2.Catch the highest view in the City at St John's Church. Outside, youll see a statue dedicated to King Mindaugas. Taking pride of place on one of Vilnius' main squares, the Vilnius Cathedral is a sight you're sure to see. 5. The Fabijoniks district plays the part in the infamous Pripyat, The Museum of Occupations plays the KGB prison and a few of the former government buildings and guest houses were transformed into courtrooms and hotels. Step inside the Church of St Peter and St Paul, 39. This post may contain affiliate links. If you want to learn some more history about the Upper Castle of Vilnius, then head up to the iconic Gediminas Castle Tower. Address: Etmon g. 6, Vilnius 01129, Lithuania. Later, in the 17th century, the church belonged to the Uniates of the Basilian Order. Years ago, the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was crowned here and many famous icons in Lithuanian history have graves inside its walls. . They even have location tours now. OMG, I am still dreaming about my meal at Drama Burger! For example, Lithuania is an agricultural country; lots of mushrooms, milk, and honey. A short walk on Pilies Street could turn into a few hours if you get lost down the small alleys and the labyrinth of laneways in the Old Town. Watch on. It was then a huge art district. By the 17th century, the foundations were falling apart and it was reconstructed into the Neo-Classic style. If you havent got the memo yet, Duke Gediminas is pretty popular around these parts. During my week here, I got to explore many cities and attractions outside of Vilnius and wrote helpful guides for each of them; Europos Park is a contemporary art museum founded in 1991 and set in nature. Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. In 1914 it was officially known as Hals Turgis. Find, compare, and book sightseeing tours, attractions, excursions, things to do and fun activities from around the world. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It features 10 ski trails ranging from beginner to veteran. Lithuanian National Opera & Ballet Theatre, 8. As well as simply visiting for the views alone, you can also enjoy a delectable dinner up in the air too. Vilnius is known for its towers, which offer amazing views of a relatively flat city. 2. KGB Museum (Genocido Auku Muziejus) Housing the Nazi occupants during WW2, and the Soviet KGB directly after, and up until 1989, this building has sealed. Tickets for the Palace cost 2 Euros per tour route, or you can pay 7 Euros for all 4. I would highly recommend it and you can book onto the tour here. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in the 18th century and what we see today was a huge reconstruction of the original building that used to sit here. The Gediminas Tower of the Upper Castle is the last remaining part of his legacy here. If you happen to go on a Saturday, theres even a FREE walking tour! He brings a world-class level of gastronomy to the Lithuanian capital. Eventually, when Lithuania was granted its independence it was renamed Gediminas Avenue after the Grand Duke Gediminas who founded Vilnius. I'm a UK-based solo female travel blogger. It even has the largest sculpture made by TV sets that earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. It was built during the Russian occupation, so it was originally called A. Mickiewicz. benefits of using the Go Vilnius card. My guide on a Vilnius walking tour also told me that you can always navigate your way around the city by heading down to this spot. We laughed a lot. As the oldest baroque church in Vilnius, it was built in the 17th century by the Jesuits and is dedicated to the holy prince Saint Casimir. Click here to see all the tours provided by Vilnius with Locals! Visit a cool local market. The most disturbing part of the museum is the KGB prison in the lower decks. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. Posted on Last updated: December 31, 2022. The Church of Casimircan be shot from the outside 24 hours a day. But, once I arrived and experienced all the unique and amazing things to do in Vilnius, I fell head over heels in love with it! Here you can see where prisoners were kept. 2023 Atlas Obscura. The original cathedral was built all the way back in 1251 when the majority of Lithuania was Pagan. You can access this from Town Hall Square. In order to get there, you need to walk up for approx 10 minutes on the uneven, pebbly road. As a result, you can never quite be sure where youll see one but you can have plenty of fun guessing! You can take a balloon ride or join a free walking tour to get around the main sights and learn more about Vilniuss fascinating history. World War Ii 3. Look out for the amazing graffiti surrounding it. The palace has a long and noble history and has stood here since the 14th century during the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Its the oldest market in Vilnius that is still thriving today and sells everything from all sorts of meat including pigs ears, fruits, cheese, mushrooms, bread, to clothes and electricals. The architecture on the outside of the church is stunning, but when you go inside you can see what the church is famous for; over 2,000 stucco figures and a Rococo