On Friday, the new Druskininkai bus station was adorned for the first time by the town’s large helium-filled balloon. It has now taken on its permanent shape and has become yet another distinctive feature of the future complex. In future, the balloon will be able to lift visitors to a height of almost 200 metres.

Kautra, a company providing passenger transport services and operating six bus stations across Lithuania, marked this new beginning in Druskininkai in an unusual way: the balloon rising above the future station became the first visible sign that the town is not only developing new transport infrastructure but also creating a new visitor experience.

The balloon will be able to carry up to 30 people at a time. As it rises, a panoramic view of Druskininkai, the forests surrounding the resort and the landscape of the River Nemunas will unfold, whilst on the ground there will be a modern mobility centre where more than just journeys will take place. The balloon will be available to visitors once the new Druskininkai station becomes operational.

Four days, more than fifty people and a single goal

It took more than a single day of intensive work to assemble the giant helium balloon. Its preparation took almost a week, and more than fifty people contributed to the process: ‘Kautra’ staff, volunteers and specialists from abroad. Among them were professionals from the French company ‘Aerophile’, which specialises in the manufacture and operation of tethered helium balloons.

Work on preparing the balloon began with folding a special fabric and transporting it onto the roof of the station building. This was followed by the preparation, assembly and helium filling of the structure. On Friday, this systematic work yielded the long-awaited result: the giant balloon took on its permanent shape for the first time. On Sunday, the first test flights took place, during which the balloon rose to a height of almost 200 metres, equivalent to the height of the television tower’s viewing platform. Pilot training will continue from now until the station opens.

A city discovery experience, starting at the station

The new balloon will lift visitors into the sky using a system controlled by an electric winch. This means that take-off and landing will be controlled, and the balloon will remain tethered to the station complex’s structures at all times. There are more than 80 tethered helium balloons of this type worldwide, but the Druskininkai project stands out for its integration into the building: the balloon becomes an integral part of the new station’s architectural and functional concept. Visitors ascending to the top will be able to view Druskininkai from a completely different perspective, high above the town’s rooftops, treetops and the usual tourist routes. The silent, vibration-free balloon will offer the chance to experience the tranquillity of the resort not only whilst walking through its streets, but also by rising above them.

“For us, this helium balloon is much more than just a technologically interesting object. It’s about the experience. We want visitors to Druskininkai to be able not only to get off the bus and carry on their journey, but also to discover the station itself as a place worth spending time in. Taking off in the balloon from the station building will allow you to see the town in a completely different light. We believe this will become one of the reasons to stop, pop into the station and discover Druskininkai from a new perspective. It is important to us that the new station is a vibrant part of the town, a place where travel, architecture, entertainment, relaxation and people come together. That is why the hot-air balloon is here – it is no coincidence. It perfectly reflects our desire to take the conventional concept of a bus station to a whole new level, ” says Aistė Povilauskaitė, Head of Regional Development for Druskininkai at Kautra.

A station that reflects the spirit of the town

The helium balloon is just one part of the story of the future Druskininkai station. The project, being implemented by ‘Kautra’ at a cost of over 14 million euros, has been designed with not only passengers in mind, but also people who will pop into the station even if they have no intention of leaving the town. The 2,300-square-metre complex will feature retail, dining, leisure and entertainment areas. Visitors will find shops, cafés, an amphitheatre for events, a reflexology trail and an alpine meadow on the roof of the building. The Druskininkai station, designed by Gintaras Balčytis, was presented at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2025. The project stands out for its timber structures, its focus on sustainability and its aim to integrate transport infrastructure into city life.

“A station is the gateway to a city and the first view of the city one encounters, creating one of the most memorable impressions. In different towns, stations must reflect their spirit, so I have no doubt that the Druskininkai station will perfectly reflect its own,” says Linas Skardžiukas, Managing Director of “Kautra”.

The new station, located at 1 Gardino Street, is scheduled to open its doors to visitors later this year. Once the station is open and weather conditions are favourable, passenger flights in a helium balloon will commence. Visitors will be greeted by a new urban transport hub, as well as areas designed for relaxation, entertainment and access to essential services.

Informationfrom ‘Kautra’.