Vilnius

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.

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.

Image source title: View of Vilnius © dudlajzov / AdobeStock

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