25 Fascinating Things To Do in Vilnius Lithuania

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Vilnius is the capital city of Lithuania and is located in the southeastern part of the country. It is also the country’s largest city and is packed with history dating back as far as the 13th century, so there are plenty of things to do in Vilnius Lithuania – and not all of them involve history!

Often, when you hear about the Baltic States, people are talking about Riga, Latvia or Tallinn, Estonia. Vilnius doesn’t appear to be a city on many people’s list, so naturally, I was intrigued to visit.

I fell in love with the city after spending just under 3 days here, so I am here to tell you all about the things to do in Vilnius and how you can make the most of a weekend break to this underrated European destination.

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25 Fascinating Things To Do in Vilnius Lithuania

Things To Do in Vilnius (and what to skip)

Nishi on Gediminas Hill sat on the wall, looking out at the view of Vilnius

1. Gediminas Castle Tower

Gediminas Tower is the red brick turret that you can see from almost anywhere in Vilnius. There has been a brick castle of some description on this hill since 1409, and although it has served many different purposes since then, including being home to the first telegraph building in Vilnius, it is now a small museum which you can visit for €5.

The views from the hill, however, are free, and totally worth the legwork it takes to get to the top. Alternatively, you can take a short funicular ride up to the top for €2 one way or €3 return.

It is a great spot to walk around and spend some time soaking up the atmosphere, particularly at sunset. This is one of the best, and most popular things to do in Vilnius.

2. Hill of Three Crosses

If you fancy some more uphill walking, head across the river to the Hill of Three Crosses, which are just about visible from Gediminas Hill. The Three Crosses is a monument to the resistance of past occupation that also offers up a fantastic view of the city. From here, you will get an idea of just how green Vilnius is; with approximately one-third of the city covered in forest.

3. Stroll through Užupis

From the Three Crosses monument, you can follow a path that takes you down to the Vilnia River and over to the trendy neighbourhood of Užupis. This gritty, artsy area is a self-proclaimed independent republic and has its own constitution, coat of arms, own flag and even their own currency.

Užupis is now a UNESCO world heritage site and they have 3 rules you need to adhere to; smile, stick to a 20mph speed limit or you will end up in the shallow river that runs through it and admire the art. There is some cool street art to discover here, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

I would suggest spending a couple of hours here admiring the art, soaking up the atmosphere, grabbing a drink or visiting a cute tea shop or bakery.

4. Paupio Turgus

If you walk through Užupis away from the Old Town, you will find Paupio Turgus; a modern food hall with a variety or cuisines from around the world. The decor here is such a contract from the Old Town; with green foliage all around, black lighting and a glass ceiling making it bright and airy.

This is a great place to grab some lunch, have some drinks or hang out on the outdoor terrace if the weather is nice. There were a number of people who were having meetings or working remotely from there too, which is great if you are a digital nomad or live locally.

camembert and raspberry jam burger at Paupio Turgus, Vilnius

5. Church of St. Anne and Bernardine Complex

After lunch, you can make your way back into Vilnius old town via one of the oldest Gothic churches in Vilnius, the Church of Saint Anne. Originally built in the 15th century, with recent interior reconstruction taking place in the early 20th century. This 500-year-old church remains a prime example of how Gothic architecture so beautiful.

You will spot the Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard just behind it as well as the Bell Tower to the right of it. This is housed in a separate building to the church, which is not common practice, but it is because the vibrations of the bells ringing can damage the bricks of the church.

Church of St. Anne and Bernardine Complex

6. Vilnius Cathedral

Vilnius Cathedral is a very austere Cathedral in the centre of the city that is worth seeing, but quite frankly, won’t be winning any awards for beautiful architecture any time soon. This was once a Pagan temple that has been built and rebuilt many times in the last few hundred years. The most recent renovations took place as recently as 2008.

Note that the Cathedral looks better from the outside in the evening when it is all lit up, but it likely won’t be open for you to go inside past a certain time.

7. Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower

Detached from the cathedral, you will find the bell tower at 57 meters tall.

While you can enter the cathedral for free, you will need to purchase a ticket for €6 to go to the top of the bell tower to admire the view. The bell tower is also where you buy tickets to the cathedral crypt, which you can access only with a tour guide.

