It was founded by Gediminas, built upon by his son Kystus and eventually expanded by his son Vytautas. Our favourite things to do in Vilnius. As was tradition, many of these gates had religious artifacts inside to protect the city from attacks and bless travellers that walk through them. Three Crosses Hill: Another monument to Lithuania's tense past with . Once Lithuania became a Christian state in the 14th century it was granted Magdeburg rights. Entrance is 4.50 Euros. So, when I found out that there was a memorial dedicated to him in Vilnius I had to check it out. You can buy the Vilnius City Card online and at several locations, and it comes as a 24-hour card or a 72-hour card with or without public transportation.? Legend has it that Napoleon Bonaparte fell in love with this Gothic church. Panemun Castle - one of the most authentic castles in Lithuania (17th century). Visit the streets of the Vilna Ghetto (Jewish Ghetto), 17. Its a great investment. 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. Prices start from 45 Euro for a one-hour treatment which is really reasonable for full-body treatments. Presidential Palace. To mark the occasion, a quirky project was put forward that resulted in the construction of the worlds largest coin pyramid. The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. From different Vilnius attractions to visiting one of the many churches to going to the Trakai castle, to walking on the streets of the Old Town. Master Pieces by great illusionists from Netherlands, Sweden, Japan and all over the world, of 1920s to 1970s. Once the Nazi occupation came around, unfortunately, a lot of the residents were deported to hard labour and concentration camps. Not much to say, we fell in love with it straight away! YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. The main sights in Vilnius + history of the city Cathedral Square & St.Stanislaus Cathedral. During my? there was no listening to popular music, watching mainstream TV, freedom of speech. The castle itself dates from 1409, but there have been fortifications on the spot since the early 1300's. But, most of the food stalls will not open until 9/10am. Climb up the Church of St Johns Bell Tower, 37. The Palace used to be the centre of the political, diplomatic, and cultural aspects of the state and home to the Grand Dukes of Lithuania too. If you can, I highly recommend staying in a hotel or apartment in the Old Town so you're close to the action. There are 3 of them in the city and all have a fantastic selection of craft beers and a cheap and cheerful menu serving up traditional Lithuania cuisine. Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights. By the 17th century, the foundations were falling apart and it was reconstructed into the Neo-Classic style. Step inside the Church of St Peter and St Paul, 39. 8. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You get to orientate yourself, know the area, learn about the history and visit some of the top attractions too! 3. The oldest part of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, it has developed over the course of many centuries, and has been. After the Nazis left a few years later, it became re-occupied by Soviet Secret Police better known as the KGB. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". This was a decree of the Flemish rule which granted certain members authority in the city. Lithuania is a deeply Catholic country and this cathedral is one of the country's most important places of worship. Today, the hill by the City Bastion is a popular park and viewpoint in the city and from here you get a great view of the churches, Uupis, Gediminas Tower, and beyond. This post may contain affiliate links. So, you get a birds-eye view of the gorgeous rooftops, cobbled streets, and church spires. So, its well worth checking out if you want to learn all about it! Learn About Vilnius Ghost Stories & Legends, Vilnius Lithuania Points of Interest | 7 Tourist Attractions, 7. It makes for a perfect day trip and only takes a 30-minute bus ride to get to Trakai. avenue). It does not store any personal data. There are also several lovely green spaces to escape to, including Kalnu Park. It had the most EPIC Christmas decorations, but also has a gorgeous interior throughout the year. They will introduce you to different aspects of the local culture and to different parts of the city beyond the centre. I was gutted I didnt get a chance to explore the inside of the library, but you can go inside on an organised tour if youre interested. Museum of illusions. The views back over the city are stunning (and free!). Help. It really is as pretty as a postcard. I went on two free tours in Vilnius: the Free Walking Tour with guide Ele, and the Free Alternative Tour with Marge, both showing two completely different sides