Sight guide · Vilnius · Lithuania
Visiting 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.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gytis Grižas https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16452479, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill is a castle in Old Town, Vilnius. Allow 1 hour; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Area
- Old Town
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- views, history and photo spot
- Best months
- March–April and October
About 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. A small museum inside covers the castle's history, and the platform at the top gives the classic view over the Old Town's spires and the Neris.
Tip: Go up in the late afternoon for the best light over the Old Town roofs.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Low cost.
- 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 Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill
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.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-April the sun sets at about 20:22 local time (calculated for Vilnius).
When to visit Vilnius has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Vilnius itinerary visits Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill on day 1, together with Old Town walk: Pilies street to the Gate of Dawn and Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square.
- No. 3 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.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Vilnius.
- A family favourite in Vilnius with kids.
Near Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill
Also in Old Town, so you can walk between them:
- Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square — 1 hour, free
- Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania — 2 hours, mid-priced
- Old Town walk: Pilies street to the Gate of Dawn — half a day, free
If you like Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill
- Hill of Three Crosses — Kalnai Park, 1 hour
- Vilnius TV Tower — Karoliniškės, 1.5 hours
Staying near Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill
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 Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill?
Plan 1 hour. With Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square nearby, it fits a half-day in Old Town.
+Is Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill?
March–April and October, the quietest of the good months. Go up in the late afternoon for the best light over the Old Town roofs.
+Do I need to book Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Gediminas' Tower and Castle Hill good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Vilnius. Vilnius is compact and relaxed with children, with traffic-free Old Town streets, riverside parks and playgrounds, and castles that feel like a fairy tale.