Hotels in Šiauliai

Šiauliai: Lithuania's Sun City and the Hill of Crosses

Šiauliai (population ~100,000) is Lithuania's fourth-largest city, sitting at the crossroads of the country's northern highway network roughly 214 km northwest of Vilnius. The city earned its informal title — the Sun City — from a 1236 battle fought near a river called Saulė (Lithuanian for sun). Today it serves as the commercial and cultural hub of northern Lithuania, with a compact pedestrian centre along Vilniaus gatvė lined with cafés and Soviet-era architecture refaced over the decades.

The main draw for international visitors is Kryžių kalnas (Hill of Crosses), located 12 km north of the city centre near the village of Jurgaičiai. Over 100,000 crosses, crucifixes, and rosaries cover the low glacial hillside, placed continuously since the 19th century as acts of devotion and political resistance. The site survived two Soviet demolitions — 1961 and 1973 — and remains one of the most photographed pilgrimage destinations in the Baltic states. Pope John Paul II visited in 1993. Šiauliai also anchors the Šiauliai Diocese and houses the Bicycle Museum, the only one of its kind in Lithuania.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Trains and buses connect Šiauliai to Riga (roughly 2.5 hours) and Vilnius (2–2.5 hours).
• Hill of Crosses access: Local buses and taxis run from the city; the site is open year-round at no charge.
• Weather: Summers average 20–22 °C; pack waterproofs for shoulder seasons.