Comparison · Vilnius vs Warsaw · Lithuania / Poland
Vilnius vs Warsaw
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: BigHead, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Vilnius for Baroque Old Town and Gediminas' Tower; choose Warsaw for Rebuilt Old Town and Warsaw Uprising. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 393 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 393 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Vilnius
- May–September
- Best time for Warsaw
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Vilnius | Warsaw | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Lithuania | Poland |
| Known for | Baroque Old Town, Gediminas' Tower and Užupis | Rebuilt Old Town, Warsaw Uprising and Chopin |
| Best time to visit | May–September | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$170 | $100–$180 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 23°C (73°F) | July, 25°C (77°F) |
| Coldest month | January, -2°C (28°F) | January, 0°C (32°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | VNO, KUN | WAW, WMI |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Vilnius for…
Baroque Old Town and Gediminas' Tower. Vilnius has one of the largest surviving old towns in Central and Eastern Europe, a UNESCO-listed maze of baroque churches, university courtyards and cobbled lanes running from Cathedral Square to the Gate of Dawn. The Neris and Vilnia rivers and wooded…
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Choose Warsaw for…
Rebuilt Old Town and Warsaw Uprising. Poland's capital was largely destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt with remarkable care: its Old Town, reconstructed from paintings and photographs, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Warsaw's museums — the Warsaw Rising Museum, POLIN and the…
Top sights compared
| # | Vilnius | Warsaw |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Town walk: Pilies street to the Gate of Dawn | Old Town Market Square |
| 2 | Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square | Royal Castle |
| 3 | Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill | Castle Square and Sigismund's Column |
| 4 | Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania | Royal Route: Krakowskie Przedmieście and Nowy Świat |
| 5 | Gate of Dawn | Łazienki Park |
Food compared
| Vilnius | Warsaw |
|---|---|
| Potato dumplings | Pierogi |
| Cold pink soup | Pyzy |
| Kibinai | Żurek |
| Fried rye bread | Kotlet schabowy |
Which is cheaper?
Vilnius and Warsaw cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $100–$170 in Vilnius and $100–$180 in Warsaw (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Vilnius on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Vilnius and Warsaw are about 393 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Vilnius and 3 in Warsaw.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Vilnius or Warsaw cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $100–$170 in Vilnius and $100–$180 in Warsaw (estimates).
+Is Vilnius or Warsaw better for a first trip?
Pick Vilnius for Baroque Old Town and Gediminas' Tower, or Warsaw for Rebuilt Old Town and Warsaw Uprising.
+How far is Vilnius from Warsaw?
About 393 km in a straight line.