Day 1
Old Town & Cathedral Square
Start at Cathedral Square, spin on the Stebuklas tile, and wander the old town lanes to the Town Hall and the Gate of Dawn. Climb Gediminas' Tower in the afternoon and wind up the day over craft beer and cepelinai.
Lithuania's capital guards one of the largest and best-preserved baroque old towns in Eastern Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage site of cobbled lanes, hidden courtyards and more than sixty churches. Seen from Castle Hill, Vilnius is a sea of red rooftops pierced by baroque towers.
But the city is anything but a museum piece: it's young, cheap and wilfully quirky, with an artists' republic across the river, buzzing craft-beer bars and a restaurant scene that punches far above its size. You can cross Vilnius on foot in a weekend and still feel like you've stumbled onto a small secret.
Itinerary
Day 2
Užupis & the viewpoints
Breakfast in Užupis, read the constitution on the wall and find the Angel statue before climbing the Hill of Three Crosses. Soak up the view over the city, then try šaltibarščiai in a traditional spot.
Day 3
Day trip to Trakai
Take the train or bus to Trakai and spend the morning in the island castle set on Lake Galvė. Eat fresh kibinai by the water, take a boat ride or lakeside walk, and head back to Vilnius in the evening.
Highlights
🏛️Landmark
Gediminas' Tower & Castle Hill
The brick remnant of the Upper Castle crowns Castle Hill above the old town and stands as the founding symbol of Vilnius. Climb the path on foot or take the little funicular for the best panorama over the sea of red roofs and church spires.
🏘️Neighbourhood
Užupis Republic
A once-ramshackle riverside quarter that declared itself an independent artists' republic, complete with its own constitution, flag and president. Wander the bridges to galleries, cafés and the famous Angel statue, and read the constitution bolted to a wall in dozens of languages.
🏛️Landmark
Cathedral Square
The broad open plaza at the heart of Vilnius, dominated by the white neoclassical cathedral and its free-standing bell tower. Find the 'Stebuklas' (miracle) tile in the paving, spin on it once as legend demands and make a wish.
🌄Viewpoint
Hill of Three Crosses
Three snow-white crosses crown a wooded hill above Užupis, a monument burned into the city's skyline. The short, steep climb rewards you with one of the finest views over the old town, especially at sunset.
✨Experience
Trakai Island Castle
A Gothic red-brick castle on an island in Lake Galvė, about half an hour from Vilnius and the city's most-loved day trip. Cross the wooden footbridges, explore the courtyard, and try the kibinai pastries of the local Karaim community.
🍽️Food
Cepelinai
Giant zeppelin-shaped dumplings of grated potato stuffed with minced meat, smothered in bacon and sour cream, Lithuania's hearty national dish. Order a plate in a traditional tavern and come hungry, as two of them are a full meal.
Neighbourhoods
Senamiestis (Old Town)
The city's baroque heart and UNESCO core, a maze of cobbled lanes, churches and courtyards. Cathedral Square, the university and most of the cafés and shops are all within a ten-minute walk.
Užupis
The self-declared artists' republic just across the Vilnia river, with galleries, studios and its own tongue-in-cheek constitution on the wall. Perfect for a slow breakfast, street art and the bohemian pulse of the city.
Naujamiestis (New Town)
The grittier, more modern district around the station and the Gedimino Avenue axis. This is where you'll find startups, concert halls, craft-beer bars and the most exciting new restaurants.
Antakalnis
A green, calm residential quarter along the Neris, lined with baroque churches, woodland and the sprawling Antakalnis cemetery. Lovely for a walk well off the tourist trail.
Where to eat
Cepelinai
Zeppelin-shaped potato dumplings stuffed with minced meat and smothered in bacon and sour cream. Lithuania's hearty national dish, best eaten in a traditional tavern on an empty stomach.
Šaltibarščiai
A vivid pink, ice-cold beetroot soup on a kefir base with dill, cucumber and egg, served with hot potatoes on the side. The Lithuanian summer in a bowl, refreshing and impossibly photogenic.
Kibinai
Crescent-shaped pastries filled with lamb and onion, a legacy of the Karaim community of Trakai. The perfect savoury snack on the move, warm from the oven.
Gira
A refreshing, gently sweet-sour drink made from fermented rye bread, poured on almost every corner. Order it ice-cold with a rich meal or as a non-alcoholic alternative to beer.
Good to know
Best time to visit
Vilnius is at its best from May to September: long days, green parks and terrace cafés open late into the evening. Early summer brings festivals and mild weather, while winter turns cold and dark but casts a spell with Christmas markets and snow-dusted rooftops.
Getting around
The compact old town is best explored on foot, with almost everything within walking distance. For longer hops there are cheap buses and trolleybuses and the app-based Bolt taxis; Trakai is a regular train or bus away, around half an hour each way.
- Currency
- EUR €
- Languages
- Lithuanian
How much does Vilnius cost?
A realistic daily budget per person, in three styles.
Backpacker€40per person / day
Mid-range€80per person / day
Comfort€150per person / day
Vilnius offers a range of affordable options for travelers.
Local tips
- ✓Vilnius is one of the cheapest capitals in the EU, but still lean on cards, which are accepted almost everywhere.
- ✓Many of the loveliest courtyards and churches are free, so be bold and step through the unassuming archways of the old town.
- ✓Book the Trakai train in advance in the app, it's cheaper and comfier than a taxi and runs roughly hourly.
