There is a charm in this small, incredibly beautiful and well-groomed European city. Tourists should definitely see the sights of Vilnius, walk along the cobbled streets, listen to the city musicians. There is peace and tranquility everywhere. A large number of ancient monuments makes the city a sightseeing mecca of Lithuania. There is something to see in Vilnius for travelers who are interested in modern and historical architecture.
What to see in Vilnius first of all
Describing the old town, you involuntarily list the main sights of Vilnius briefly, because, like in most historical centers of European capitals, the main iconic places are concentrated in it.
1. The Old Town
One of the streets of the Old Town in Vilnius
When choosing hotels in Vilnius, pay attention to the Old Town. Here you can stay in the best of them, an invaluable bonus will be the best sights of Vilnius within walking distance. You can start examining them from St. The gate and, moving east to the Medininkai castle, inspect all the beauties in turn.
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2. Town Hall
The main facade of the Town Hall building on the Town Hall Square in the Old Town of Vilnius
What to see in Vilnius in 1 day if you come to the capital of Lithuania for a short time? The classic Town Hall building is of architectural and historical interest. Once there was a city archive, treasury, courtrooms, and prisoners were kept in the basements. In the XVIII century. the building was demolished, and a new one was built in its place, which became the center of cultural life. Today, foreign delegations are welcomed here, solemn meetings are held, awards and prizes are presented.
Official website: https://www.vilniausrotuse.lt
3. Gediminas Avenue
Administrative and government offices of Lithuania on Gediminas Avenue in Vilnius
The central avenue of the city is about 2 km long with limited traffic, and closed at night. There is a different atmosphere here than in the Old Town. Stone structures of the Brezhnev era are adjacent to new buildings, street musicians sing on the roadsides, theaters, exhibitions, shops work. It is worth a walk along the avenue, although tourists are more interested in the streets of Old Vilnius.
4. Piles Street
Piles Street at night
The oldest of Vilnius streets, it is perhaps the most interesting for walking. If you are lucky, you can find yourself in the epicenter of festive festivities, visit the most famous fairs in the country, walk through museums and retail outlets. There are interesting places on the street that deserve special attention.
5. Uzhupis
The bronze sculpture of a trumpeting angel is a symbol of the Uzhupis quarter
It can be compared to a small Vatican, it is a kind of state within a state. The high rating of Uzhupis as a tourist destination is due to its originality. At the end of the last century, the area became a favorite place for avant-garde artists, musicians, and poets. Everything that could be bought at a low price was redone for fashion galleries. Bohemian Uzhupis, it is worth noting, even got its own anthem, flag, constitution and even an army.
6. Gediminas Tower
The national flag of Lithuania fluttering on the flagpole above the Gediminas Tower
Let’s tell you where to go in Vilnius and where to get the most beautiful photos. From the observation deck of the Gediminas Tower on Castle Hill, the whole of Old Vilnius is overlooked. The tower has historical significance on a national scale, so the flag of the country is flying on the flagpole. You can climb it on foot or by funicular.
Official website: https://www.lnm.lt
7. Aushros Gate
The Aushros Gate is one of the most important sights of Vilnius
This gate is the height of a three–storey house – a shrine of the Catholic faith, a landmark of Lithuania. The image of the great Merciful Mother, revered by Catholics, is kept in the chapel. The architecture of the building is fascinating: beautiful griffins on the main facade, a frieze above the bell tower, icons in the chapel. The place is a pilgrimage destination for Catholics all over the world.
Official website: https://www.ausrosvartai.lt
8. The Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace in a two-storey 19th century palace on Daukanto Square in Vilnius
It is impossible to get inside many local attractions. Let’s tell you what to visit in Vilnius from places that are usually inaccessible to viewing, but it is welcome here. The accessibility of the Presidential Palace is amazing. Anyone has the opportunity to attend public events that are organized here. It is worth waiting for the flag–changing ceremony – it is really solemnly beautiful.