We chose not to pay for the bell tower as we’d heard the views aren’t that great, and there is mesh surrounding the viewing platform, making it difficult for photography. The view from Gediminas Tower which is free, is however, a lot better.

8. Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania

Next door to the cathedral is the Palace Museum; said to be one of the best history museums in the entire city, particularly if you are interested in the history of Lithuania.

The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was originally built in the 15th century for the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the future kings of Poland. In the 19th century, it was destroyed by the Tsarist Russian administration and was only rebuilt to its current state in 2018. Critics discount the Palace because it is a modern reconstruction, but if you want to learn about the history of the country, there is no better place.

Entry costs €13 for adults, or you get a discounted rate if you have a Vilnius Pass. Just be aware that the Palace is closed on Mondays.

9. National History Museum of Lithuania

The National History Museum covers all aspects of Lithuanian history, with the addition of culture and religion too. It is very close to the Palace of the Grand Dukes and while it is located in a beautiful historic building and houses a vast collection of artefacts that tell the story of Lithuania’s rich history, there is some overlap with the Palace.

If you had to pick one place to visit, I would opt for the Palace of the Grand Dukes. You don’t need to visit both places unless you are interested to delve more into the cultural aspects of Lithuania.

10. St. John’s Church Bell Tower

One site not to miss is St. John’s Church Bell Tower at Vilnius University; one of my favourite things to do in Vilnius. The university is the oldest in the Baltics and in Northern Europe, and you can wander around for free, however the bell tower is really the star of the show here.

St. John’s Bell Tower was built over 400 years ago and is the tallest building in the Vilnius old town, standing at 68 meters tall. From May to October, visitors can enter the bell tower for only €5 and go all the way to the top for undoubtedly the best view in the entire city.

The tower is closed for the rest of the year, presumably due to the weather.

Nishi and Jass at St. John's Church Bell Tower

You can spend as long as you want up here and it is truly worth the entrance fee.

Note: while there is an elevator to take you up to the top of the tower, you will need to climb up two flights of stairs. It is not accessible and the stairs are quite steep and tough to navigate.

The view from St. John's Church Bell Tower

Nishi looking at the view from St. John's Church Bell Tower

11. Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights

The Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights is in the former KGB building where Lithuanians were terrorised by the Soviet administrators of the state. It is one of the most visited museums in the city.

Also known as the KGB Museum, you can walk the halls of the former KGB prison, learn about the atrocities that occurred here, as well as about the freedom fighters that battled for Lithuanian independence. On the outside of the buildings you’ll see placards listing the names of people killed inside the building.

Note: the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

12. Walk along the Neris River

If it’s a sunny day during your visit to Vilnius, one of the best things to do in Vilnius is to walk or ride a bike along the Neris River; the large river that runs through the downtown area of the city. There is something tranquil about being around the water and you will come across fishermen, food trucks, cafes and beautiful architecture to enjoy along the way.

13. Walk down Pilies Gatvė

Pilies gatvė is the oldest street in the old town taking you from Cathedral square to Market square, with great views looking back towards Gediminas Tower. This cobbled street has lots of cute cafes and restaurants, as well as stalls selling jewellery and souvenirs.

Nishi sat outside Eskedar coffee in Vilnius

You will undoubtedly walk down this street during your time in Vilnius, but it’s a great place to stop for a drink and people-watch.

14. The Town Hall Square | Market Square

From here, you can make your way to the Town Hall in Market Square. It is a really beautiful area that is packed with churches to visit and cafes and restaurants to sit around in the sunshine or to escape the cold, depending on when you’re visiting.

If you book a walking tour, it is highly likely that this will be your meeting point. Speaking of which..

15. Book a free walking tour

One of my favourite things to do on a European city break is to book a walking tour on my first day. This way you can familiarise yourself with your surroundings, learn a bit more about the place you are visiting while getting some insider information too.

We booked with Vilnius With Locals and I would highly recommended – the tour is ‘free’ but you tip at the end of the tour, whatever you think the tour was worth, and this is essentially your payment.

16. Gates of Dawn

The Gates of Dawn is also one of the most important religious sites in all of Lithuania, built in the early 1500’s. The Chapel in the Gate of Dawn contains an icon of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, said to have miraculous powers, which is what makes the gate a highlight to many. This has led to the gate being a major pilgrimage site in Lithuania.

