Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, a gorgeous country on the shore of the Baltic sea famous for its nature, amber and pink beet soup!
I was lucky to visit it twice, in December and in August, and this city has a magical ability to hold a perfect Christmas vibe in winter and the most indulging summer attics in summer. Let me know if you have your favourite one!
And of course, come and check my list of top sights in this city.
1. Cathedral square
Cathedral square is the main square of Vilnius, and you can start your exploration of the Lithuanian capital from here! The square was founded in the 19th century.
There are a few landmarks here such as the Lower palace, the Cathedral with the bell tower and the monument to Grand Duke Gediminas, one of the most famous ancient rulers of Lithuania. In winter, a brightly lit Christmas market takes place here, and the main Christmas tree also is out here.
2. Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius
The Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius is the main church of Lithuanian Catholic Church, located on the Cathedral square close to the Lower castle.
In the past, a pagan temple stood on this site, and after the arrival of Christianity in the 13th century, a Christian temple took over the place. It was rebuilt numerous times and the final look you see today was acquired in 1801.
It’s also a burial place for the main saint of the country, St. Casimir, – visit a chapel named after him and spot a peculiar painting there: Three-Handed St. Casimir.
The 57 metre tall bell tower of the cathedral is one of the symbols of the city, and you can even visit an exhibition inside!
3. National museum (former The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania)
The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is a home to The National Museum, and you can explore the history of Lithuania via four routes here.
It’s very family friendly, with lift access everywhere, drawing stations and digital puzzles!
The palace was erected in the gothic style in the 15th century, saw its full glory in the 16-17 centuries as a residence of Grand Dukes of Lithuania and kings of Poland and was demolished in 1801 when this territory was already under the Russian Empire. Recently the palace was restored and opened to the public in 2018.
Come here to see archaeological excavations, ceramics (especially the tiles!), paintings, and coins. During our visit to the museum there was a temporary exhibition of Botticelli and Tiziano.
Don’t forget to visit the observatory on the top of the tower too!
The looks from there are spectacular – do you agree?
4. Gediminas’ Tower
First brick fortifications here date to the 15th century. Unfortunately, many historical buildings on this hill here were lost such as the south tower and the palace of the Duke.
The Gediminas’ Tower is named after the Grand Duke of Lithuania of the same name who built the first wooden structures here in the 14th century.
This is the only fully rebuilt part of the palace complex: it’s a three story octagonal tower made out of red bricks.
Inside you can find a museum and a fantastic view over Vilnius – as you can see, it was a bit foggy during our visit.
The easiest way to get to the Gediminas Tower (especially if you’re with a pram) is to take a funicular ride: it takes less than a minute to get to the top! Alternatively, you can take the stairs.
5. Pilies Street
If you’d like to see some more historical buildings, try Pilies Street.
It’s overwhelmingly touristy but has many Lithuanian shops and restaurants.
Make sure you spot The House of the Signatories: it was first mentioned in the documents in the 17th century and moreover in 1918 the Act of Independence of Lithuania was signed here.
Have more time? Come to the Galeriya Autoportretas on the Pilies owned by Vidmantas Martikonis,
6. Užupis district
Užupis district is famous for its artists and art life: you can find art objects and monuments here everywhere!
The people of Užupis proclaimed themselves a Republic in 1997 and even have their own constitution, president, anthem and so on. Don’t miss the Užupis Angel, a symbol of Užupis, and The Mermaid statue located under the Užupis Bridge over the Vilnia River.
7. St. Anne’s Church
St. Anne’s Church is the most famous church of the city. It is located by the Vilnia River, with its stunning red brick facade being one of the city’s symbols.
It was erected in the 15th century and is dedicated to Saint Anne, mother of Virgin Mary.
It had a few fires and suffered a partial destruction from Napoleon troops (and Napoleon was said to ultimately admire it!) but this gothic masterpiece is still standing strong!
8. Gate of Dawn
The Gate of Dawn is the only surviving city gate of Vilnius (out of 10!) constructed in the 16th century – and it also carries a religious importance.
You can spot the Blessed Virgin Mary image inside a chapel there: this 17th century image of Virgin Mary carrying Christ is considered to have powers to help people start a family.
9. Bastion of the Vilnius Defensive Wall
Come to the Bastion of the Vilnius Defensive Wall: you can visit a museum inside to learn about the weapons and military strategies used in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania or just observe it from the outside!
The bastion was erected as a part of fortifications around the city after Lithuanian Grand Duke Alexander promised to provide Vilnius with a defensive wall system in 1503. It was rebuilt in the last century after having fallen into decay and opened as a museum in 1987. During our visit it held an exhibition about Qalqans, the Symbols of Crimean Tatars.
10. Presidential palace
The Presidential palace is the official residence of the Lithuanian president. Initially this building was built in the 14th century and largely reconstructed in the 18th century and then again in the 19th century by Vasily Stasov (Lithuania was under the rule of the Russian Empire at that point).
This palace was used by bishops and by the Governor-General of Vilnius later and welcomed many kings and rulers as their guests. The Alumnatas, a theological school dating to the 16th century, is located in a short walk too. Right across the road you can spot Vilnius university, one of the oldest in Europe. The palace is a must see spot in December as it’s lavishly decorated for Christmas and you can find a magnificent Xmas Tree in its courtyard.
11. Vilnius Picture Gallery
The Vilnius Picture Gallery (Lithuanian National Museum of Art) isn an art gallery showcasing both Lithuanian and international artists, spread through several floors of the historic Chodkevičius-Puslovskis Palace.
The paintings date from the 16th century till modern days. We absolutely loved the Senses temporary exhibition (very well made) and the exhibition of young artists!
