- Place
- Molėtai District Municipality
- Region
- Aukštaitija
- Type
- town beach and swimming place
- Address
- Balninkai, Molėtai District
- Coordinates
- 55.29452, 25.11545
- Visit duration
- 1-3 hours for swimming and lakeside time; longer if combined with a Balninkai town route
- Best time
- a warm summer day; check the latest local information, weather, and shore signs before swimming
Swimming place - Lake Alaušai, Balninkai town, Lake Alaušai swimming place in Balninkai
Balninkai town’s main swimming place
Balninkai Beach lies beside Lake Alaušai on the edge of Balninkai town. The Molėtai Tourism and Business Information Centre calls it the town’s main swimming place, so the shore serves both everyday local recreation and summer day trips.
Balninkai is a town beside Lakes Alaušai and Piršenas, about 20 kilometres north-west of Molėtai. The beach works for a short stop by the water, while the town makes it possible to extend the outing with a cultural or local route.
Lake Alaušai, not Lake Alaušas
This beach is on Lake Alaušai, the plural-named water body in Molėtai District. VLE gives the lake an area of 259 hectares, a north-west to south-east length of about 3.5 kilometres, and a maximum depth of 16.2 metres.
Much of the lake has high shores, while the north-western end includes marshy ground; two small islands add variety to the shoreline. This is the lake’s broader landscape, so the town beach facilities occupy only one shore section arranged for visitors.
The name is worth keeping exact: Molėtai District’s Lake Alaušai is not the same as Lake Alaušas near Sudeikiai in Utena District.
What is provided at the shore
The official swimming-place description names benches, a children’s playground, changing cabins, a boat-launch area, and a terrace over the water. It is practical infrastructure for both a quick swim and a slower lakeside break.
The Molėtai tourism page describes the modern beach as suitable for meetings, events, and picnics. That does not promise a particular programme or permanent supervision, so check local rules and current information before planning a larger gathering.
The SAFAO beach chair
A beach wheelchair, described in the local listing as a SAFAO chair, can be provided free of charge. It must be arranged in advance with the centre that holds it.
Contact the Universal Multifunctional Centre Kaimynystės namai at Gedimino g. 10, Balninkai town, 33303 Molėtai District, telephone +370 641 74 417. Confirm the collection procedure and availability for your date before travelling, because equipment access can change.
Swimming and responsible planning
The coordinate 55.294522, 25.115450 is the official point for the Balninkai swimming place, not for the whole of Lake Alaušai. Follow shore signs on arrival, keep clear of the boat-launch area when swimming, and supervise children near the water.
Molėtai District Municipality's 2024 monitoring report gives the Lake Alaušai bathing-water point in LKS-94 coordinates corresponding to this Balninkai shore. It records an E. coli limit exceedance on 21 June 2024. That is a historical result from one sampling day, not a current assessment, so check the municipality's latest information and on-site signs before swimming.
A boat-launch area confirms that this infrastructure exists at the shore, but it does not by itself define every boating or water-transport rule. Follow current local signs and applicable requirements.
Balninkai in a one-day itinerary
After time by the water, visit the Balninkai Glass Museum and Picture Gallery, or extend a Molėtai District route with other cultural-heritage sites. The Balninkai town page also mentions an excursion route around the town and a multifunctional sports court.
For a short visit, leave time for changing and a safe departure from the shore. If you combine the beach with other places, check their opening times separately: beach access and museum visiting are different things.
