Kupiskis

Kupiškis is an administrative center in northeastern Lithuania within Panevėžys County, located 45 km east of Panevėžys and 160 km north of Vilnius. The town developed at the meeting point of the Kupa and Lėvuo rivers. With around 6,400 residents, it serves as the commercial and cultural anchor for the surrounding agricultural district and lake system.

The primary draw for travelers is the Kupiškis Lagoon (Kupiškio marios), an 828-hectare reservoir created by damming the Lėvuo River, alongside regional ethnographic exhibits and folk traditions. The town is known across Lithuania for "Kupiškėnų vestuvės" (The Kupiškis Wedding), a traditional musical theater production depicting 19th-century peasant wedding customs.

Kupiškis experiences a humid continental climate with distinct seasons. Summers are mild and green, while winters bring freezing temperatures and regular snowfall.

By Bus

Buses provide the primary public transit link to Kupiškis. The Kupiškis Bus Station (Kupiškio autobusų stotis) sits at Gedimino g. 1.

• From Panevėžys: Buses run 8–10 times daily, operated by Kautra and Kupiškio autobusų parkas. The 45 km journey takes 45–55 minutes and costs €4–€6 ($4.40–$6.60).
• From Vilnius: Direct buses operate 3–4 times daily via Ukmergė or Utena (operated by TOKS and regional carriers). The trip takes 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours and costs €12–€16 ($13–$17.50).
• From Rokiškis: Regional buses run 4–6 times daily, taking 40 minutes and costing €3.50–€5 ($3.80–$5.50).
• From Biržai: Buses run 2–3 times daily, taking roughly 1 hour and costing €4–€5.50 ($4.40–$6.00).

Tickets can be purchased at station ticket counters, directly from drivers in cash/card, or online in advance via autobusubilietai.lt.

By Train

No passenger train service to Kupiškis. Passenger rail operations on the Radviliškis–Daugavpils line through Kupiškis are discontinued. The nearest operational passenger railway station is in Panevėžys (45 km west), connecting to Šiauliai and Klaipėda via LTG Link.

By Car

Kupiškis sits at the junction of national highways:

• Route 122 links Kupiškis directly to Panevėžys (45 km west, 35–40 minutes drive) and Rokiškis (40 km northeast, 35 minutes drive).
• Route 118 runs south to Anykščiai (45 km, 40 minutes drive).
• From Vilnius: Drive north via the A2 motorway to Ukmergė, then continue along Route 174 and Route 118 through Anykščiai to Kupiškis (160 km total, 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes).
• From Kaunas: Take the A6 highway northeast through Ukmergė or the A2 via Panevėžys (150 km, around 2 hours).

By Air

Kupiškis has no civil airport. International travelers use:

• Vilnius International Airport (VNO): 165 km south (about 2 hours 10 minutes drive). Lithuania’s main international hub, served by airBaltic, Lufthansa, LOT, Ryanair, and Wizz Air.

• Kaunas International Airport (KUN): 150 km southwest (about 2 hours drive). Served primarily by Ryanair and Wizz Air with connections across Europe.

• Riga International Airport (RIX) in Latvia: 175 km north (about 2 hours 30 minutes drive).

• On Foot: Central streets, the market square, and town museums are situated close together and easy to navigate on foot.

• By Bicycle: Paved paths and low-traffic secondary roads connect the town center to the Kupiškis Lagoon and Uošvės Liežuvis park (approx. 2–3 km north).

• Local Bus: Kupiškio autobusų parkas runs local suburban lines connecting the town center to nearby villages like Aukštupėnai, Noriūnai, and Šimonys. Single fares cost €1–€2 ($1.10–$2.20), payable to the driver.

• Taxi: Local taxi dispatch services operate by phone. Standard fares within the town limits cost €3–€6 ($3.30–$6.60). Ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Uber do not operate here.

• Church of the Ascension of Christ (Kupiškio Kristaus Žengimo į dangų bažnyčia): A towering red-brick Neo-Gothic hall church completed in 1914. Its twin 60-meter spires dominate the regional skyline. The interior features vaulted brick ceilings, wooden altars, and stained glass. Location: Gedimino g. 1. Entry: Free.

• Kupiškis Ethnographic Museum (Kupiškio etnografijos muziejus): Housed in a historic 1823 fieldstone and brick school building. Exhibits display over 30,000 artifacts including traditional Aukštaitija textiles, folk wood carvings, archaeological tools, and documentation of the traditional local wedding theatrical ritual. Location: Gedimino g. 2. Entry: €2 ($2.20) adults, €1 ($1.10) students.

• Kupiškis Lagoon (Kupiškio marios): An 828-hectare reservoir created in 1984 on the Lėvuo River. It offers open recreational spaces, public swimming beaches at Aukštupėnai, boating docks, and fishing spots. Entry: Free.

• Uošvės Liežuvis (Mother-in-law’s Tongue) Dendrological Park: A 9-hectare island park in the southern bay of Kupiškis Lagoon, accessible by timber footbridges. The park features over 50 species of trees, winding gravel paths, wooden folk sculptures, resting shelters, and fire pits. Location: Aukštupėnai. Entry: Free.

• Aukštupėnai Hillfort (Aukštupėnų piliakalnis): An ancient fortified mound dating from the 1st millennium BCE to the 13th century, perched on the western shore of the lagoon. A stairway leads to the summit for broad views over the water. Entry: Free.

