Month guide · Vilnius · Lithuania
Vilnius in January
What January is really like in Vilnius: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of -2°C (28°F), lows of -7°C (19°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 7.8 hours of daylight. Cold and often snowy, with short days; quiet and inexpensive, good for museums and cafés.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -2°C (28°F) / -7°C (19°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 7.8 hours
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Vilnius: days average -2°C (28°F) against a yearly average high of 11°C (52°F), and nights fall to about -7°C (19°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with December (0°C (32°F)), January is cooler; by February highs stay near -1°C (30°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:33
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:23
- Daylight
- About 7.8 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and snowy, with the Christmas tree on Cathedral Square, quiet museums and low prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Vilnius Light Festival — light installations around the city's birthday (usually late January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Palace · Old Town
Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
Start with the archaeological route in the basement, which shows the original walls the reconstruction rests on.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Historic site · Old Town
Vilnius University
Founded by the Jesuits in 1579, Vilnius University is one of the oldest universities in Central and Eastern Europe.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Gallery · Old Town
MO Museum
Combine it with lunch in the Old Town; the museum is a few minutes' walk from Vokiečių street.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Gediminas Avenue
Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
Housed in the former KGB headquarters on Gediminas Avenue, this museum covers the Soviet and Nazi occupations, deportations to Siberia and the post-war partisan resistance.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near -2°C, lows near -7°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Vilnius?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Vilnius in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Vilnius?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and often snowy, with short days; quiet and inexpensive, good for museums and cafés.
+How warm is Vilnius in January?
Average highs are around -2°C (28°F) and lows around -7°C (19°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Vilnius in January?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.