17. Literatų Gatvė | Literature Street

In 2009, a group of artists decided that Literatų gatvė (Literature Street) in Vilnius Old Town should be made worthy of its name, as part of a project connected to Vilnius’s stint as European Capital of Culture. They began to create a gallery wall on the street with decorated plaques, each dedicated to an individual Lithuanian writer.

The idea proved popular and there are now over 200 plaques dotting a single wall on the winding little street, of a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colours and materials. Some are portraits of the authors, others decorated quotes from their works, and still others are entirely abstract works; such as a set of teeth, which presumably makes sense to aficionados of the writer in question.

It’s a little strange, but a quirky little street to meander through when you are in the Old Town.

Nishi walking down Literatų Gatvė or Literature Street in Vilnius

18. The Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace in Vilnius dates back to 1824 – 1832 and has been the seat of the President of Lithuania since 1997. Every Sunday at noon you can watch the soldiers perform a ceremony here in ceremonial uniforms. This lasts for around 10 minutes.

Don’t miss the large courtyard around the back; a beautiful open space with gardens and a fountain that you can visit for free at certain times of the day.

19. MO Museum

The MO Museum seems to appear on many ‘things to do in Vilnius guides’ but quite frankly, I would only encourage you to visit if you are either sheltering from the cold or are very bored in Vilnius. We visited the the former reason and it was a strange experience.

Don’t get me wrong, I love modern art and can appreciate creativity, but this was hugely underwhelming. The entrance fee is €11 or a reduced rate of €5 when the main exhibition is being changed – which is what we paid. It may have been better with the main exhibition, but I will never know.

20. Museum of Illusions

If quirky museums are your thing, then the Museum of Illusions is an interesting place to visit – located close to the Town Hall. It is an interactive and fun experience for all age groups.

They have more than 50 museums around the world, but they are all said to be different which I think is quite fun.

21. 2d Cafe at Museum of Illusions

Cafe culture is big in Lithuania, and the 2D Cafe makes for a really unique experience. The entrance to here is included with your ticket price for the Museum of Illusions, however you can visit the cafe alone if you aren’t interested in paying for the museum.

The menu is quite small and this isn’t somewhere you need to spend a lot of time. I must admit that this does look slightly better in photos than in reality, but it makes for a quirky experience in Vilnius.

Nishi and Jass at 2d Cafe at Museum of Illusions

22. Halės Tungus | Halės Market

Halės Market is one of the oldest and the best in Vilnius for local produce as well as great little food stalls/restaurants. I find visiting a local market in a new city fascinating, and this was no exception.

23. Try traditional Lithuanian cuisine

No trip to Vilnius would be complete without sampling some delicious, carb heavy Lithuanian food. I make sure to seek out restaurants that have vegan or vegetarian friendly versions of local cuisine in advance, and Vilnius was no exception. I have written a long article detailing the best restaurants in Vilnius for vegans and vegetarians here.

vegetarian grated potato pancakes at Bernelių Užeiga

24. Take a day trip to Trakai Castle

This is probably the best thing to do in Vilnius, even though it is located outside Vilnius. If you have some time, don’t miss out on a half day trip to Trakai, a beautiful castle located only 30 minutes from Vilnius by bus.

Trakai town is meant to be adorable to wander around the shops and dine by the water after visiting the castle. I wish we had factored this in to our itinerary, but it would be somewhere we’d visit next time for sure.

25. Take the train from Vilnius to Kaunas

If you have the time to dedicate to exploring more of Lithuania, head over to Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania. It is a charming city to spend some time in with a different vibe to Vilnius.

We booked train tickets from Vilnius to Kaunas online, in advance which was easy enough to do, and only cost us €22 each for a first class ticket at peak time. Trains run almost every hour and we did decide to slum it in economy, otherwise known as second class on LGT Link trains for €18 each on the way back.

The train journey takes just over an hour, so this makes for a perfect day trip from Vilnius, and Kaunas is well worth visiting. You can spend anywhere from a few hours to two days here and see everything there is to do in Kaunas at a leisurely pace.

