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For visitors to the Baltic region, the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius is an essential stop. Like the other capitals of the region, Vilnius has plenty of character and you won’t be short on sights to see. The best things to do in Vilnius range from historical landmarks to modern curiosities, which means even people with different interests should find attractions that intrigue them.
Now, while I saw some of the main Vilnius sights during my first visit, I failed to click with Vilnius first time around. That made me even more keen to return to the city and form a better second opinion. Safe to say, my second visit went far better and I think that’s because I explored wider this time around and with more time there, I really got a grasp of which Vilnius attractions best reflect the city. I’ve put together this list of the best places to visit in Vilnius so that you too can see what’s special about Vilnius.
1. Gediminas Tower
In terms of symbolic Vilnius sights, the Gediminas Tower may be one of the city’s most important. This lone tower on a hill right in the heart of Vilnius is all that’s left of the city’s Upper Castle. The tower has been a common icon of the city over the years and was where the Lithuania flag was flown from in 1988 as Lithuania began its push for becoming independent again.
To visit the hilltop castle tower, you simply walk past the Cathedral Square and follow the curving path up to the small square outside the tower. On both sides of the hill you have terrace views of Vilnius below, although the view is better when you climb the tower itself. Inside the tower is a small museum that tells the story of the Upper Castle.
2. The Three Crosses
But that’s not the only hilltop in Vilnius and in fact the Hill of Three Crosses across the lovely Vilnia River offers even better views of the city. Once you climb up the hill you’ll be able to spot many of the sights to see in Vilnius, all in one go. To find the viewpoint isn’t hard as all you need to do is head for the Three Crosses.
As its name suggests, this monument is three large stone crosses emerging from the forest that you can see pretty much most places from the Old Town. The crosses commemorate a local legend that tells of friars being executed here for preaching in the 14th century. Whether you know the story behind them or not, you can still enjoy the wonderful panoramic views of the city while you’re up there.
3. Old Town Streets
Down in the heart of Vilnius, the city’s historic centre is where you’ll spend a fair bit of your time. I’ll cover specific attractions in the Old Town will be separately, but for now let’s talk about the area itself. Stretching from Cathedral Square up to the Dawn Gate, the Old Town is mostly made up of long avenues and smaller back alleys.
With the way Vilnius is laid out, the Old Town is a great place to walk about. I’m a fan of smaller, pedestrian streets and Vilnius has its share of these, which is nice. It’s definitely the kind of city that encourages wandering and getting lost, as some of its prettiest corners are hidden away from the main squares. Looking around the Old Town it can be hard to gauge how old the centre is, in part because of how varied the architecture is here. All of this is why the Vilnius Historic Centre was inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list.
To better understand the city, I highly recommend taking a walking tour here. You do have the option of a free walking tour, but there are more personalised tours as well.
4. Neris Riverfront
One of my biggest struggles the first time around in Vilnius was understanding the place of the Neris River in the city. Curving right around the centre of the city, the riverfront is a major feature of the city and yet doesn’t seem to draw much love.
Having stayed across the river my first visit, I got to see how splendid the Neris riverfront was, but also how quiet it felt too. Whether it’s watching the sunset over the river or looking up at Gediminas Tower, this part of the city offers visitors some great views. It just doesn’t seem to have many venues or places to visit along it which is a rare sight in Europe, although that could always change in the future.
5. Vilnius Cathedral
Taking pride of place on one of Vilnius’ main squares, the Vilnius Cathedral is a sight you’re sure to see. Lithuania is a deeply Catholic country and this cathedral is one of the country’s most important places of worship. While its neoclassical look dates from 1783, cathedrals have existed here for centuries before. In fact, some of the most important figures in Lithuanian history are buried in the cathedral’s crypt underneath. The cathedral’s belfry, nearby on the square, can be climbed for some nice city views.
6. Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
Tucked behind the Vilnius Cathedral you’ll come across the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. Visiting now you may be surprised to learn that this palace in front of you was only finished in 2018 and is a reconstruction of the palace that once stood there. Back in the days of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the palace here was a vastly influential seat of politics and diplomacy. Now though, this reconstruction serves as a museum highlighting the original castle’s history. I’ve yet to go inside but the palace does round out Cathedral Square nicely. Now that it’s all finished, I’ll have to visit next time.
7. Uzupis
Travellers are often fascinated by bohemian, alternative districts in cities and even more so when they have declared themselves independent. That’s the story behind the independent Republic of Uzupis, a small community across the Vilnia River. In some ways similar to Freetown Christiana in Copenhagen, this artistic neighbourhood declared itself independent in 1997.
Walking around Uzupis it’s obvious that this a bohemian, creative community lives there. From plentiful street art to little art and handcraft shops, the atmosphere here is palpable. While there’s a lot to learn about the details of this self-proclaimed republic, the Constitution of Uzupis is probably the most interesting.
Along one of the district’s streets, a series of plaques explain the rights of residents in Uzupis. They range from the “right to love” to the “right to be individual”. If you’re after something a little different in Vilnius, this is where to go.
8. St. Anne’s Church
Spend any amount of time in Europe and you’re sure to see countless churches. Even in Vilnius, you could easily build a long list of them as the city is home to many. But of the ones I’ve seen in Vilnius, St. Anne’s Church distinctly stands out. I’d even go as far as to say that it’s one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in Europe. Just look at it above!
