How to get there
Bus 35 from Vilnius bus station takes 35–40 minutes and runs every 30–60 minutes. The first departure is around 6:00 a.m. and the last return around 10:00 p.m. Trains run from Vilnius main station with similar frequency and journey time. Both arrive within a 10-minute walk of the lakefront. Driving takes 30 minutes via the A16; parking near the castle is paid in summer.
What to see and eat
The 14th-century Island Castle sits on a small island in Lake Galvė, reached on foot across two wooden footbridges. The castle museum (€10 adult) covers Grand Duchy history. Walk the lake shore to Užutrakis Manor for the most-photographed castle view. Lunch on kibinai - Karaim lamb pastries - at one of the family bakeries on Karaimų street.
How long to allow
Half a day is enough for the castle, a lakeside walk and a kibinai stop. Leave Vilnius mid-morning and be back by mid-afternoon, or extend with a boat trip on Lake Galvė and dinner at a lakeside restaurant. Trakai is genuinely quiet after the late-afternoon coach groups leave - worth the late return if you want a calmer impression.