Travel guide · Lithuania
Vilnius travel guide
Baroque old town, a self-declared artists' republic and wooded river valleys
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: BigHead, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
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 hills wrap around the centre, so viewpoints such as Gediminas' Tower and the Hill of Three Crosses are a short climb from the streets. Across the Vilnia, Užupis declares itself a republic of artists, and Trakai's island castle is 30 km away. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–September.
Key facts
- Country
- Lithuania
- Best time to visit
- May–September
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- VNO, KUN
- Mid-range daily budget
- $100–$170 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Baroque Old Town, Gediminas' Tower, Užupis and Gate of Dawn
Why visit Vilnius
- The Old Town's baroque churches, including St Peter and St Paul with more than 2,000 stucco figures, are among the finest in Northern Europe.
- Vilnius University's courtyards, founded in 1579, can be explored with a ticket, along with the frescoed Littera bookshop.
- Užupis, a riverside district that declared itself a republic on 1 April 1997, posts its tongue-in-cheek constitution in dozens of languages on Paupio street.
- Hot-air balloons regularly fly over the Old Town on calm evenings, something few European capitals allow.
- Food, beer and hotels cost noticeably less than in Western Europe, and Trakai and Kaunas are easy day trips.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Neighbourhood · Old Town
Old Town walk: Pilies street to the Gate of Dawn
A walk south from Cathedral Square along Pilies and Didžioji streets passes the Town Hall Square, baroque churches such as St Casimir's and the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, and side lanes such as Literatų gatvė, whose wall is covered with small artworks dedicated to writers.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Religious site · Old Town
Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square
Rebuilt in neoclassical style by Laurynas Gucevičius at the end of the 18th century, the cathedral has a temple-like portico and, inside, the baroque Chapel of St Casimir.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Castle · Old Town
Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill
The red-brick octagonal tower on Castle Hill is the surviving part of the Upper Castle of the Grand Dukes and flies the Lithuanian flag.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
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Religious site · Old Town
Gate of Dawn
Built in the early 16th century as part of the city walls, the Gate of Dawn (Aušros vartai) is the only one of the original gates to survive.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Neighbourhood · Užupis
Užupis
The 'Republic of Užupis' was declared by local artists on 1 April 1997 and has its own flag, president and a constitution whose articles, such as 'Everyone has the right to be happy', are displayed on mirrored plaques in dozens of languages on Paupio street.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Couples
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Palace · Old Town
Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
Demolished in the early 19th century, the Grand Dukes' palace behind the cathedral was rebuilt on its original foundations and opened as a museum in the 2010s.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Where to stay
Old Town is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and nightlife
Old Town
Baroque churches, university courtyards and cobbled lanes from Cathedral Square to the Gate of Dawn
$$ · Best for couples, solo travellers and culture
Užupis
Bohemian 'republic' of artists' studios and riverside cafés across the Vilnia
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Gediminas Avenue
The main boulevard of shops, government buildings and cafés from the Cathedral to Parliament
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and nightlife
Naujamiestis
Former industrial 'New Town' near the stations, with converted factories and good-value stays
What to eat
- Potato dumplings — Large, zeppelin-shaped dumplings of grated potato stuffed with minced meat or curd cheese, served with sour cream and a sauce of fried bacon bits (spirgai).
- Cold pink soup — A bright pink cold soup of kefir, beetroot, cucumber, dill and egg, served with hot boiled potatoes on the side.
- Kibinai — Crescent-shaped pastries filled with mutton, beef, chicken or vegetables, brought to Lithuania by the Karaim community of Trakai.
- Fried rye bread — Strips of black rye bread deep-fried, rubbed with garlic and often served with a cheese dip.
- Black rye bread — Dense, dark rye bread, often with caraway, served with almost every meal and treated with respect: traditionally it should never be placed upside down.
- Tree cake — A tall, branched cake made by dripping egg-rich batter onto a rotating spit over an open flame, creating spikes like a fir tree.
When to go
The best time to visit Vilnius is May to September, when the Old Town's courtyards and terraces are open, balloons fly on calm evenings and day trips to Trakai's lakes are at their best. Early March brings the St Casimir's Fair, and December has the Christmas tree and market on Cathedral Square. January and February are cold but quiet and inexpensive.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | St Casimir's Fair in early March, a fast thaw in April and warm, bright May days. |
| Summer | June–August | Long evenings, outdoor dining, balloon flights and lake swimming near Trakai, with afternoon showers. |
| Autumn | September–November | Mild September, golden river valleys in early October, then grey skies and candlelit cemeteries in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold and snowy, with the Christmas tree on Cathedral Square, quiet museums and low prices. |
Getting there and around
Vilnius Airport is about 6 km south of the Old Town. Trains link it to the main railway station in under 10 minutes but run only at intervals, while city buses reach the station and centre in about 15–20 minutes and taxis or ride-hailing cars in about 15 minutes. Kaunas Airport, used by some low-cost airlines, is about 100 km away with coach connections of roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.
The Old Town and Užupis are best explored on foot, and most sights are within 20 minutes' walk of Cathedral Square. Buses and trolleybuses cover the rest of the city; there is no metro or tram.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Old Town, Cathedral Square, the university, Užupis and a viewpoint. A third day adds the MO Museum, the KGB museum and St Peter and St Paul; with four or five you can visit Trakai and Kaunas.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Lithuanian
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink and comes from underground sources.
- Emergency number
- 112 (all emergencies)
- Tipping
- Tipping around 10% for good table service is customary in restaurants but not compulsory.
Vilnius is generally low-risk for visitors, but pickpocketing occurs in the busy Old Town and around the railway and bus stations. Cobbles are slippery when wet or icy, so wear sturdy shoes, especially in winter.
Flights to Vilnius
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Vilnius?
Two days covers the Old Town, Cathedral Square, the university, Užupis and a viewpoint. A third day adds the MO Museum, the KGB museum and St Peter and St Paul; with four or five you can visit Trakai and Kaunas. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Vilnius?
The best time to visit Vilnius is May to September, when the Old Town's courtyards and terraces are open, balloons fly on calm evenings and day trips to Trakai's lakes are at their best. Early March brings the St Casimir's Fair, and December has the Christmas tree and market on Cathedral Square. January and February are cold but quiet and inexpensive.
+What is Vilnius known for?
Baroque Old Town, Gediminas' Tower, Užupis, Gate of Dawn, Cepelinai, Hot-air balloons and Trakai Island Castle. The Old Town's baroque churches, including St Peter and St Paul with more than 2,000 stucco figures, are among the finest in Northern Europe.
+Is Vilnius expensive?
Vilnius is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $100–$170 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Vilnius?
No. The centre is walkable and Trakai and Kaunas are easy by train or bus. A car helps for Kernavė, Europos Parkas, the Hill of Crosses and the countryside.