Things to Do in Vilnius, Lithuania
Written by Amanda Kendle
The Lithuanian capital of Vilnius is another gem of a city which was pretty much hidden away from us during the Soviet era. These days it’s so easily accessible and is well worth a short break holiday or a longer stay as part of a trip exploring the Baltic States. We’ve put together of what to do in Vilnius to help you plan your stay.
Landmarks in Vilnius
Despite – or perhaps because of – its varied path through history, Vilnius is home to numerous impressive landmarks. One of its most imposing buildings is the Vilnius Cathedral, an eighteenth century construction found on the very same spot where one of the city’s first Catholic churches was built back in 1251. These days you can explore the crypt area and the main inside area, plus the beautiful Chapel of St Casimir.
Vilnius Cathedral by Amanda Kendle
Another imposing monument in Vilnius is the Gediminas Tower, part of the Higher Castle overlooking the city of Vilnius. It’s a bit of a walk (but a lovely one) or you can use the funicular cabin to save some time and effort. The views over Vilnius are great from this part of the city.
View from Gediminas Tower by Amanda Kendle
The St Peter and Paul Church is an amazing baroque church which is particularly elaborately decorated inside. There are over two thousand stucco statues showing biblical figures so you might spend quite some time looking through it.
Inside the St Peter & Paul Church by Amanda Kendle
Of course, you can’t explore Vilnius without spending time in the Town Hall Square and the Old Town in general, and this is both a historic and an interesting part of the city, with plenty of restaurants and bars for refreshments and rest.
Old Town, Vilnius by Amanda Kendle
Museums in Vilnius
One of the most popular attractions of all in Vilnius is the KGB Museum. From the bottom of the museum – cells used to imprison and torture political prisoners as recently as 1990 – through the exhibitions showing the various activities of the KGB, it is a chilling reminder of some of the worst aspects of the Soviet era.
Cell in KGB Museum by gavindjharper
The National Museum of Lithuania in Vilnius is a large collection mainly housed in the Old and New Arsenal at the Vilnius Castle Complex. It has renowned archaeological, iconography and history exhibitions and is the oldest museum in Lithuania.
National Museum by axiraa
The Lithuanian Art Museum is the overarching organisation of several smaller art galleries and museums and one of the most visited of these is the Museum of Applied Art, also found in the Vilnius Castle Complex.
Cultural Outings in Vilnius
The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre has regular performances at very reasonable prices, and is a popular way to spend an evening in Vilnius; the building itself is impressive too so some people just drop through to take a look at it without seeing a performance.
Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre by axiraa
The National Philharmonic Hall is another venue for interesting cultural evenings and is considered the best concert hall in Vilnius, hosting both local and international musicians and full-blown orchestras, too.
National Philharmonic Hall by Evaldas
Especially after its year as a European Capital of Culture in 2009, Vilnius has really got into the swing of offering numerous cultural festivals and events throughout the year, so make you sure you check a calendar of events so you don’t miss a great night out during your stay.
Day trips from Vilnius
A half-hour from Vilnius is all you need to reach Trakai, a very popular destination which is most famed for its picturesque medieval Island Castle. You can take boats around the lakes to the various tiny islands and you can also experience some of the culture of the local Karaites, a small and unique community of settlers.
Island Castle by sidstamm
The town of Paneriai, in the forest area south-west of Vilnius, has the unfortunate history of being the location of the genocide of around 100,000 (mostly Jewish) people during the second World War. It is a sobering place to visit but an important reminder and memorial.
Entrance to Paneriai by Amanda Kendle
A bit further afield – about ninety minutes’ drive – is Lithuania’s second city, Kaunas. At various times in history Kaunas has actually served as Lithuania’s capital and it has interesting attractions including Kaunas Castle, Napoleon’s House (yes, he once lived there!), and numerous museums and galleries.
Kaunas Castle by Jess & Peter
Your Vilnius tips
If you’ve also been fortunate enough to spend some time in Vilnius, we’d love to hear any tips you have on what to do in Vlinius, so please leave your ideas in the comments below.
I recognize some of those spots! We thoroughly enjoyed Vilnius – a very charming little city – and delicious (and very hearty!) food.