Sight guide · Vilnius · Lithuania
Visiting 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.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jerzy Strzelecki, CC BY-SA 3.0
_Vilnius.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Gate of Dawn is a religious site in Old Town, Vilnius. Allow 20–30 minutes; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Religious site
- Area
- Old Town
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, history and architecture
- Best months
- March–April and October
About 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. A chapel above the arch holds a revered painting of the Virgin Mary, and pilgrims from Lithuania and Poland come to pray before it. Entry to the chapel is free.
Tip: Climb the stairs to the chapel quietly, as services are frequent, and look back at the gate from the outside for its Renaissance attic.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Old Town, baroque churches, university courtyards and cobbled lanes from Cathedral Square to the Gate of Dawn.
Best time to visit Gate of Dawn
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- April: 12°C (54°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- March: 4°C (39°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- October: 10°C (50°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Vilnius has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Vilnius itinerary visits Gate of Dawn on day 2, together with Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and St Anne's Church.
- No. 4 of the 19 sights in our Vilnius things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Vilnius.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Vilnius.
Near Gate of Dawn
Also in Old Town, so you can walk between them:
- Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania — 2 hours, mid-priced
- St Anne's Church — 20 minutes, free
- Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill — 1 hour, low cost
If you like Gate of Dawn
- Church of St Peter and St Paul — Antakalnis, 30–45 minutes
Staying near Gate of Dawn
Stay in Old Town ($$$) to walk here: baroque churches, university courtyards and cobbled lanes from Cathedral Square to the Gate of Dawn. All areas to stay in Vilnius.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Gate of Dawn?
Plan 20–30 minutes. With Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania nearby, it fits a half-day in Old Town.
+Is Gate of Dawn free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Gate of Dawn?
March–April and October, the quietest of the good months. Climb the stairs to the chapel quietly, as services are frequent, and look back at the gate from the outside for its Renaissance attic.
+Do I need to book Gate of Dawn in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.