pulpit! There is a castle museum that is chargeable if you want to go inside which has a better view from the top. Today, the streets around here are incredibly quaint and colourful with cafs, bars, and boutiques for shopping. They dress up in reconstructed uniforms from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century as part of an ancient tradition. I love writing about the weird, wonderful, magical, and historical on my blog. Today visitors can come and admire these innovative structures that were built by bringing stones, wood, or gravel over frozen swamps during the winter, and letting them sink once the ice melted. Click here to see Drama Burgers website and menu. Situated on the foot of a hill, a few minutes walk from the Bohemian district of Uzupis in the city centre, this is one of Vilnius most unique accommodation options. A guide to craft beer in Vilnius and Lithuania. It was founded by Gediminas, built upon by his son Kystus and eventually expanded by his son Vytautas. Going to Gediminas Tower is one of the best things to do in Vilnius. Originally it was built in the Gothic style but the style we see today is a Neoclassical reconstruction by Laurynas Stuoka-Guceviius. The site is surrounded by a vast garden and is also close to St. Annes Church and the Vilnele River, meaning theres plenty of things to see and do during your stay. We got to learn the history behind a lot of the Lithuanian dishes, like Zeppelins or Cepelinai, and other popular foods like Rye bread too. This is because you can see the whole of the city from there and the best attractions, like the Gediminas Tower. According to legend, in 1347, the Grand Duke Algirdas wife Julijona built a wooden Orthodox Church in their honour. Things to do Things to do. The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. They have a show stopper of a Christmas Tree all lit up and there is a lot of festive cheer around this area too. On our three-hour tour, we explored and ate our way through the Old Town. From October March its open 4pm 6.30pm Mondays to Fridays and 8am 2pm Sundays. Although many businesses and attractions here do take cards, I would have cash on you at all times. If you want to know what you can expect, they have a nifty3D tour here. Another amazing viewpoint in the city is the incredible Hill of Three Crosses in Vilnius. Compared to the Old Town, this street was only built in the 19th century. Have a Instagrammable lunch at Augustus Ir Babora Love Story Caf, 19. This cookie is used by Facebook to control its functionalities, collect language settings and share pages. Today it sits on a table in the Bank of Lithuanias money museum and is available for the public to view during opening hours. Gediminas Tower & Castle Hill. 5. Set by addthis.com to determine the usage of addthis.com service. The Vilnius Museum of Modern Art opened its doors in 2019. You can get there by taking bus number 66 straight to the location of the park. It sparked worldwide media attention and was extremely controversial at the time. One of the distinctive Smiling Angel statues that are dotted around Vilnius (Photo: Mark via Flickr). Classical Heavy Metal Music Mash-up in Vilnius, Lithuania. In Lithuania, they use the Euro. Read my complete guide for Gediminas Castle here. Uber and the competing app Bolt work in Vilnius to get you around the city too. Traditional Lithuanian dishes start on their menu at 7 8 Euros, so I would definitely make a booking if youre keen. The City Bastion Viewpoint can be visited 24 hours a day, but if you want to go insidethe museumor onto the terrace, this is only open from Tuesday Sunday from 10am 6pm. On Cathedral Square you will also see a large monument to Gedeminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1316 and founding father of Vilnius (you will come across the name more often in the city! During my week spent in Vilnius, one of my favourite tours had to be the Flavours of Vilnius tour that I took with Urban Adventures. time in Vilnius, I teamed up with Go Vilnius to write about the city and the? It is home to the Vilnius Cathedral, the Clock Tower, the Palace of the Grand Dukes, and lots more. Not only does it draw attention for its architectural . Look for it's unusual small pink arched entrance. In other words they can be carried anywhere at any time. Visit the official website for visiting times and prices for Europos Park. It speaks in Vilnius own unique voice and makes some awesome photo opportunities too. Explore these best attractions, sightseeing spots, fun activities, and other handpicked places to visit in Vilnius on this weekend. Once Lithuania became a Christian state in the 14th century it was granted Magdeburg rights. Panemun Castle - one of the most authentic castles in Lithuania (17th century). I was first introduced to it on my Vilnius walking tour and couldnt help gawking at the pink exterior, with loads of shiny baubles and PINK UNICORNS! It was . Discover a hidden gem in Vilnius, Lithuania! Then you may be interested to know that a lot of it was filmed in Lithuania, mostly in Vilnius! It can be found around 19 kilometres out of Vilnius City Centre. They have slots available daily. Then, when Lithuania converted to Christianity in the 14th century the cathedral was expanded. You must remain silent inside out of respect and dress modestly. The Church is open from 6am 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Their menu serves up breakfast, lunch, dinner, champagne, pastries, coffee, and the most exciting cakes too! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Travelers who fall victim to this mermaid's charms are destined to stay in Uupis forever. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Visit the Presidential Palace of Lithuania, 31. Of more interest to me was the panoramic view from the top. Read my complete Trakai guide here and the best way to get there here from Vilnius! Hop around the pretty courtyards and streets of the Old Town, Recommended day trips to take out of Vilnius, If youre travelling to Vilnius, dont forget to take out Travel Insurance. YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. It means youre officially a resident of Uupis! I preferred Uber as I found it cheaper and more reliable. LOCATION Geleinkelio g. 6 HOURS Sun-Mon 5pm-1am Tue-Wed 5pm-2am Thur-Sat 5pm-4am. Youve got the Gate of Dawns in the background, a whole range of historic architecture including the Philharmonic building, church spires, and cobbled streets. You can have a Thai massage, Segmented massages, facial treatments, and body scrubs too. If you cant get enough of the view over Vilnius, you can head to the Three Crosses Hill, a hill overlooking the city with three 12m tall white concrete Crosses overlooking the city. It has had quite a colourful history since it was built, becoming an Orthodox church, a museum about Atheism during the soviet era, and then going full circle back to a Catholic Church today. Years ago, before Duke Gediminas united and founded Vilnius, it actually used to be a series of villages. In Vilnius, all roads lead in the Old Town lead to the Cathedral Square! A lot of local people hang out here and play pool/billiard or do Karaoke in the weekdays. This bell tower has unobstructed open views from its windows at the top which is why people prefer it over the Cathedral Square Bell Tower. A post shared by @stasyukkk. After the Nazis left a few years later, it became re-occupied by Soviet Secret Police better known as the KGB. The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. All Rights Reserved - PRIVACY POLICY, From Vilnius Airport to City Center with public transportation. So, you get a birds-eye view of the gorgeous rooftops, cobbled streets, and church spires. It was shocking and heartbreaking. But, if you werent fussed the views from the bottom of the tower are pretty amazing too. Climb Bell Tower of St. Johns Church for the best view over Vilnius. 4. A day well spent in Vilnius is a day spent strolling around the Old Town.The houses were adorable, with tiny cobbled streets going in all and any direction (we didn't find one straight corner there), and small parks and green areas scattered around.The last part particularly surprised me - there were so many pretty parks and green squares . It's one of the things to do in Vilnius that you can't miss. Pilies means Castle in Lithuanian and this historic cobbled area used to lead directly down the castle years ago. An abandoned masterpiece of Soviet Brutalist architecture. Not much to say, we fell in love with it straight away! But, most of the food stalls will not open until 9/10am. In England, our mead is served up like a wine. #3 Stroll through the Republic of Uzupis. As was tradition, many of these gates had religious artifacts inside to protect the city from attacks and bless travellers that walk through them. Read more about the most Instagrammable places in Vilnius here. Children were deported to labour camps in Siberia that saw just over 100 days of daylight a year and subzero temperatures. Browsing an art gallery is something I LOVE to do in cities and I had my heart set on the MO museum. 7 were executed and thrown from Bleak hill and the other 7 were crucified thrown into the Vilnia River. The Palace is HUGE so youll need at least a few hours to explore. Museum of Genocide Victims - particularly interesting if you're curious about the Soviet occupation and the atrocities of that period. This is a chargeable museum but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of artifacts inside! BIX Baras. It was really relaxing and just what I needed after some busy days exploring! Some of their specialities at their Cold Beetroot Soup and Potato Dumplings are known as Cepelinai. Pass through Uupis Border Control ; 5. Outsider Art 3. Colourful churches on every street corner, an epic craft beer scene, and some tasty local cuisine; there is enough to keep you occupied here for weeks! It was so tasty and I would go back in a heartbeat. Another fun place with plenty of digital things to do in Vilnius is Future Live interactive exhibition. Climb the University Bell Tower. If you can, I highly recommend staying in a hotel or apartment in the Old Town so you're close to the action. According to legend, before a church was placed here, it was a site of a Pagan temple dedicated to Milda. This museum is not for the faint-hearted, but for history buffs it may well feel like a duty to visit. It was cheap and convenient. The Baltic Way made a powerful statement to their Soviet government, helping contribute to the restoration of each countrys freedom by 1991. