Marijampolė

After an earlier town burnt down in 1765, a new settlement grew up around the monastery of the Marian Fathers, hence "Maryam-pol". It burned again in 1868 and was rebuilt in stone. It was wrecked yet again during the Second World War, when most of its substantial Jewish population were massacred, then the conquering Soviets deported thousands of local people to Siberian gulags. Post-war Marijampolė was rebuilt on a grid pattern and has light industry and a university but few antiquities.

The nearest airport is Kaunas (KUN ^IATA), with budget flights from across Europe.

One train per day runs from Kraków (dep 0420) via Warsaw (0725), Białystok (1030) and Mockava where you change trains and time zones at the border, arriving at Marijampolė at 1540 and continuing to Kaunas and Vilnius. Reservations essential, it often sells out. If you fly into Warsaw, take the next train to Białystok and stay over for a more relaxed departure next morning. The return train leaves Kaunas at 1320 and Marijampolė at 1405.

Trains from Kaunas run every couple of hours, taking an hour via Mauruciai, Jure, Kazlu Ruda, Bebruliske, Vincai and Budvieciai. For timetables and fares see LTG Link.

🌍 Marijampolė railway station is 500 m east of town centre.

Buses from Kaunas run roughly hourly and take an hour, for a fare in 2023 of €6. Some continue southwest to Vištytis, Vilkaviškis, Kybartai, Druskininkai or Kalvarija. Kautra is the main bus line. The bus halt in Marijampolė is at the railway station. For timetables and fares see Autobusubilieta.

By car, from Kaunas take A5 southwest, which continues (as S61) to Warsaw. From Vilnius take A16 west.

Town centre is compact and walkable.

• 🌍 Šv Arkangelo Mykolo bazilika (St Micheal's Church), Bažnyčios g 3, ☏ +370 343 50275. The principal Roman Catholic church in town. (updated Oct 2023)
• Lietuvos prezidento K. Griniaus memorialinis muziejus, Bažnyčios g 23 (opposite St Michael's), ☏ +370 343 91362. Tu-F 09:00-18:00, Sa 11:00-17:00. Kazys Grinius (1866-1950) was born in Marijampolė and lived in this cottage 1904-14. He was a doctor, bookseller and politician, serving as prime minister 1920-22. He was also President for six months, but deposed in a coup. He survived both wars but fled to the US when the Soviets occupied Lithuania. Adult €1. (updated Oct 2023)
• 🌍 Muziejus Bulotų namai, P Vaičaičio g, ☏ +370 661 67373. Tu-F 09:00-18:00, Sa 11:00-17:00. Bulota was a lawyer and lived in this traditional timber villa with his family in genteel comfort. The museum recreates life here. Adult €1. (updated Oct 2023)
• Church of St Vincent de Paul at Vytauto g 31 is temporarily closed in 2023.
• Tauro District Museum depicts the story of partisans, exiles and deportees in the years before independence. It's at Vytauto g 29 next to the Church of St Vincent de Paul, but likewise closed.
• 🌍 Popiežiaus Jono Pauliaus II bažnyčia is a modern chapel, but oak-built in traditional Baltic style.

• Poetry Park is a green space with sculptures on the riverbank west of Mercure Hotel.
• Football: FK Sūduva play soccer in A Lyga, the top tier. Their home ground Marijampolė Arena (capacity 6250) is 2 km north of town centre. The playing season is March-Nov.

• Lidl is the big supermarket, at Žemaitės g 22, open daily 07:00-22:00.

• Namų Restoranas, Gedimino g 7, ☏ +370 620 11035. M Tu 11:00-16:00, W-Sa 11:30-23:00, Su 11:00-20:00. Bright place with a good menu selection, dog friendly. (updated Oct 2023)
• Senamieščio Legenda is round the corner from Namų at Gedimino g 6. It's open daily 10:00-22:00.
• Hesburger is a Lithuanian fast food chain, with an outlet at Gedimino g 18 open M-Th 09:00-22:00, F Sa 09:00-23:00, Su 10:00-22:00.
• Central Grill & Lounge is within Mercure Hotel, see Sleep.

• Mary J Pub is at V Kudirkos g 12 (corner with Gedimino), open Su Tu-Th 16:00-23:00, F Sa 16:00-04:00.
• Savi Gastrobar is at J Basanavičiaus a 1, open M-Th 11:00-22:00, F Sa 11:00-00:00, Su 12:00-14:00.

• 🌍 Mercure Marijampole, J Basanaviciaus a 8, ☏ +370 343 97778. Smart efficient Accor chain hotel in town centre. B&B double €90. (updated Oct 2023)
• 🌍 Akmenine Kerpe, Mindaugo g 2, ☏ +370 699 38165. The name means "stone lichen" but it's a clean comfy place in a half-timbered building, fairly central, occasional street noise. B&B double €80. (updated Oct 2023)
• 🌍 BHB Hotel, Vytauto g 50 (1 km south of centre), ☏ +370 675 05507. Good value for what you pay. B&B double €40. (updated Oct 2023)
• 🌍 Marijampolė Camping, Kempingo g 44, ☏ +370 620 55555. Simple clean campsite on a bend in the river 4 km south of town, they also have cabins. (updated Oct 2023)

Marijampolė and its approach highways have 4G from all Lithuanian carriers. As of Oct 2023, 5G has not reached this area.

• Kaunas is mostly modern but has an old centre. It's surrounded by defensive positions from its years of warfare.