The Church of St. Anne in its current form was built in 1500 after the old church here was burned down. They rebuilt it with this wonderful gothic brick design. It’s said that even Napoleon fell in love the church when he saw it and wanted to bring it back to France with him. The interior is a little more streamlined and simple but to me that front facade is the view you won’t want to miss.
9. Presidential Palace
Going about Vilnius, you’ll spot a few palaces here and there. The one that you’ll most notice I think is the city’s Presidential Palace off on its own a little in the Old Town. With the manicured gardens and lawns of Daukanto Square around it, it’s a suitably noble look for the Office of the President.
What has surprised me whenever I pass it though is how quiet it feels in comparison to elsewhere in the city. No protesting, no crowds of tourists or students, just a bit of peace and quiet to admire the stately building.
10. Town Hall Square
Vilnius isn’t really a city of many large squares but there’s no other way to describe the Town Hall Square in the city’s Old Town. Lined with churches and restaurants, there’s rarely a quiet moment in this square.
While the square may be named after the Town Hall here, there’s so much more happening on the square that you may not really notice the rather unassuming Town Hall. Chances are you’ll see this square quite a bit as some of the best side streets are off the square, not to mention many of the typical tourist restaurants of Vilnius.
11. Dawn Gate
You know you’ve reached the southern edge of the Old Town when you arrive at the Dawn Gate. This sky blue gate is quite different than other city gates you might come across in Europe. Many city gates in Europe act as watchtowers as well, but instead the Dawn Gate is also a shrine.
This is the last surviving gate in Vilnius and inside you’ll find a revered painting of the Virgin Mary. This 17th century painting has been copied in other chapels around the world and is even said to have performed miracles. Really not your average gate.
12. Halle Market
One place that I was pleased to stumble upon during my latest visit was the Halle Market. Beyond the edge of the Old Town, I only learned of the market since I was staying across the street. And yet this is the city’s oldest marketplace, which means it should be a place you need to hear about. Markets have been held here in Vilnius since the 15th century although the current building dates from 1906.
The market first caught my attention because of a wonderful smell of baked goods that hit me as I first walked past. Besides selling various meat, dairy and other farm produce, the market also houses various stores and cafes where you can go to eat. That mix means you can enjoy genuine Lithuanian produce as well as popular everyday foods all in one place. Definitely a nice way to learn about life in Lithuania if you ask me.
13. Vilnius Street Art
Even though Uzupis is labelled the alternative and creative neighbourhood of the city, you’ll find quite a bit of street art elsewhere in Vilnius. The streets immediately surrounding the Halle Market in particular are home to some great pieces that are worth finding.
Really, if you go most places around the fringes of the Old Town you have a good chance of finding street art in the city. Just another reason to spend time exploring when you visit Vilnius. Another option, if you really want to find the latest new murals around town, is to take Vilnius with Local’s free Alternative Vilnius tour.
14. Gediminas Avenue
Starting in the heart of Vilnius at Cathedral Square, Gediminas Avenue is one of the city’s most major streets. Walking down it you’ll be lead away from the historical part of Vilnius through to the downtown area of the city. Much of the street is lined with quite grand buildings, although there are various squares that pop up here and there on its northern side.
Whether you’re looking to go shopping, need food or want to get to know Vilnius even better, I recommend taking a stroll down Gediminas Avenue. At the far end you’ll pass the Lithuanian Parliament and run into the Neris River again, at which point you’ll want to head back again.
Other Vilnius Attractions
Even though I’ve shown you many of the best things to do in Vilnius, it’s important to say that this list isn’t complete. Vilnius has plenty more to offer visitors and I haven’t seen everything there. In particular, I know there are quite a few museums, none of which I’ve visited. Then there are all the Soviet-era landmarks that you can see with this city tour.
The National Museum and the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights are both meant to be good I hear. Depending on your tastes, both the MO Museum and the Museum of Illusions might appeal to you as well. That should be plenty for your one or two days in Vilnius I think.
Travel Tips for Visiting Vilnius
Since the city is one of the main destinations of the Baltics, the options for places to stay are seemingly endless. To help you with that, I’ve put together a guide on where to stay in Vilnius. Inside I break down the different areas of the city and explain the benefits of staying in each.
As for getting to and from Vilnius, you again have options. Wedged between Poland, Latvia and Belarus, it’s easy to visit if you’re already in the region. Bus is your main option here with timetables easily found online. Trains less so unless you’re travelling to nearby places in Lithuania, like for a day trip to Trakai. Flying into Vilnius is another option, especially because you can take a cheap and easy local buses to get into the city in as little as 15 minutes.
Have you had the chance to visit Vilnius before? Are there other Vilnius attractions that you would recommend? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This post contains a sponsored link to Vilnius with Locals.
This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.
3 comments
I’m heading to Vilnius in the fall and just starting my research now… Thanks so much for the helpful post!
No problem Brianne, hope you have a great time!
The Repiblic of Uzupis sounds interesting! I’ve heard of the one in Copenhagen and would love to visit that area. I always like such cool history like this! 🙂