Where to stay · Vilnius · Lithuania
Where to stay in Vilnius
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jodkovska, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Old Town. Baroque churches, university courtyards and cobbled lanes from Cathedral Square to the Gate of Dawn. Best alternatives — families: Gediminas Avenue; budget: Naujamiestis.
Key facts
- First visit
- Old Town
- Families
- Gediminas Avenue
- Budget
- Naujamiestis
- Nightlife
- Old Town
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Old Town | Baroque churches, university courtyards and cobbled lanes from Cathedral Square to the Gate of Dawn |
| Families | Gediminas Avenue | The main boulevard of shops, government buildings and cafés from the Cathedral to Parliament |
| Couples | Old Town | Baroque churches, university courtyards and cobbled lanes from Cathedral Square to the Gate of Dawn |
| Budget | Naujamiestis | Former industrial 'New Town' near the stations, with converted factories and good-value stays |
| Luxury | Šnipiškės | Business district of glass towers and international hotels across the Neris |
| Nightlife | Old Town | Baroque churches, university courtyards and cobbled lanes from Cathedral Square to the Gate of Dawn |
| Solo travellers | Užupis | Bohemian 'republic' of artists' studios and riverside cafés across the Vilnia |
| Shopping | Gediminas Avenue | The main boulevard of shops, government buildings and cafés from the Cathedral to Parliament |
| Quiet stays | Žvėrynas | Leafy riverside district of wooden villas, a Karaite prayer house and Vingis Park nearby |
Vilnius neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and nightlife
Old Town
Vilnius Old Town covers a large area of curving streets, with Pilies and Didžioji streets as its spine, the university and Presidential Palace to the west and the Gate of Dawn at its southern end. Staying here puts every main sight within a 15-minute walk, with courtyard restaurants and bars on Vokiečių street close by.
- Good
- Everything within walking distance; Atmospheric streets and courtyards; Wide range of boutique hotels
- Watch out
- Busy on summer weekends; Some bar noise around Vokiečių street; Cobbles are hard with luggage
- Nearby
- Vilnius Cathedral, Vilnius University, Gate of Dawn, Town Hall Square
$$ · Best for couples, solo travellers and culture
Užupis
Across a bridge from the Old Town's eastern edge, Užupis was a run-down district until artists moved in during the 1990s and declared it an independent republic in 1997. Today its sloping streets have galleries, workshops, cafés on the Vilnia's banks, the Angel of Užupis statue and the constitution plaques on Paupio street, with a mix of guesthouses and apartments.
- Good
- Creative, village-like atmosphere; Short walk to the Old Town; Riverside cafés
- Watch out
- Hilly streets; Few hotels, mostly apartments
- Nearby
- Užupis Constitution, Bernardine Garden, St Anne's Church, Paupys
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Gediminas Avenue
Gedimino prospektas runs west from Cathedral Square to the Seimas (Parliament), lined with 19th-century facades, shops, cafés and the former KGB building that now houses the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights. Hotels here are central but slightly calmer than inside the Old Town, and the Neris riverside is a block to the north.
- Good
- Central and well connected by bus; Shops and cafés on the doorstep; Easy access to the Old Town
- Watch out
- Traffic on side streets; Less historic atmosphere than the Old Town
- Nearby
- Cathedral Square, Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, Lukiškės Square, Neris riverside
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and nightlife
Naujamiestis
South-west of the Old Town, Naujamiestis grew up around the railway in the 19th century and is being reinvented with lofts, offices and venues such as the Loftas art factory. It is the most practical base for early trains and buses and for budget travellers, with the Old Town's Gate of Dawn about 10 minutes' walk from the railway station.
- Good
- Lower prices; Next to the train and bus stations; Creative venues and cafés
- Watch out
- Some streets feel rough or unfinished; Less picturesque
- Nearby
- Vilnius railway station, Vilnius bus station, Loftas, Hales Market
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and couples
Žvėrynas
Žvėrynas sits in a loop of the Neris, west of the centre, with 19th- and early 20th-century wooden villas, the Karaite kenesa and an Orthodox church on its streets. Across the river is Vingis Park, the city's largest. It is quiet and green, about 20–25 minutes' walk or a short bus ride from Cathedral Square.
- Good
- Quiet, green and residential; Riverside walks and parks; Good value apartments
- Watch out
- Few hotels; A walk or bus ride to the Old Town
- Nearby
- Vingis Park, Karaite kenesa, Neris riverside path
$$ · Best for quiet stays and families
Antakalnis
Antakalnis stretches north-east from the Old Town along the Neris, past the church of St Peter and St Paul and the restored Sapieha Palace and park, towards wooded hills and the historic Antakalnis cemetery. It is mostly residential and well suited to longer, quieter stays with walking trails nearby.
- Good
- Peaceful and green; Close to forest trails; Baroque landmarks nearby
- Watch out
- Few restaurants in the evenings; Bus needed for the Old Town at night
- Nearby
- Church of St Peter and St Paul, Sapieha Palace, Antakalnis Cemetery, Pavilniai Regional Park
$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping and first-timers
Šnipiškės
Across the White Bridge from the centre, Šnipiškės holds Vilnius's modern business district along Konstitucijos prospektas, including the Europa tower and shopping centre, international chain hotels and conference venues, alongside a few surviving wooden houses. The Old Town is a 15–20 minute walk across the river.
- Good
- Large, modern hotels with good facilities; Shopping centres; Riverside walk to the Old Town
- Watch out
- Corporate feel; Little character in the evenings
- Nearby
- Europa tower, White Bridge, Neris riverside, National Gallery of Art
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town | $$$ | Vilnius Cathedral, Vilnius University, Gate of Dawn, Town Hall Square |
| Užupis | $$ | Užupis Constitution, Bernardine Garden, St Anne's Church, Paupys |
| Gediminas Avenue | $$$ | Cathedral Square, Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, Lukiškės Square, Neris riverside |
| Naujamiestis | $ | Vilnius railway station, Vilnius bus station, Loftas, Hales Market |
| Žvėrynas | $$ | Vingis Park, Karaite kenesa, Neris riverside path |
| Antakalnis | $$ | Church of St Peter and St Paul, Sapieha Palace, Antakalnis Cemetery, Pavilniai Regional Park |
| Šnipiškės | $$$ | Europa tower, White Bridge, Neris riverside, National Gallery of Art |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Vilnius for first-time visitors?
Old Town. Vilnius Old Town covers a large area of curving streets, with Pilies and Didžioji streets as its spine, the university and Presidential Palace to the west and the Gate of Dawn at its southern end.
+Where should families stay in Vilnius?
Gediminas Avenue: Central and well connected by bus.
+Which area of Vilnius is best for a budget stay?
Naujamiestis ($): Former industrial 'New Town' near the stations, with converted factories and good-value stays.