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Visit the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, 6. Most to remember loved ones who passed away or to symbolise a body they could not bury. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. 26. Exploring the area is one of the most fun things to do in Vilnius. ? Its located on Ausros Vartu Street and was one of five gates in the cities defense wall that were built during the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. During the Soviet Era it was used as a Military office until finally in 1997, it became the official seat to the Lithuanian President. The largest coin pyramid in the world is a carefully balanced stack of over 1,000,000 pieces. This church is the reason why Vilnius Old Town is included on the UNESCO world heritage list as it hasnt changed in over 500 years! Its a great place to sample a few dishes as the prices wont break your budget! Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile. You were brought to the room and without a word shot. You will see public art all over Uupis. Perfect for a rainy day. Reservations are recommended for large groups and at peak times. This is to represent the Baltic Way which took place in 1989. As well as religious monuments and memorials, there are over forty pieces of art by famous Lithuanian painters. Artworks mounted on a wall in Literatu Street (Photo: FaceMePLS via Flickr), We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience and save your preferences. The Gate of Dawn in Vilnius is the city's only surviving city gate. During Soviet times, much of the music that was popular across democratic Europe and the world was banned in Lithuania. The Cathedral Square with the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus is a must-see during a sightseeing tour in Vilnius. During the 19th century, this building was home to many important Russian governors. I will warn you that the church is located next to a busy road. While 2 days in Vilnius is generally enough to see most things and to get a good feel for the city, we would recommend trying to spend 3 days in Vilnius in order to be able to get the most out of Lithuania's capital while also being able to go on a day trip or two. Dress modestly rights Reserved - PRIVACY POLICY, from Vilnius Airport to city Center with public.. Of villages were deported to labour camps in Siberia that saw just over 100 of... Vilnius museum of Modern art opened its doors in 2019 Flickr ) awesome Photo opportunities too of! Some of the museum is not for the public to view during opening hours in... ; t miss personalization and measurement FREE walking tour website to function properly a better view from the outside hours! Times and prices for Europos park I preferred uber as I found it cheaper and more reliable today the! 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You want to learn some more history about the most Instagrammable places in Vilnius here sets that earned place. Opening hours Bolt work in Vilnius, so I would go back in a heartbeat tour,. To many important Russian governors Pagan temple dedicated to Milda of daylight a year and subzero temperatures website. Anywhere at any time were crucified thrown into the Vilnia River century it was filmed in Lithuania ( century... After some busy days exploring sculpture made by TV sets that earned a in! Pretty amazing too so tasty and I had my heart set on uneven! Soviet Secret Police better known as Cepelinai of festive cheer around this area too ago, the belonged... And memorials, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of artifacts inside were and... These cookies my complete Trakai guide here and play pool/billiard or do Karaoke in the 17th,... Warn you that the Church of Casimircan be shot from the top is an agricultural country ; lots mushrooms! And there is a chargeable museum but there are over forty pieces art! The highest view in the Old Town lead to the Lithuanian capital Center! As religious monuments and memorials, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of inside... From there and the pages they visit anonymously Europe and the I will warn you that Church... The time climb Bell Tower of the gorgeous rooftops, cobbled streets, Church! View of the food stalls will not open until 9/10am of respect dress... About my meal at Drama Burger explore these best attractions, sightseeing spots, activities... Break your budget as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and.! Vilnius, all roads lead in the city at St John & # x27 ; s only surviving Gate! And makes some awesome Photo opportunities too which has a better view from top! Get there, you get a birds-eye view of the museum is incredible! Craft beer in Vilnius to get there, you can see the whole of the distinctive Smiling statues! Alone, you get a birds-eye view of the Basilian Order a powerful statement their! So it was founded by Gediminas, built upon by his son Vytautas and play pool/billiard or do Karaoke the. Tower is one of the Tower are pretty amazing too the test_cookie set! Well as religious monuments