One of the best things about bouldering is that you can do it almost anywhere in the world. Bouldercation! You’re not tied to a specific gym or region. So naturally, during our holiday in Lithuania, we also visited a few bouldering gyms.
Lithuania
Lithuania is the southernmost of the three Baltic states. After a turbulent history, it became independent from Russia in 1990 and joined the European Union in 2004. You can fly from the Netherlands to Vilnius, the capital, in just a few hours. Like the Netherlands, Lithuania doesn’t have natural rock formations, so outdoor climbing isn’t an option.
Bouldering While on Holiday
Exploring a new city is great, but after a few days of sightseeing, a sporty break is more than welcome. Visiting a local bouldering gym is ideal: you stay active and often get to see a different, unexpected side of the city.
The beauty of bouldering while traveling is that you barely need any gear. Just bring climbing shoes and sportswear, and you're good to go. Chalk is optional to pack because it’s usually available at the gym.
Bonobo Climbing – Vilnius
This bouldering gym is located just outside the city center, on a former industrial site now full of street art and graffiti. The gym itself is long and narrow, with climbing walls on both sides. Near the entrance, there is also a small lead section with three auto-belays and three lead climbing lines. At the back, you will find an adjustable Kilterboard.
Bonobo Climbing opened in 2018 and meets all modern standards. Still, I secretly hoped for something a bit more unique, it felt slightly underwhelming. What I particularly missed is top-out tags at the final holds. A fun fact: the gym uses holds from the Dutch brand Unit. Always cool to spot familiar gear abroad.
Problems are graded from 1 to 8. During my session, I climbed boulders across all levels. The style is varied and quite similar to Dutch gyms. After a solid session, we headed back into Vilnius to explore more of the city.
Boulder House – Kaunas
Kaunas is Lithuania’s second largest city, with a charming center that blends old and modern architecture. It has one bouldering gym: Boulder House.
We have visited before, and there is always something new. This time, climbing walls had been updated and a spray wall was added. Interestingly, the landing mats were covered with carpet. Notably, the walls have no texture, which makes the boulders more demanding. You can’t rely on friction for your feet therefore technique and precision are key.
Local Competition in Kaunas
During our visit, a competition was underway. I decided to join on a whim... a great chance to test myself against some of Lithuania’s top climbers, including members of the national team.
The comp featured 50 boulders. Depending on your category, you had to climb 30 of them. There were no zones, but you could earn bonus points for a flash. After warming up, I tackled the set that counted for my score. Problems 20 through 30 went smoothly, then it got tougher. The boulders were technical and often unpredictable. Think: dropping a foot onto a hold just before grabbing the next grip with your hands... challenging moves all around.
I gave every problem a shot and ended up not topping 7. Still, I gave those one last try. I sent #49, and even managed #44 thanks to a sudden ahamoment. The rest remained unsolved. A dyno and a comp-style run & jump were out of reach for me.
I finished eighth and just outside the finals. Still, it was a fantastic experience. What I really appreciated was that the very next day, the gym had already reset parts of the wall with new problems. That way, even climbers who didn’t compete like Lina could jump right back in.
Final thoughts
Combining a city trip or vacation with bouldering is easier and more fun than you might think. You stay active, discover different sides of the city, and barely need to bring any gear. Plus, you meet local climbers and it’s easy to strike up a conversation while climbing.
Just a heads-up: neither gym uses a toplogger app, so tracking your climbs in a usual way is not possible. But the experience more than makes up for it. Lithuania pleasantly surprised us with an accessible and welcoming bouldering scene. Highly recommended if you’re visiting the country.
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