While it is undeniable that it does not have the medieval historic centre of Tallinn , nor the art nouveau architecture of Riga , and it may go somewhat unnoticed, saying that Vilnius is ugly or uninteresting is a great fallacy. The capital of Lithuania knows how to thank those who visit it with quiet corners, a peaceful historic centre, quality restaurants and the occasional surprise. Below we tell you 20 things to see and do in Vilnius .
⭐ We encourage you to join this free tour of Vilnius in Spanish to discover the most interesting places in the city with a local guide
1. Most of the interesting places to visit are concentrated in the historic centre of Vilnius (although not all, as you will see in the article). This is distributed around Pilies and Didžioji streets , the two main arteries of the old city. So, for now and to get to know Vilnius a little better, walk around them and notice its medieval and baroque atmosphere.
2. Walk to Town Hall Square , the nerve centre of Vilnius, where you can visit the old town hall ( Vilniaus Rotušė ) which is now an exhibition centre and the headquarters of the tourist office. The building is not a marvel but the square is one of the most lively places in all of Lithuania, it is full of terraces where you can have a coffee or a beer (even better if the weather is nice, of course!).
3. Although Vilnius was one of the last pagan cities in Europe, today it is known as the city of churches . It has about 28 and is apparently the place with the most churches per population! Unlike its neighbors, Lithuania is a country with a Catholic majority, although you can also see Orthodox and Lutheran churches. Two of the most beautiful are the Church of St. Anne , and adjacent to it, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi , thanks especially to its Gothic architecture full of details. Curiosity: they say that even Napoleon himself fell under the spell of this place and joked saying that if it were up to him, he would carry it in his hand to Paris.
4. The most impressive, especially for its imposing neoclassical façade, with enormous columns and crowned with statues of the four evangelists, is the Vilnius Cathedral . It is the main Catholic temple in the country, and was built on the same site where the remains of ancient pagan temples were found. Inside you can visit the crypt and the catacombs ( guided tour only , €6), where many of the historical figures and grand dukes of Lithuania are buried. In the same square we see the bell tower , which you can climb to enjoy beautiful views from 45 meters high (€5, more info ).
5. Although without a doubt, the best views of the city (and they are free) are those obtained from the Hill of the Three Crosses . According to legend, 7 Franciscan friars from Germany arrived in Vilnius with the purpose of evangelizing the population. But they did not receive the welcome they were expecting, and ended up being decapitated on this hill, hung on crosses and thrown down the river. In memory of these "martyred" monks, these 3 enormous crosses were placed, which look down on the entire city from above. To get there from the center it takes about 30 minutes along a path, with about 250 steps. The effort will be worth it, and even better if you go up to see the sunset.
6. Vilnius, like the other Baltic capitals, was surrounded by a huge defensive wall and as many as 8 entrance gates. Of these, only one remains today: the Gate of Dawn . Inside, there is a chapel with an icon of Our Lady, much loved by Lithuanians. It is said to be miraculous and to have cured the illnesses of the faithful for centuries. In fact, during the attacks of the Russian Empire in 1799, this gate was respected for fear of its occult powers…
7. Do you want to learn more about the history of this small and unknown country, which was once one of the powers of Europe? A good place to do so is the National Museum of Lithuania , which tells the story of the development of the country from the Middle Ages to the present day. Admission is only €2.
8. A very interesting part of the city is Gediminas Avenue , full of shops, restaurants and the best thing: lots of atmosphere. There are always street artists, locals and tourists walking around here, and it is also the place where many important buildings are located, such as the Parliament of Lithuania, the National Theatre or the Academy of Music. Fun fact: the avenue is dedicated to Gediminas , who was the leader of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania between 1316 and 1341, a territory that at one time was one of the largest in the world and which included part of Kievan Rus (almost nothing).
9. This important figure in Lithuanian history decided to build a defensive fortress to protect the city from possible enemy attacks. Today only one tower remains, the Gediminas Tower , which is very well preserved by the way. To get there you will have to take a long walk (or for the lazy ones there is the option of the cable car). More than for the site itself or the exhibition, it is worth going up to enjoy the views over Vilnius (5€, more info ).
10. The Bastion of Vilnius is a semicircular construction in the old defensive wall of the city. Inside there is an exhibition of its history (4€), although we liked it for the walk around it and for its location on a small hill, with beautiful views of the city. Nearby there is also a very cool viewing point with an unpronounceable name: “ Subačiaus apžvalgos aikštelė ”. From here the panoramic view of the historic centre and the Uzupis neighbourhood is amazing.
