Best Things to Do in Vilnius
Are you looking for the best things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania? Read on!
Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city, really surprised me. I didn’t have many expectations for Vilnius, but I ended up loving this city. It’s beautiful, historic, and walkable. Out of the three Baltic countries I traveled to (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), I also found Lithuania to be the most affordable.
It’s not a super touristy city, and even the large Old Town feels very lived-in and authentic, rather than seeming like it exists only for tourists (which is how the Old Towns of many European cities are!) The Old Town of Vilnius is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe.
I recommend three full days in Vilnius — you can see the highlights of the city in two days, and you can spend your third day on a day trip outside the city. Here’s an overview of the best things to do in Vilnius.
Note: I received a complimentary Vilnius Pass from Go Vilnius, which allowed me to access many museums and attractions in Vilnius for free. However, all opinions are my own. Below, I’ve noted which museums and attractions I think are worth the cost of admission (and most are very affordable anyway!)
1. Gediminas’ Tower
Gediminas’ Tower offers one of the best scenic viewpoints in Vilnius. The tower is part of a medieval fortification constructed by Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, in the 14th century.
There’s a small museum and viewing platform inside the tower, but you can honestly get the same view from outside, so I don’t necessarily recommend paying to go inside this museum.
To reach Gediminas’ Tower, it’s a brisk climb up a fairly steep hill. If you don’t want to walk, there’s a funicular you can take for a few euros instead. However, the views at the top are definitely worth it!
2. Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
The best museum to visit in Vilnius is the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. This museum offers a fascinating insight into Lithuania’s history. For instance, did you know that the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was the largest state in Europe by the end of the 14th century? I learned so much about Lithuania here!
The museum is housed in the original Palace of the Grand Dukes, which was built in the 15th century. However, it has been almost entirely reconstructed since very little of the original palace remained.
There are four “routes” you can visit at the museum, and I recommend buying the combined ticket for all of them because it’s quite affordable, and then you can see everything. You can check ticket prices here.
In addition to exhibits on Lithuanian history throughout the ages, the museum also houses reconstructed palace rooms and exhibits on Lithuanian art and culture. Overall, it’s definitely worth a visit.
3. Vilnius Cathedral
Vilnius Cathedral, also known as Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Ladislaus of Vilnius, is the city’s main Catholic cathedral. It’s been rebuilt many times over the centuries due to fires destroying the building, and the current 18th-century iteration of the cathedral has a striking Classicist style.
Entrance to the cathedral itself is free. You can also climb to the top of the church’s bell tower for great views over the city (and a chance to ring the bells yourself!) You can check ticket prices here.
4. Bernardine Garden
One thing I loved about Vilnius was all the parks and green spaces. The Old Town is pretty much surrounded by parks and green spaces, and one of the best ones to visit is Bernardine Garden.
This park is located between Gediminas’ Tower and St. Anne’s Church. It’s situated along the picturesque Vilnia River, and there are several walking paths and gardens you can explore. There’s also an outdoor terrace with bars and food trucks where you can enjoy a drink or grab a bite to eat on a nice day.
5. St. Anne’s Church
After visiting Bernardine Garden, be sure to pop over to St. Anne’s Church. This red-brick Catholic church is a stunning example of late Gothic architecture and has been largely unchanged since the 15th century.
The church is so beautiful that when Napoleon Bonaparte saw it, he allegedly said he wanted to bring it back to Paris with him in the palm of his hand! Not only is the outside of St. Anne’s Church beautiful, but the interior is also filled with Gothic and Renaissance art. Entrance to the church is free.
6. Walking tour
Walking tours are something I like to do in every city I visit, and Vilnius was no exception. Taking a walking tour is a great way to get acquainted with a new city and discover some of the best spots.
I did this free walking tour on my first day in Vilnius. Although the tours are technically free, the guides work for tips, so if you enjoy your tour, be sure to leave a generous tip for your guide!
If you’d prefer to get more than just an overview of the city and its history, you can delve deeper into a specific topic on a tour like this Soviet occupation walking tour or this Jewish Vilnius walking tour.
7. Republic of Užupis
Užupis is a quirky neighborhood in Vilnius just off the Old Town that is popular with artists. You definitely shouldn’t miss visiting this self-proclaimed “Republic of Užupis.” What started as just a silly April Fool’s Day joke in 1997 by some artists living in the area has turned into something more.
The Republic of Užupis doesn’t actually have any legal status, but it does have its own constitution, currency, flag, and national celebration day. The Republic of Užupis has even bestowed honorary citizenship on several notable visitors, including the Dalai Lama, who has been to Užupis twice now.
It’s a cool area to walk through, with plenty of street art, art galleries, and bars.
8. Hill of Three Crosses
If you’re up for a nice walk, visiting the Hill of Three Crosses is another great thing to do in Vilnius. The hill is home to a monument of three crosses, which you can see from all over the city. According to legend, crosses were originally erected here to remember seven monks who were martyred on the hill.
The hill is located within one of the city’s parks. From Bernardine Garden, it’s about a 15-minute uphill walk on a scenic forest path to reach the top, where the crosses are. From the top, you’ll be able to enjoy panoramic views of the Old Town. This is also one of the best spots in Vilnius to watch the sunset.
9. St. Johns Church
One more church in Vilnius that’s worth checking out is St. Johns Church (full name: The Church of St. Johns, St. John the Baptist and St. John the Apostle and Evangelist — now that’s a mouthful!)
This historic church is located within a courtyard on the grounds of Vilnius University, but it’s open to the public. This Gothic church dates back to the 15th century, and entry to the church itself is free.
You can also take an elevator to the top of the church’s bell tower, which has some more great views of the Old Town. However, the bell tower is only open to visitors from May to October.
10. Bastion of the Vilnius Defensive Wall
The Bastion of the Vilnius Defensive Wall is a great place to visit if you’re interested in history, especially military history. This historic defensive fortification dates back to the 15th century.
It was an important stronghold for the defense of the city during the time of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. Today, there’s a museum inside that will interest history buffs. You can check ticket prices here. This was an interesting enough place to visit, but I personally wouldn’t consider it a must while in Vilnius.
11. Day trip to Trakai
Finally, one of the best things to do in Vilnius is not actually in Vilnius. But I highly recommend spending at least half a day of your time here getting out of the city and taking a day trip to nearby Trakai.
Trakai is about 45 minutes by car from Vilnius. You can also take a train or bus to Trakai, although from the Old Town, this option takes a little longer because it involves at least one transfer.
Trakai is a beautiful lakeside town. The highlight is Trakai Castle, a fairytale-like medieval castle built on an island in the middle of the lake and accessible by a pedestrian bridge. Aside from visiting the castle, you can also rent rowboats, take a scenic walk around the lake, or enjoy a meal on the waterfront.
If you’d prefer to visit Trakai on a tour, I recommend this half-day group tour from Vilnius, which includes round-trip transportation from the Old Town on a coach bus and an audio guide.
Top Things to Do in Vilnius
This guide showed you the best things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Vilnius is a great city that remains something of an underrated hidden gem in Europe — but it won’t be that way forever! I really enjoyed my time in this pretty, historic city, and I think you will too.
Enjoy your trip to Vilnius!
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