Ninth Fort Tours and Activities

Part of the 19th-century Kaunas Fortress, the Ninth Fort took on a darker role in Lithuania’s history during the country’s Nazi occupation in World War II, when it was used as a Jewish extermination camp. Today, the site has been preserved as a museum and memorial dedicated to the more than 30,000 people who were killed there. 

The Basics
A visit to the Ninth Fort museum is a somber but powerful experience, providing a harrowing insight into Lithuania’s Nazi occupation, WWII, and the Holocaust. Visitors can also explore the WWI-era fort and learn about its history as an early 20th-century hard-labor prison. The memorial site outside the fort is marked by a striking, 105-foot-high (32-meter-high) monument. Guided tours allow access to the dungeons and other areas off-limits to visitors exploring independently.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Entrance to the memorial site is free; admission fees apply for the museum.
• Plan at least two hours to visit the museum.
• Exhibit information is available in English; guided tours are offered in English and should be booked ahead.
• The museum deals with the topics of genocide and the Holocaust and is therefore not recommended for young children.

How to Get There
The Ninth Fort is located around 4 miles (7 kilometers) north of Kaunas. The easiest way to get there is by taxi (about a 15-minute journey). Alternatively, bus 23 runs from downtown Kaunas; get off at the 9-Ojo Forto Muziejus stop, and take the underpass beneath the motorway to reach the museum.

When to Get There
The museum is open daily except Mondays, from midmorning to evening. Travelers on a budget can make the most of free entrance on the last Sunday of each month. 

War Sites in Lithuania
Lithuania has a number of sites and museums where you can learn more about the country’s WWII and Cold War history. The Atomic Bunker Museum in Kaunas offers insight into the Cold War and the work of the KGB, while in the north of the country, the Plokštinė Nuclear Base also houses a Cold War Museum. Vilnius is home to the moving Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights (KGB Museum).