Vilnius – Pearl of the Baltic States
Vilnius – Pearl of the Baltic States

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

Vilnius from BER

Aircraft just before touching down on the runway

Air Baltic

Ryanair

Piktogramm Info-i

Vilnius Airport (VNO)

Five travel tips for ...

1.    Visit St. Stanislaus Cathedral and climb up the bell tower

2.    Stroll through the Old Town and stop at a kavine (café)

3.    Roam through the free Republic of Užupis and have your passport stamped

4.    Enjoy the view of the city from Gediminas’ Tower

5.    Take a trip to the moated castle of Trakai

1.    Eat a traditional Šaltibarščiai (cold beetroot soup) as a starter

2.    Order the national dish Cepelinai (potato dumplings stuffed with minced meat)

3.    Snack on Kepta Duona (sourdough bread with garlic) with some Lithuanian beer.

4.    Try Balandėlai (cabbage rolls) in a small bar.

5.    Buy kalduny (stuffed dumplings) to keep you going between meals

1.    Visit St. Anne’s Church, a Gothic masterpiece

2.    Admire the Gate of Dawn from the Renaissance era

3.    See the Presidential Palace as an example of classicism

4.    Visit the National Theatre for Soviet architecture

5.    Discover the modern face of Vilnius in the business district

Image source title: View of Vilnius © dudlajzov / AdobeStock

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