• Palėvenė Dominican Monastery Complex: Located 10 km west of Kupiškis in Palėvenė village. Founded in 1676, this architectural ensemble features the Baroque St. Dominic Church with ornate wood altars and the surviving residential wings of the Dominican friars. Entry: Free; donations accepted.

• Adomas Petrauskas Museum: Located 10 km north in Uoginiai village. An open-air branch museum founded by self-taught collector Adomas Petrauskas, displaying preserved wooden farm buildings, a fieldstone observation tower, and vintage rural tools. Entry: €2 ($2.20).

• Swim and Paddle on Kupiškis Lagoon: Spend warm summer days at Aukštupėnai beach, where you can swim, rent stand-up paddleboards, or launch kayaks.

• Cycle the Lagoon Shorelines: Ride the paved and gravel paths linking the town center, Aukštupėnai hillfort, and the Uošvės Liežuvis park.

• Attend the Kupiškis Wedding Festival: If visiting in mid-summer, watch open-air performances of Kupiškėnų vestuvės, where performers in authentic regional folk dress re-enact ancient wedding traditions and songs.

• Walk the Kupa River Park: Follow the pedestrian pathway along the Kupa River through town, crossing timber bridges and viewing outdoor metal and stone sculpture installations.

• Fish for Pike and Perch: The Kupiškis Lagoon is a recognized angling destination in northern Lithuania. Obtain a recreational fishing permit online via the ALIS environmental system (€3–€5 for a temporary pass).

• Traktierius „Dyvai“ (Gedimino g. 53F): A rustic roadside tavern decorated with antique farming implements, serving traditional Lithuanian dishes including meat-stuffed cepelinai, pan-fried pork neck with sauerkraut, fried rye bread with cheese, and potato sausage (vėdarai). Price tier: Budget–Mid-range (€7–€16 / $7.70–$17.50).
• Restoranas „Provinsalis“ (Šimtmečio g. 2A): A central sit-down restaurant offering a broader European and Lithuanian menu with pork tenderloin, grilled chicken, seasonal salads, and soups. Price tier: Mid-range (€9–€20 / $10–$22).
• Kavinė „Pasimatymas“ (Gedimino g. 15): A relaxed central café serving affordable daily lunch specials (dienos pietūs), crepes, borsch, and fresh pastries with coffee. Price tier: Budget (€4–€9 / $4.40–$10).
• Kavinė „Janta“ (Slavinčiškio k., junction of Roads 122 and 118): Practical roadside diner serving hearty staples like cold beetroot soup (šaltibarščiai), pork schnitzels, and potato pancakes. Price tier: Budget (€5–€11 / $5.50–$12).
• Marių Terasa (Marių g. 9, open seasonally): Outdoor summer pavilion situated right beside Kupiškis Lagoon serving grilled skewers, burgers, french fries, and cold refreshments. Price tier: Budget–Mid-range (€6–€14 / $6.60–$15.40).

• Local Beer & Gira: Sample regional beers brewed in Panevėžys and Biržai, such as Dundulis or Rinkuškiai ales, along with naturally fermented kvass (gira).
• Water: Tap water in Kupiškis comes from deep underground aquifers and is safe to drink.

• Budget:
  • Motelis Janta (Slavinčiškio k.): Straightforward motel located at the highway junction, featuring clean en-suite rooms, television, and private parking. Nightly rates: €35–€50 ($38–$55).
  • Aukštupėnai & Bagdonys Campsites (Kupiškis Lagoon shore): Seasonal designated camping areas with grassy plots for pitching tents, camper van hookups, and lake access. Nightly rates: €10–€25 ($11–$27).
• Mid-range:
  • Viešbutis & Traktierius Dyvai (Gedimino g. 53F): Comfortable rooms attached to the tavern, offering private bathrooms, heating, Wi-Fi, and on-site dining. Nightly rates: €50–€80 ($55–$87).
  • Naktakės Apartamentai / Taikos Apartments: Modern self-catering apartments in town with private kitchens, laundry facilities, and separate living areas. Nightly rates: €45–€75 ($49–$82).
• Upscale:
  • Luxury international hotels do not exist in Kupiškis. High-end rural tourism estates (kaimo turizmo sodybos) situated along the lagoon offer private villas with wood-fired saunas, outdoor hot tubs, and private water access. Nightly rates: €110–€200 ($120–$218).

• Panevėžys (45 km west via Route 122, 40 min drive / 50 min bus): Lithuania’s fifth-largest city, home to the Stasys Museum of contemporary visual art, the historic narrow-gauge railway depot (Siaurukas), and the parklands of Senvagė.
• Anykščiai (45 km south via Route 118, 40 min drive / 50 min bus): A popular resort town set among pine forests, featuring the Treetop Walking Path (Medžių lajų takas), the massive Puntukas glacial boulder, and the Lithuanian Horse Museum.
• Rokiškis (40 km northeast via Route 122, 35 min drive / 40 min bus): Known for the 19th-century Tyzenhauz Manor Estate housing the Rokiškis Regional Museum, wood-carved Nativity scenes, and traditional cheese manufacturing.
• Biržai (50 km north via Route 124/131, 45 min drive): A northern bastion town featuring the 16th-century Biržai Castle and museum, Lake Širvėna with Lithuania’s longest timber footbridge, and geological karst sinkholes.