12. Church of St. Casimir
The Church of St. Casimir dedicated to Prince Casimir, local saint (read more about him in the Cathedral section) is the oldest baroque church of the city: it dates to 1618! During the Soviet period it housed the Museum of Atheism but now it’s been reconsecrated; come inside to see its main altar and the organ!
And there are lots and lots of other churches around Vilnius – you might want to explore a few more of them!
It includes the orthodox church of St Nikolas and the orthodox church of St Paraskeva, Church of St. John, and the baroque church of St. Peter and St. Paul dating to the 17th century.
Besides that, you might like the Church of Michael the Archangel now housing the Church museum.
13. Town hall
When you’re in Vilnius, don’t miss its Town Hall! Originally it was erected in gothic style in the 15th century but this magnificent neoclassical building you see today dates to the late 18th century.
You can pop inside for a nice meal in a restaurant inside (see below). The square in front of it is a site for different events and entertainment projects (in winter there’s an ice rink).
14. Three Crosses memorial
The Three Crosses memorial is dedicated to Franciscan friars who died as martyrs from pagans when christianity had only arrived in the country: they died on this very hill, some were tied to crosses, other were crucified. In the 17th century the first crosses were erected to commemorate these tragic events. The best spot to see it is probably from the Gediminas tower, but you can also walk up the hill there of course. In the latter case, see Bernardine Garden there too.
15. Ghetto Memorial
Vilnius as well as other Eastern European cities suffered from Nazi during WWII. You can learn about these events in the museum. Also spot the Memorial plaque at the entrance to the Small (Second) Ghetto in Vilnius at the 3 Gaono St: from this site 11 thousand Jews were taken to their death. The gate to the main Ghetto is located at the Rūdninkų g. 18.
16. National museum of Lithuania: Old Arsenal
The National Museum of Lithuania, celebrating its 170th anniversary this year, consists of several museums. The New Arsenal one is sadly closed for renovation right now but we visited the Old Arsenal instead! Here you can learn about the most ancient part of Lithuanian history, starting from the Stone Age till around 13-14th centuries.
Early weapons, ceramics, canoe and oars, religious pagan traditions, protolanguage, use of metal and weaving materials, – everything you need to know about the daily life of Baltic tribes is presented here. And they have super cool interactive displays for kids too!
17. Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, located in the former office of Soviet NKVD (KGB) from 1940 to 1991.
The museum opened in 1992. You can see there the real prison in the basement where Lithuanians were kept, interrogated and killed, as well as learn of the partisan fight against the USSR, of mass deportations and the spying system established in the country. A part of the exhibition is dedicated to the Holocaust and Nazi occupation of Lithuania as well.
18. Akropolis
The Akropolis is the largest shopping centre in the Baltic states! If you need anything, you’ll definitely find it here. Kids-friendly spaces, restaurants, fashion department, pharmacies, cafes and lots more!
The Akropolis is located a short ride from the historical city centre.
19. Literati Street
Literatų gatvė, or Literati Street, is a short street in a historical centre of Vilnius. This is a very unusual landmark: both sides of it are covered with plaques and displays commemorating artists and writers who lived in Vilnius or are connected to Lithuania.
Originally the street was known as Mykolas Alley, but in 1823 famous Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz lived on this street too – and that’s why the street was renamed! From 2009 to 2014 during a special project the plaques were added to the street, and now you can find a couple hundred of them.
20. Amber Gallery-Museum
All the Baltic States are famous for their amber, and in the Amber Gallery-Museum you can learn about amber formation and various inclusions such as mosquitos and little lizards.
Some people believe that rare pieces of amber also have some healing powers. The shop is located there too (but there are plenty of amber shops in Vilnius if you’d like to acquire a souvenir somewhere else).
21. Gediminas avenue
The Gediminas avenue is the main street of the city and is a must visit. There are lots of cafes, monuments, green spaces and shops! Many administrative buildings erected in the 19th century are also located here.
Where to eat in Vilnius
Vilnius has a lot of high cuisine restaurants and regular cafes, you can come to any depending on your budget. Here are some of my recommendations. Crustum, Caffeine, Vero Cafe, Caif Cafe are among the most widely spread coffeeshops in the city, pop in any! And I really like that Vilnius has lots of cafes in bookshops (like Depeche coffee, for instance) – good idea for book lovers! If you’re looking for Georgian cuisine, Georgian House is a gem!
For a perfect French meal right inside the Town Hall of Vilnius come to the Restoranas Kristoforas (Bib gourmand).
Visit Ertlio Namas (Michelin guide) for Modern Lithuanian cuisine: we had beaver pâté, birch juice and chanterelles among other impressive dishes. If you’re looking for something more on a budget, Katpėdėle was always one of the top choices for local cuisine.
I could also recommend our favourite hotel in Vilnius – the Grand hotel – for their cuisine as well.
And finally – did you know that Lithuania is famous for its cold pink soup šaltibarščiai with beetroot and boiled egg? There are many souvenirs with it everywhere (like socks!) and they even have a festival dedicated to this soup!
Looking for day trips from Vilnius? Come to Kaunas or Trakai!
Kaunas is a lovely city on the Nemanas river with lots of history, churches and a castle, and it took us about an hour to get there by car.
Trakai, on the other hand, is located closer to Vilnius, in 30-45 min depending on traffic. The main attraction of it is the picturesque Island Castle where the Grand Dukes lived surrounded by lakes!
Where to stay?
Both times I’ve been in Vilnius I’ve stayed in the Grand hotel, recently renovated property on the main historical square close to all landmarks of the city. Check my previous reviews to see more.
You can also check my article about winter in Vilnius .
Hope you liked my blog,
Yours,
Anna xxx