Official website: https://www.lrp.lt
9. Vilnius University
St. John’s Church in the Large Courtyard of Vilnius University
The university buildings occupy an entire block and are “diluted” with fountains, arches, cozy courtyards, alleys. In the central courtyard there is, in addition to the buildings, the bell tower of St. St. John’s with a viewing platform at the top. The university library, painted with frescoes, is especially beautiful. Adam Mickiewicz, Taras Shevchenko, Yanka Kupala and other famous figures once studied here.
Official website: https://www.vu.lt
10. Radziwill Palace
Radziwill Palace on Villenaus Street Sigitas Jakucionis
Many excursions in Vilnius lead here. The wealth of the Radziwill family was calculated in huge numbers, they owned about 9 palaces in the city. The palace in the Old Town is the only one that has been preserved, today it belongs to the National Art Museum. The exhibition, divided into 3 parts, presents portraits, icons, archaeological finds, art objects and much more.
11. The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
The National Museum in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius
If you are interested in history, then when going on a trip, plan a visit to this place. The palace was once the residence of many Lithuanian rulers. Thanks to them, the castle complex was constantly expanding and by the XVI century had the appearance of a beautiful Renaissance building. Today, the existing 2 expositions in authentic interiors tell about the history of the Palace.
Official website: https://v2.valdovurumai.lt
12. St. Stanislaus Cathedral
St. Stanislaus Cathedral is the main and most beautiful Catholic cathedral in Vilnius
The temple at Castle Hill, which is significant for Catholics, was the place of the coronation of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. The graves of famous people of the Lithuanian Principality are located in its basements. Inside, the cathedral seems airy and bright, the interior is decorated with paintings and sculptures. Especially interesting is the high bell tower with a clock, which was part of a defensive fortification.
Official website: https://www.katedra.lt
13. Church of Saints Peter and Paul
Peter and Paul Church in night illumination at the beginning of Antakalne Street in Vilnius
This church is called the pearl of the Baroque. This becomes clear only after going inside. If the facade is restrainedly solemn, then the interior shines with a wealth of allegories, splendor of forms, luxury of decoration. The dome and walls are decorated with stucco elements, from which it is difficult to look away. The guides in Vilnius will tell you its tragic and interesting story.
Official website: https://vilniauspetropovilo.lt
14. St. Anne’s Church and Bernardine Church
The Church of the Bernardines and the Church of St. Anna is one of the most popular sights of Vilnius
The Church of St. Anna’s, made in the Gothic style, is visible from anywhere in the city. The architectural masterpiece is the pediment and 3 elegant towers. The gallery and the sacristy inside are inferior in beauty to the exterior of the facade. The impressive and austere construction of the Bernardine Church was originally part of the defensive wall, as the preserved loopholes remind us today. Inside, the temple is equipped without too much pathos, the remains of biblical frescoes are visible on the walls.
Official website: https://www.onosbaznycia.lt
15. St. Catherine’s Church
General view of St. Catherine’s Church in Vilnius Juliux
The magnificent Catholic church in the Baroque style was built in the XVII century. The beautiful exterior of the building is luxurious inside. The interior design features statues made of white marble, and paintings with scenes from the Bible are on the walls and altar. Classical music concerts are held here.
16. St. John’s Church
The Church of St. John and the 68-meter bell tower on the background of the buildings of the Old Town
The bell tower of the church with a six–meter cross is the best place from where you can see Vilnius from a height. Moreover, the review is not limited to grids, grids or glasses. You can walk to a height of 45 m or take a modern elevator. An interesting object at the top is Foucault’s pendulum, which simulates the rotation of the Earth.
17. St. Casimir’s Church
St. Casimir’s Church in the Old Town is an example of the early Baroque in Vilnius
Embarking on a journey through time, you understand how much this church had to go through. It was used for various purposes, at one time even served as a granary, and during Soviet times there was a wine cellar and a museum of atheism. It was only at the end of the last century that the building was returned to the church and consecrated. The facade and interior are designed in the Baroque style, the most interesting element is the dome, made in the form of a crown.