of Lithuania's capital. Finally, in 1870, the three parks that were next to each other, the Botanical Gardens, the Cathedral Park, and Bernadine gardens, all became one park. Vilnius is not the typical destination people think of when booking a trip to the Baltics. The largest coin pyramid in the world is a carefully balanced stack of over 1,000,000 pieces. Broad Gediminas Avenue is the citys most famous street, lined with municipal institutions, restaurants and cafs. Groups & meetings. It was shocking and heartbreaking. Ah, the effortlessly pretty pink church of St Casimir. Then check out the best things to do in Vilnius, to ensure you make the most of your time in the city. The City Bastion used to be a stronghold as part of the city defense walls during the Duchy of Lithuania but later on, it became a barracks for the garrisons of German troops during World War II. But, with traditional Lithuanian mead, you can drink it cold and by the pint; its absolutely delicious! 6. The Hill of Crosses. But, unfortunately, I ran out of time. The most popular thing to do in Trakai is visit Trakai Castle, a 14th-century castle surrounded by Lake Galve. Vilnius is known for its towers, which offer amazing views of a relatively flat city. Like with most free walking tours you pay what you feel the tour is worth (I usually tip around 10 Euros per head). Mykolo g. 8 HOURS Mon-Sun 9am-5pm 10am-7pm. They say it all started with a vision, and a pilgrimage across the country to save the life of a farmer's daughter. 3,598. Gediminas Castle Tower. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. It was even used by both Tsar Alexander I and Napoleon while they were in Vilnius! It costs 4 Euros and is open from 10am 6pm Wednesday to Saturday. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. More travel. Vilnius old town is definitely worth to visit, one of the oldest old towns in Europe, mist be in everyones list! This zen space can be found in the heart of the Old Town and is extremely popular. Visit the National Museum of Lithuania, 10. Alternative Vilnius - 10 unique things to do in Vilnius I am a long-time fan of Frank Zappa, throw back to me at 14 first listening to Hungry Freaks, Daddy and being hooked from there! The park is a reconstruction by Vladislovas trausas in the 19th century of the gardens that stood here from the 15th century all the way up to World War II. Their independence day, Uupis Day falls on the 1st of April. Uupis Republic Discovery Tour - This is the bohemian part of Vilnius and I recommend you see it with a local guide. This was a state that was founded by Lithuanian people but formed unions with kingdoms like Poland, Prussia (Germany), and Austria. It means youre officially a resident of Uupis! As well as the historical architecture of the Old Town, the New part of Vilnius has many art galleries that exhibit all sorts of art from classical portraits to contemporary works and installations. I had a knowledgeable guide who customised the tour with some classic sites and what I was interested in. Guided tours cost extra. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Read my complete guide for Gediminas Castle here. The Gate of Dawn in Vilnius is the city's only surviving city gate. Its a testament to the strength of the Lithuanian people despite their dark past. The Baltic city stole my heart with its wacky, weird, and wonderful things to do and see. Then, when Lithuania converted to Christianity in the 14th century the cathedral was expanded. Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Zemaiciu Asotis - this rustic-style restaurant offers an extensive choice of meaty Lithuanian staples. Tickets cost 3 Euros and its only open in the Summer. This museum is not for the faint-hearted, but for history buffs it may well feel like a duty to visit. I always use Google Maps if I have WiFi, or download Maps.Me if Im going to be offline. It was one of the most successful warrior states at that time and used Vilnius as its capital. Vilnius Old Town. Vilnius with locals run a fabulous free walking tour that runs from the Cathedral Square daily at 10am and 12pm. Outsider Art 3. The tower, which is one of Vilnius' oldest and most popular tourist attractions, offers a 360-degree panorama of the city and exhibits objects related to Lithuania's history. I would highly recommend it and you can book onto the tour here. nekutis came highly recommended, so thats where I went! The National Museum costs 3 Euro a ticket and is open from 10am 6pm Tuesday through Sunday. Throughout the summer, youll often find beautiful installations like umbrellas or lanterns hanging above you! Have some cheap eats or Lithuanian Mead at Snekutis, 16. Master Pieces by great illusionists from Netherlands, Sweden, Japan and all over the world, of 1920s to 1970s. Bernardine Park. Its a