3 Days In Vilnius Lithuania: What To Do, See And Vegan Food To Eat 🇱🇹

You can easily spend several days exploring all there is to see and do in Vilnius. It’s a city that I fell in love with and one that should firmly be on your Baltic itinerary.

What to expect when visiting Vilnius for the first time

Vilnius differs from central Europe in that it is the quietest capital city I think I have ever visited and one of the greenest capitals in Europe. It somewhat lacks that picture-perfect metropolis that many of us paint in our heads when thinking about Europe. However, it also isn’t the grey post-Soviet city many might mistakenly think it is.

There are so many different things to do in Vilnius; the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most well-preserved medieval cities in Europe. You can wander through the narrow cobblestone streets, marvel at the stunning Baroque architecture and soak in the charming atmosphere.

On the flip side, the modern part of Vilnius has some cool things to do and see, from small cozy cafes, fancy dessert shops and boutique stores, quirky bars and an über trendy food hall you must visit in Vilnius called Paupio Turgus. You will find some great international cuisine here.

The old and the new modern architecture is harmoniously combined in this wonderful city.

I truly didn’t know what to expect from Vilnius, but I found the culture, history, food and people fascinating. It makes for a perfect long weekend trip within Europe.

How many days is enough for Vilnius?

3 days is the perfect about of time to spend in Vilnius, making it the ideal European long weekend destination. If you want to explore the city at a leisurely pace, visit museums and soak up the coffee culture then 3 – 4 days is plenty.

If you are short on time, it is entirely possible almost all of major sites in 2 days as truthfully, there aren’t so many things to do in Vilnius to warrant needing to spend a longer time here. 2 days will give you a good feel for the city, and 3 will be the sweet spot to take things at a more relaxed pace.

When is the best time to visit Vilnius?

Vilnius has a European climate with distinct seasons, making it an all year round destination depending on what your interests are. Each season has it’s own charm, though unsurprisingly, most people prefer the warm and sunny days of summer.

Spring and autumn are the quieter seasons to visit Vilnius and the mild temperatures make it pleasant enough to walk around. We went in September when the weather can be hit or miss with rain, but we were fortunate to have been blessed with great weather.

Personally, I would also love to go back in the Winter (December to February) when it is snowing, to really experience what those in this part of the world love to do – be outdoors regardless of the weather! I can picture cosy moments with hot drinks after walking through forests with snow topped trees.

Where to stay in Vilnius?

We stayed at Artis Centrum Hotels, in the heart of Vilnius Old Town. The location was perfect for a short trip due to it’s close proximity to everywhere we wanted to visit – we walked everywhere and racked up a step count of around 15,000 on average every day.

The hotel is in a renovated 19th century building, which personally, I found a bit dated and dusty for my liking. However, the rooms were large with sufficient toiletries and slippers provided and it is one of the best hotels in the area that doesn’t break the bank.

Though I would not have been happy to spend more than 3 nights here, I couldn’t fault them for the location. Breakfast at this hotel was great with almost everything labelled and plenty of options of vegetarians which I was happy to see.

How to get around Vilnius

Vilnius is a very walkable city with all the major sites in close proximity, though it does also have an excellent public transportation network with buses all around the city.

There are no official taxis in Vilnius such as the signature black cabs of London or yellow cabs of New York. Bolt is the most popular taxi app here, followed by Uber which they are currently trialling in the city, so wait times are a bit longer as they currently have fewer drivers available.

We only used a taxi twice during our stay, and that was from the airport and to the train station as we had our luggage with us both times. You can download the Trafi app for travel information in Vilnius and to buy tickets.

We took the LTG Link train from Vilnius to Kaunas and back again – you can book tickets in advance online or on the day. Trains are very frequent and run almost hourly between the two cities.

Would I recommend Vilnius as a travel destination?

I loved my time in Vilnius and would wholeheartedly recommend it as a travel destination. Whether you just spend a long weekend in Vilnius or visit as part of a longer trip around the Baltics, this should be on everyone’s travel bucket list.

I think the Baltic countries are one of the most underrated parts of Europe, which is what enticed me to visit. Fewer tourists means the city is relatively untouched and hasn’t been ruined by people.. yet. Lithuania’s capital is welcoming and full of culture.

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25 Fascinating Things To Do in Vilnius Lithuania