Free things to do · Vilnius · Lithuania
11 free things to do in Vilnius
Vilnius without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gytis Grižas https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16452479, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Vilnius without paying an entry fee: Old Town walk: Pilies street to the Gate of Dawn, Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square, Gate of Dawn and Užupis are all free. Eat your main meal at lunchtime, when weekday menus cost far less than dinner.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 11
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and October–November
Free sights and experiences
Neighbourhood · Old Town
1.Old Town walk: Pilies street to the Gate of Dawn
Detour into the courtyards behind street arches; many hold cafés and are open to walk through.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Religious site · Old Town
2.Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square
Find the Stebuklas tile between the cathedral and the bell tower, then climb the tower for a view over the square.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
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Religious site · Old Town
3.Gate of Dawn
Climb the stairs to the chapel quietly, as services are frequent, and look back at the gate from the outside for its Renaissance attic.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Neighbourhood · Užupis
4.Užupis
Look for the constitution plaques in your own language, then follow the Vilnia upstream past the riverside cafés.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Couples
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Religious site · Old Town
5.St Anne's Church
See it at dusk, when the brickwork glows, and then cross into Užupis over the nearby bridge.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Religious site · Antakalnis
6.Church of St Peter and St Paul
Walk there along the Neris in about 25 minutes from Cathedral Square, or take a bus, and visit outside service times.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Kalnai Park
7.Hill of Three Crosses
Come for sunset, when the Old Town glows below, and bring a torch for the path down.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Photo spot
Historic site · Old Town
8.Jewish Vilnius and the Choral Synagogue
A guided walking tour adds context to sites that are easy to miss, such as former synagogue locations and ghetto gates.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
Park · Old Town
9.Bernardine Garden
Walk through it between Cathedral Square and Užupis, and let children play by the fountains on warm days.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
Nature · Antakalnis
10.Pavilniai Regional Park and Puckoriai outcrop
Walk from Užupis upstream along the Vilnia to Belmontas, then continue to the Puckoriai platform for the view.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
Park · Žvėrynas
11.Vingis Park
Rent a bike and loop through the park and along the Neris riverside path back towards the centre.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town | Old Town walk: Pilies street to the Gate of Dawn, Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square, Gate of Dawn, St Anne's Church, Jewish Vilnius and the Choral Synagogue and Bernardine Garden | Half a day + 1 hour + 20–30 minutes + 20 minutes + 1.5–2 hours + 45 minutes |
| Užupis | Užupis | 1–2 hours |
| Antakalnis | Church of St Peter and St Paul and Pavilniai Regional Park and Puckoriai outcrop | 30–45 minutes + 2–3 hours |
| Kalnai Park | Hill of Three Crosses | 1 hour |
| Žvėrynas | Vingis Park | 1–2 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Castle · Old Town
Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill
Go up in the late afternoon for the best light over the Old Town roofs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Historic site · Old Town
Vilnius University
Start at the Great Courtyard and finish in the Littera bookshop, which is free to enter.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Museum · Gediminas Avenue
Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
Allow time for the basement; it is the most powerful part of the visit and not suitable for young children.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Šnipiškės
Energy and Technology Museum
Let children try the interactive exhibits after seeing the turbines and boilers.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
More ways to save
- Eat your main meal at lunchtime, when weekday menus cost far less than dinner.
- Many of the city's highlights are free: the churches, the Gate of Dawn, Užupis, the Hill of Three Crosses and the riverside parks.
- Ride-hailing apps are inexpensive and show the fare upfront, so they often cost little more than a bus for two people.
- Trains to Trakai and Kaunas are inexpensive; buy tickets online or at the station.
- Visit outside July and August and the Christmas period for the lowest hotel rates.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Vilnius expensive to visit?
Vilnius is affordable for most visitors, but 11 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Vilnius?
Old Town walk: Pilies street to the Gate of Dawn: Detour into the courtyards behind street arches; many hold cafés and are open to walk through.