great place to sample a few dishes as the prices wont break your budget! A single cross for a miracle, which multiplied to include hundreds of thousands. It features 10 ski trails ranging from beginner to veteran. It now holds over 5.7 million documents and its bookshelves cover a whopping 166 kilometres. The eerie interior of the Museum of Genocide Victims in Vilnius (Photo: DAVID HOLT via Flickr) 8. By Crazyguy14. Things to do in Vilnius in a nutshell Today, the streets around here are incredibly quaint and colourful with cafs, bars, and boutiques for shopping. Look out for the amazing graffiti surrounding it. They even have location tours now. We visited Vilnius this summer for a weekend from Norway on an invitation from Tinggly Experiences. St. John's Church is located on the campus of Vilnius University. Perhaps the most unusual of sites in all of Lithuania, the Hill of Crosses in the north of the country is a must-see on any road . I will warn you that the church is located next to a busy road. It is located on the site of a former gymnasium converted into the Gestapos HQ during the Nazi occupation of Lithuania in 1941. We recommend Trakai Castle as one of the top things to do in Vilnius, even though it's not in the city. Originally intended as a temporary exhibition when it was launched in 2008, the wall quickly grew in popularity and it was soon decided that it would remain, becoming a popular stop-off point for both locals and visitors to the city. Stikliu, M. Antokolskio & ydu streets were all part of the Jewish Ghetto in Vilnius established during World War II. During the Soviet Era, it was converted into a warehouse. Vilnius isn't just beautiful to behold - it's also an economic powerhouse in the Baltics. Out of all the views in Vilnius, this one was my favourite. Download App for Free. Lukiks Prison 2.0. Lithuania's capital city Vilnius is so much more than its pretty, Unesco-protected Old Town - although as one of Europe's oldest surviving medieval centres, its cobblestone streets, ancient churches and well-preserved architecture make it a captivating city break. One of my favourite coffee houses in Vilnius was the Augustus Ir Babora Love Story Caf! This is to represent the Baltic Way which took place in 1989. English. Vilnius is one of Europe's smaller capital cities, but that doesn't necessarily mean everything is close together. Lithuanian language and text were banned. Then in the 1990s, they declared the district the Free Republic. I love a free walking tour as they are a nice introduction to the city. This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. Surrounded by history it stands tall in a capital city Vilnius. Climb up to see the Hill of Three Crosses and take in the panoramic city views or enjoy one of the regular festivals and events held here. The tour will wind along charming Old Town streets, pause at the iconic landmarks, stop at the enchanting viewing points. Going to Gediminas Tower is one of the best things to do in Vilnius. A bronze bust of Frank zappa atop a stainless-steel pole (Photo: richie78 via Flickr). It sparked worldwide media attention and was extremely controversial at the time. Parents were separated from their children and sent away. But, through time, the building suffered major fires and had to be reconstructed. "Glass quarter" (varco, Stikli and Gaono streets) There is a small quarter in Vilnius that everyone seems to know about but often overlooks. Another famous street that leads off from Vilnius Cathedral Square is Gediminas Avenue. It was included amongst the worlds most beautiful churches on Churchpop, alongside cathedrals in England and Italy. Exhibitions of the works of artists working with amber are also regularly held here and visitors can buy amber jewellery in the on-site store. 2. The Church of St. Anne is a Gothic style church in Vilnius' Old Town. But, it has been taken down in 2019 with a pink mural that reads make compassion great again. YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. Then check out the best things to do in Vilnius, to ensure you make the most of your time in the city. Here are the best things to do in Lithuania: 1. The Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower is open from 10am 7pm in summer and 10am 6pm in winter. Ask 100 people about the history of this unassuming concrete tile and youre likely to get 100 different answers. Vilnius Cathedral is FREE to visit and is open 7am 7pm all week. It was a place that housed the local magistrate, held city meetings, had a courtroom and there was even a prison underneath in the basement. Home to Eastern Europes only Island Castle, Trakai used to be the capital of Lithuania years ago. Here, I want to share with you a few of the more unique things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania. Its completely