11. Vilnius University occupies a good part of the historic centre and is the oldest in all the Baltic countries. For just €1.50 you can visit the inside, passing through its courtyards and some buildings. Highlights include the library , which will make you feel like you're in Hogwarts, St John's Church and the free-standing bell tower (you can climb it for €3), the Observatory Courtyard and the hall of the Faculty of Philology , with some crazy murals by Petras Repšys, which seemed to us to be a hybrid between the art of Dali, El Bosco and Dante Alighieri's Inferno/Purgatorio.
12. One of the most curious places in Vilnius is the so-called Republic of Uzupis . A group of artists and bohemians declared their independence on April 1, 1997 (coinciding with April Fools ' Day ) and it's a very nice area, with cafes, art galleries and original corners. Don't expect an alternative neighborhood like Christiania in Copenhagen or Metelkova in Ljubljana , but it has its own vibe. Go through Tibet Square, a square decorated with colorful Tibetan flags, Keistoteka Bookstore, where there's a cat that's a legend, and Paupio Street where you can read its own constitution in a ton of languages.
13. One spot that we did find somewhat alternative was the Vijokliai Beer Garden . It's a good place to spend a fun night, drinking a beer on its interior terrace. This enclave in Vilnius became famous for a mural on its façade in which Trump appeared blowing smoke into Putin 's mouth . It's no longer there (there's a replica inside the bar), although there's some very nice street art on the large walls of the building. Here you can see the locations of the best murals in Vilnius .
14. Although, if we're talking about views, the best ones are probably those from the top of the TV tower , the tallest tower in Lithuania, at 326 metres. In the part that looks like a UFO there is a viewing platform and a rotating restaurant, with 360-degree views. The viewing platform costs €8 (more expensive on the weekend) and the restaurant serves typical Lithuanian dishes from €7-8. It can be an excellent idea to enjoy the last dinner on your visit to Vilnius.
15. And while we're on the subject of Lithuanian cuisine, you should definitely try the most popular national dish: cepelinai , a kind of potato gnocchi filled with meat and covered in a sour sauce with bits of bacon. Yes, they're a calorie bomb, but they're an irresistible delight. The name comes from the fact that they look like a zeppelin, don't you think? Here we recommend 7 restaurants where you can eat well and cheaply in Vilnius .
16. We already told you that Vilnius lacks churches, and another church worth visiting is the Church of St. Casimir , the city's patron saint. It is in the Baroque style, with a curious pink façade and a beautiful dome that looks like a golden crown. Its past is somewhat tumultuous: it was destroyed by fire, it became an Orthodox church and the Soviets even transformed it into a museum of atheism. Its interior has very good acoustics, which are used to host concerts.
17. Other churches that we recommend in Vilnius are: the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul , with an extraordinary decoration inside; the Orthodox Church of St. Paraskeva , a charming church in the city centre where the Russian Tsar Peter the Great was godfather at the baptism of Gannibal (Alexandr Pushkin's great-grandfather). Or the Orthodox Cathedral of Theotokos , the most important of this faith in the country.
18. During the German occupation in WWII, an area of Vilnius was designated as a Jewish ghetto . The entire Jewish community of the city was rounded up there, subjected to forced labour, harassment and, ultimately, massacres. There is a plaque on Stiklių Street commemorating this sad event. This was not the only genocide suffered by the Lithuanians of Vilnius. After WWII and until 1991, it was under Soviet rule, and this was another dark period in its history. You can find out more at the Museum of Genocide Victims , located in the former headquarters of the Gestapo and the KGB. Admission is only €4, so don't hesitate to go. Please note: it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. More information .
19. Do you fancy an unforgettable experience? Are you not afraid of heights? Do you want to propose to your better half but don't know how to do it? A very legendary thing would be to get on a hot air balloon and look at Vilnius from the sky. The joke is not very cheap (estimate about 150€/person) but it is definitely unforgettable!
20. If you are lucky enough to have several days to spare, these are the day trips from Vilnius that we recommend:
- Verkiai Regional Park , where you can relax on the banks of rivers and lakes, or simply enjoy some trekking in nature.
- Kaunas , the second largest city in Lithuania, is not far away. Getting there on your own is very easy as there are frequent buses that take you to the centre after an hour and a half of travel.
- Trakai , to see its famous medieval castle and learn more about the curious history of the Karaim , a small ethnic group with its own language, culture, cuisine and traditions, descended from a Turkish-speaking group who professed Hara'i Judaism. Trakai is about 40 minutes by bus from Vilnius, but there are also options to go on a guided tour .
Map with the best things to see and do in Vilnius
On this map you can see the exact location of the places we recommend you visit in Vilnius
For us, these are the best places to visit in Vilnius. Do you know of more things to see and do in Vilnius ?
