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.

1 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.