free! The original cathedral was built all the way back in 1251 when the majority of Lithuania was Pagan. You will need to fill in a form and then you pay 8 Euros for a tour that will take you around the Library, University Halls and Courtyards too. You can have a Thai massage, Segmented massages, facial treatments, and body scrubs too. View this post on Instagram. There is a popular legend that Napoleon Bonaparte fell in love with this church and he wanted to take it back to Paris in the palm of his hand. Perhaps the best of these was Bernardine Park. If you tell someone you are going to Vilnius, you are often met with a confused look and a 'Where is that'. Id try to avoid mass times but the portrait is definitely worth a peek! The chain began in Tallinn, Estonia and finally ended in Vilnius, right at the stebuklas tile in Cathedral Square. In England, our mead is served up like a wine. 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. Even today, there are markers where those used to be in the square. Facebook sets this cookie to show relevant advertisements to users by tracking user behaviour across the web, on sites that have Facebook pixel or Facebook social plugin. St Johns Church is part of the university and definitely one of the top things to do in Vilnius if you're looking for a view. These include St. Ann's (Gothic), St. Peter and Paul's (Baroque), and plenty of others. As it was private, I got all the time to ask any questions I needed to as well. Vilnius Old Town is really easy to get around on foot. 26 DATES July 2 August 27, A musical stage performance during Christopher Summer Festival (Photo: Evgenia Levin). By 695arthurm. A lot of local people hang out here and play pool/billiard or do Karaoke in the weekdays. These cookies will be stored in your browser. List your property . So, if youre relatively fit and not scared of heights its perfect. 2023 Atlas Obscura. - Klook US . I'm a UK-based solo female travel blogger. time in Vilnius, I teamed up with Go Vilnius to write about the city and the? 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. In Lithuania, they use the Euro. You could drink a few pints like juice and then be absolutely trashed. You can take a look at nekutis menu here and which bar you want to visit! Vilnius street in Vilnius (yes, there is such a thing) is the main nightlife artery. Zen Republic. I had a one-hour body scrub and full body massage treatment. Check out their page here. App. And they can open your eyes . So, its a pity that it is only open during the summer season. All I will say is just GO, you wont regret a thing. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Museum of Genocide Victims - particularly interesting if you're curious about the Soviet occupation and the atrocities of that period. Classical Heavy Metal Music Mash-up in Vilnius, Lithuania. Share. Take a closer look at this bustling city with our suggestions for unique things to do in Vilnius. Climb up the Gediminas Castle Tower to take in the views, 7. Another fun place with plenty of digital things to do in Vilnius is Future Live interactive exhibition. Visit the Presidential Palace of Lithuania, 31. Usually considered as a meeting point for locals, the Cathedral Square sits at the heart of the Old Town. All Rights Reserved - PRIVACY POLICY, From Vilnius Airport to City Center with public transportation. You can also download the Trafi App for times and directions. It was a peaceful protest against decades of Soviet Rule which saw thousands of people unite together holding hands across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. They have a show stopper of a Christmas Tree all lit up and there is a lot of festive cheer around this area too. In order to get there, you need to walk up for approx 10 minutes on the uneven, pebbly road. The Palace is HUGE so youll need at least a few hours to explore. It became one of the most famous palaces in Europe at that time. There are free tours to go inside the Palace on Saturdays. And for real aficionados, Amber polishing demonstrations are available upon request. When Lithuania got its independence, a lot of the artists took advantage of the cheap housing that became available there. If you happen to go on a Saturday, theres even a FREE walking tour! Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. It was then a huge art district. Today tourists inevitably gravitate here, but in sufficiently small numbers for the area to retain all of its distinctive character and charm. He brings a world-class level of gastronomy to the Lithuanian capital. As well as the castle, you can explore Lithuanias smallest national park, learn about the Karaite community, sample Kibinai pastries and hop around historic mansions. Stays Stays. GIFTEDWe spent ab. Throughout the year, this is also the location of many community events like Concerts in the Summer and in December it comes alive with the annual Christmas Tree and Markets! Source: Shutterstock. Frank Zappa often spoke of revolution in his songs and became an icon to the youth in the city after their newfound freedom! Written October 1, 2022. