduced, and is open from 1 March to 31 October.
Rūta Chocolate Museum, Tilžės g. 133. There are interactive displays and a chocolate workshop. The two-hour guided tasting, 20 EUR per person, is meant for adults, so ask about children when you phone +370 610 41 050.
When it is dry
- Sun Terrace. The city’s largest children’s playground has flower walls and cafés beside it. It is also a stop on the tourist office route called Šiauliai From Above.
- Lake Talkša park. Playgrounds and a seven-ring labyrinth sit in the lakeside park, and a 1.8 km bike path runs along the shore. Marionette Wakepark at Žvyro g. 34 offers water-bike and boat rides from 10:00 to 23:00 daily. Swimming in the lake is not recommended, so keep children out of the water.
- Iron Fox. The sculpture on the lakeshore is about 15 m long and 6.6 m high, and weighs about 7 tonnes. It is in the Lithuanian Book of Records as the largest animal sculpture and makes an easy photo stop.
A craft for older children
At Chaim Frenkel Villa (Vilniaus g. 74), leather workshops run from school grade 2 upward, and adults can join. A keychain is 4 EUR, and a bracelet, tree toy, animal totem or pendant is 5 EUR per person. Reserve on +370 41 524 389. Afterwards the free rose park outside is open from 10:00 to 22:00.
One respectful stop
About 12 km north of the city, the Hill of Crosses is a place of Catholic pilgrimage. If you bring children, explain beforehand that it is a place of prayer, keep everyone close and leave the crosses alone.
Parent notes
- Admission to every Aušra Museum branch is free on the last Sunday of the month.
- The bus to the Hill of Crosses ends with a 2 km walk on an unlit lane, so go in daylight.
- Paths around Talkša ice over from December to March, so pack shoes with grip.
Read more: outdoor ideas in Siauliai and activities for groups . Planning a longer visit? See the Lithuania itinerary for four days .
Opening hours for the animal garden are at Visit Šiauliai , and the Bicycle Museum is at the Aušra Museum . Family-friendly tours can be searched on Viator .