18. The Church of the Holy Spirit
Church of the Holy Spirit – a church attached to an Orthodox monastery in Vilnius
A beautiful temple, which is always crowded. In the solemn interior, a three-tiered iconostasis decorated with sculptures, columns and wavy cornices immediately catches the eye. The most interesting thing about it is the cave temple below the altar. The relics of the Vilna martyrs, later canonized, were once found here. There is a library attached to the church.
19. Three Crosses Religious Monument
Religious monument Three crosses in the city park on Bald Mountain on the right bank of the Vilnyale river
There are 4 hills of different heights in the center of the capital, in Kalnu Park. The most remarkable is the Three-Cross Mountain, which is crowned by a sculpture of three snow-white crosses soaring into the sky. There is more than one legend about their appearance. The monument, restored after a series of destructions, is dedicated to the victims of Stalin’s repressions. There is an observation deck near it on the top of the mountain with a good view.
20. National Museum of Lithuania
The National Museum of Lithuania is the State Historical Museum in Vilnius
Another attraction of Vilnius, telling the whole history of the country from the first settlements to the creation of the state. The exhibits on display tell an interesting story about the formation of Baltic culture. Interactive computer entertainment has been thought out for children and adults alike.
Official website: https://www.lnm.lt
Sights of Vilnius: what else to visit in Vilnius?
If you are not limited in time, then you should pay more attention to interesting objects. Take a look at the sights of Vilnius in advance, photos with names and descriptions and choose those that you think are worth visiting without fail.
21. Lithuanian Art Museum
Facades of the Lithuanian Art Museum in Vilnius Rimantas Lazdynas
The museum provides an overview of the country’s largest art collection. Geographically, the museum covers a huge part of the territory of Lithuania, representing its branches in many places. The exhibition presents more than 2.5 thousand paintings from the XVI-XIX centuries, about 8 thousand drawings by artists from all over the world from the XV-XX centuries.
22. Museum of Genocide Victims
Memorial stone with flowers and candles at the Museum of Genocide Victims in Vilnius
Once this museum building belonged to the KGB, during the war the Gestapo settled here. The museum’s collections are located in the basement and on 2 floors. Below you can see the prisoners’ cells with inscriptions on the walls, which, although repeatedly repainted, still store their remains. Special recommendations of tourists relate to the memorial stone, near which flowers always lie and candles are lit in memory of the dead.
Official website: https://genocid.lt
23. Vilnius TV Tower
Vilnius TV Tower is a television and radio broadcasting center in Lithuania’s tallest building VietovesLt
The tallest building in the country, it can compete with the famous skyscrapers of the world. A wonderful view of Vilnius opens from the observation deck at an altitude of 165 m, although the territory is fenced with glass, there is no open access. There is also a revolving restaurant upstairs. Despite the rather high prices, it is always difficult to find a free table here.
Official website: https://tvbokstas.lt
24. Park of Europe
Magdalena Abakanovich’s work “The Space of Unknown Growth” in the Legionas Park of Europe
This is not a simple park, but rather a museum located on 55 hectares in the open air. The original sculptures presented on the territory deserve excellent reviews from the park’s guests. Among the most interesting compositions is a maze of 3 thousand old televisions. The sculpture is made in the shape of a tree, but it is visible only from above. Overall, an interesting collection of original installations.
Official website: https://www.europosparkas.lt
25. Trakai Castle
Trakai Castle surrounded by a beautiful natural landscape
An interesting cozy place, shrouded in legend and lake water. The small restored castle is interesting for the collection of exhibits placed inside. The tour will immerse guests in the medieval atmosphere, take them through narrow staircases and palace halls. You can complete the walk by sailing on the lake.
Official website: https://www.trakaimuziejus.lt
Vilnius is ideal for romantic visits, family vacations and simply to expand the boundaries of the tourist horizon.
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