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 the 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 is the first visible sign that the town is not only developing new transport infrastructure but also creating a new experience for visitors.

The balloon will be able to carry up to 30 people at a time. As it rises, passengers will enjoy a panoramic view of Druskininkai, the forests surrounding the resort and the landscape along the Nemunas River. Meanwhile, on the ground, a modern mobility centre will offer more than just transport services. The balloon will be available to visitors once the new Druskininkai station becomes operational.

Four days, more than fifty people and one common goal

Assembling the giant helium balloon took more than a single day of intensive work. The entire preparation process lasted almost a week, with more than fifty people involved, including ‘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 of the structure, as well as filling it with helium. On Friday, these carefully coordinated efforts produced the long-awaited result: the giant balloon took on its permanent shape for the first time. On Sunday, the first test flights took place, with the balloon rising to a height of almost 200 metres – roughly the same height as the viewing platform of the television tower. Pilot training will continue until the station opens.

Discovering the city starts at the station

The new balloon will lift visitors into the sky using a system controlled by an electric winch. This ensures that both take-off and landing are fully controlled, while the balloon remains securely tethered to the station complex at all times. There are more than 80 tethered helium balloons of this type worldwide, but the Druskininkai project is distinctive in the way the balloon is integrated into the building itself, becoming 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. Silent and vibration-free, the balloon will offer a unique opportunity to experience the tranquillity of the resort not only while walking through its streets, but also from above.

“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, step inside the station and discover Druskininkai from a new perspective. It is important to us that the new station becomes 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 may visit the station simply to spend time there, without continuing their journey.  The 2,300-square-metre complex will feature retail, dining, leisure and entertainment spaces. Visitors will find shops, cafés, an amphitheatre for events, a reflexology trail and an alpine meadow on the roof of the building. Designed by architect Gintaras Balčytis, the Druskininkai station was presented at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. The project stands out for its timber structures, focus on sustainability and ambition to integrate transport infrastructure into the life of the city.

“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 begin. Visitors will be welcomed by a new urban transport hub, along with spaces for relaxation, entertainment and essential services.

Informationfrom ‘Kautra’.