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. A post shared by @stasyukkk. For more fun activities in Vilnius, try any of these unique tours. They were originally built across swamps to be used for escape routes from foreign invaders, known only to locals and undetectable from the surface, providing a safe shortcut between villages and hill forts. Here you can see where prisoners were kept. Heaven. 2. One of my favorite things to do in Vilnius when people come to visit is go up to Gediminas Castle. Here are a few of my favourite streets and courtyards in the old town; Click here to book a courtyard tour of Vilnius. 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. But, the President of Vilnius celebrated the work, claiming that the people of Lithuania are not silenced censorship. Once youve finished exploring the Upper and Lower Castle, make sure you head down Pilies Street. The Baltic Way made a powerful statement to their Soviet government, helping contribute to the restoration of each countrys freedom by 1991. From October March its open 4pm 6.30pm Mondays to Fridays and 8am 2pm Sundays. Visit The KGB Museum / Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fighters, 18. The Frank Zappa fan club erected this monument to their prog-rock hero to mark a new era of post-Soviet Lithuania. YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. Such is the potency of the tiles historical significance that many believe it now has magical, wish-granting properties. But get in quick the monument will come down one day, with all of its coins earmarked for childrens charities. Years ago the whole upper castle was a defensive fortification built by Gediminas grandson, Duke Vytautas. Huracn Coffee Vokieiai - trendy cafe in the heart of the Old Town that serves some of the best light roasted coffee and cakes in Vilnius. Of course, as well as capturing it there are a lot of shops, restaurants, and chapels you can pop into to pass the time too. Then you may be interested to know that a lot of it was filmed in Lithuania, mostly in Vilnius! Today, you can climb up to the tower to find incredible views of the whole of Vilnius! Then I would book yourself in for a relaxing massage at Azia Spa. LOCATION Gedimino av. I visited in December and loved the festive feel of the square. Escape Games. But, I think its incredibly underrated and worth exploring. My favourite part of Pilies street was veering off down the small pretty side streets, courtyards and alleyways. Designed for nature and outdoors enthusiasts, guests can expect grill and barbecue events, mulled wine, craft beers and night-time bonfires all of which combine to create a magical ambience. Here are 10 of the best things to see and do during a visit. But, I feel that although these are dark places, learning about history is necessary so these things do not happen again. There is a legend surrounding this hill (known as Bleak Hill) that 14 Franciscan monks were invited to Vilnius and started preaching about God. This street is like a temple for those that are fans of Lithuanian literature as there are artworks mounted to the wall dedicated to Lithuanian writers! Pass through Uupis Border Control ; 5. Reservations in advanceare highly recommended. You can visit the inside of the church during the restricted opening hours, but even if its closed its worth stopping here for a photo! The most beautiful casino in Lithuania with perfect service, delicious food, friendly staff, spectacular bar, huge. Today, you can cross under the gate and visit the small chapel above the archway. 7. It then changed to Stalin avenue and Lenin Avenue. 19 Fun Things to Do in Vilnius on a Quick Trip. It can be found around 19 kilometres out of Vilnius City Centre. May September from 11am 6pm and October April from 5-7pm. 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. #2 Explore Cathedral Square. Make sure you arrive hungry! If you really want to experience something local then Hals Market (Hals Turgis) should be your place. Set on the Neris River, Lithuanias picturesque capital is peppered with shrines, churches and baroque architecture. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Vilnius, 4. The Bernadine Gardens are FREE to visit and open from 7am 10pm all week. Read more. 2022 is a great time to go sightseeing and visit the many attractions in Vilnius. With its striking shade of yellow and beautiful baroque design, youll notice the Basilian Monastery it in an instant, even from afar!

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