Vilnius

Pearl of the Baltic States

Published: 12 May 2023, 11:00

Welcome to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania

Vilnius is one of the most beautiful and oldest cities in Europe. The Lithuanian capital wows visitors with exciting sights and diverse architecture: Baroque churches, magnificent classical buildings and modern buildings shape the cityscape. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and charms visitors with its medieval alleyways, small shops and courtyards. Vilnius is also known as the “Rome of the East” because of its many churches.

Vilnius offers a real taste of history, while at the same time being very modern and cosmopolitan. Old and new are closely intertwined in the Baltic State metropolis on the River Neris. A creative artistic milieu, contemporary museums and galleries and a booming start-up scene look ahead to the future. Whether as a short city trip or a tour of the Baltic States – there are plenty of reasons to visit Vilnius.

numbers, data, facts

Time difference: + one hour
Population: 580.000
Official Language: Lithuanian
Currency: Euro

A sightseeing tour of Vilnius

Gediminas Avenue with a view of the cathedral © Boris Stroujko / AdobeStock

A fantastic place to take a stroll: Gediminas Avenue connects the historic city centre with the cathedral and the parliament building. © Boris Stroujko / AdobeStock

Old Town with magnificent buildings © Boris Stroujko / AdobeStock

Simply drift along: the Old Town with its magnificent Baroque buildings has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. © Boris Stroujko / AdobeStock

St. Stanislaus Cathedral with its bell tower © GISTEL / AdobeStock

Built in the classic style, St. Stanislaus Cathedral, with its separate bell tower, is located in the heart of the Old Town. © GISTEL / AdobeStock

Gate of Dawn in the Old Town © Kavalenkava / AdobeStock

The Old Town was once surrounded by a city wall with ten gates. Only one remains today: the famous Gate of Dawn. © Kavalenkava / AdobeStock

The Baroque Church of St. Peter and Paul Church © Mindaugas Dulinskas / AdobeStock

Vilnius is the “city of a thousand churches”: one of them is the Church of St. Peter and Paul – a late Baroque building. © Mindaugas Dulinskas / AdobeStock

St. Anne’s Church. © dinozzaver / AdobeStock

The Roman Catholic St. Anne’s Church is considered a Gothic masterpiece and is one of the most important churches in Vilnius. © dinozzaver / AdobeStock

National Museum with Gediminas’ Tower © Roman Babakin / AdobeStock

The National Museum offers a deep dive into Lithuania’s history. The angular Gediminas’ Tower, part of the castle, is located next to the museum. © Roman Babakin / AdobeStock

View of modern Vilnius from Gediminas’ Tower © Lucky Ev / AdobeStock

Gediminas’ Tower, which stands on a hill about 150 metres above the city, provides one of the most beautiful views over Vilnius. © Lucky Ev / AdobeStock

Republic of Užupis with information sign © Martina / AdobeStock

Free spirits welcome: founded by artists, the “fools’ country” of Užupis has its own rules. Everyone has the right to be happy here. © Martina / AdobeStock

View of green Vilnius with hot air balloons © MNStudio / AdobeStock

Time to put your feet up: either on a hot air balloon ride or in one of the many beautiful parks, such as Vinigs Park on the River Neris. © MNStudio / AdobeStock

Even more to discover: excursions from Vilnius

Vilnius is a wonderful place to discover over a weekend. If you plan a little more time and explore the area surrounding the Lithuanian capital, you will be richly rewarded. One of the highlights is an excursion to Trakai. In addition to the medieval town centre, you can also admire the old moated castle and taste the traditional Kibinai Trakai pasties. A good hour by car or train from Vilnius is the pretty town of Kaunas – the 2022 European Capital of Culture and a lively university town with an eventful history. On the outskirts of the city is the Pažaislis Monastery – a showpiece of Lithuanian Baroque architecture. A little further away, but definitely worth the trip, is the Curonian Spit, a unique natural paradise with extensive sandy beaches and a forested hinterland.

Excursion tips from Vilnius

Trakai moated castle in its lake landscape © dzmitrock87 / AdobeStock

Trakai is known for its medieval moated castle. It is located in the middle of a picturesque lake landscape near Vilnius. © dzmitrock87 / AdobeStock

Colourful wooden houses in Trakai © Michele Ursi / AdobeStock

The colourful wooden houses in Trakai are home to the Karaites, members of an ethnic minority that has preserved its culture and customs to this day. © Michele Ursi / AdobeStock

Kaunas Old Town by the river © dinozzaver / AdobeStock

Somewhat quieter than Vilnius, but no less interesting: Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city. The Old Town is an absolute must. © dinozzaver / AdobeStock

Pažaislis Monastery by the lake © MNStudio / AdobeStock

Pažaislis Monastery is a Catholic monastery near Kaunas. It is actively used, but also open for exhibitions and concerts. © MNStudio / AdobeStock

Dune and sea on the Curonian Spit © activeast / AdobeStock

The Curonian Spit is a 98-kilometre-long strip of land in the sea off Lithuania and the national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site © activeast / AdobeStock