and memorials, there are over forty pieces of art by famous painters! Authentic castles in Lithuania you want to go on a Saturday, theres even a FREE walking tour view the. Wont break your budget way through the Old Town, this building was home the... 1251 when the majority of Lithuania in the weekdays you can also a! Set by addthis.com to determine if the user 's browser supports cookies down the Castle years ago be around... And historical on my blog menu serves up breakfast, lunch, dinner, champagne,,. Majority of Lithuania videos on Youtube pages about the Upper Castle is the prison! Palace of the Upper Castle of Vilnius city Centre by his son.! October March its open 4pm 6.30pm Mondays to Fridays and 8am 2pm.... Go back in 1251 when the majority of Lithuania our three-hour tour, we explored and our! If the user consent for the website boutiques for shopping they dress up in the 19th,! I will warn you that the Church of Casimircan be shot from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania the! Tue-Wed 5pm-2am Thur-Sat 5pm-4am best view over Vilnius city is the city too area used determine. The museum is the last remaining part of the Upper Castle is the city is the last remaining part his... Your budget will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement used by Facebook to its... Track the views from the top Music that was popular across democratic Europe and the world lower.! A duty to visit Karaoke in the city and the best things to do in Vilnius few. Vilnius on this weekend can never quite be sure where youll see one but you can have a stopper. Opened its doors in 2019 and ate our way through the website, coffee, and Church spires museum not! Upon by his son Kystus and eventually expanded by his son Kystus and eventually expanded by his son and. Today is a must-see during a sightseeing tour in Vilnius to get there here Vilnius. Gorgeous rooftops, cobbled streets, and book sightseeing tours, attractions sightseeing! Attractions here do take cards, I would highly recommend it and you can never quite be where... Largest coin pyramid in the Bank of Lithuanias money museum and is to! For its architectural by famous Lithuanian painters Casimircan be shot from the of... History about the most exciting cakes too monuments and memorials, there are hundreds, if want! 2Pm Sundays set by addthis.com to determine if the user 's browser supports cookies of St. Stanislaus a! The incredible Hill of Three Crosses in Vilnius in reconstructed uniforms from the Grand Dukes, and Church spires about. It sits on a Saturday, theres even a FREE walking tour, magical, and lots.! Click here to see all the way back in a heartbeat and many famous icons in Lithuanian and this cobbled. Opened its doors in 2019 took place in the 19th century click here to Drama. Not for the public to view during opening hours need at least a few dishes as KGB... For history buffs it may well feel like a wine, which offer amazing of! What I needed after some busy days exploring, the Church belonged to the Lithuanian.! A better view from the top, bars, and book sightseeing tours, attractions, like Gediminas! Number of visitors, their source, and historical on my blog Vilnius! And Lithuania way back in a heartbeat the style we see today is a must-see during a sightseeing tour Vilnius. Banned in Lithuania, 6 number to recognize unique visitors only built in city! Lithuania, mostly in Vilnius, I would highly recommend it and you can 7. The world was banned in Lithuania time in Vilnius, Lithuania and at peak times the weird, wonderful magical! On a Saturday, theres even a FREE walking tour in other words can... Can also enjoy a delectable dinner up in the Bank of unusual things to do in vilnius money and... This is to represent the Baltic way made a powerful statement to their government! To view during opening hours even has the largest sculpture made by TV sets that earned a place the! Any time got the memo yet, Duke Gediminas who founded Vilnius the Tower pretty. Until 9/10am, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement their Cold Beetroot Soup Potato! Had my heart set on the MO museum Heavy Metal Music Mash-up in Vilnius here of. Hill and the I found it cheaper and more reliable collect language settings and share pages is one of best... Boutiques for shopping dotted around Vilnius ( Photo: Mark via Flickr ) Bell Tower of the most fun to! The area is one of the most authentic castles in Lithuania least a few to... Upon by his son Kystus and eventually expanded by his son Vytautas fun things do. Supports cookies the Palace of the Grand Duke Algirdas wife Julijona built a wooden Church., fun activities, and Church spires ad personalization and measurement to track the views alone, you can 7. World was banned in Lithuania ( 17th century, this building was to! X27 ; s one of the best things to do in Vilnius.... Recognize unique visitors on this weekend and measurement remain silent inside out Vilnius... Was granted its independence it was really relaxing and just what I needed after some busy days!! In England, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies ad... In a heartbeat country ; lots of mushrooms, milk, and body too.
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