Vilnius

The historic centre includes the UNESCO-listed Old Town. On a walking tour, you’ll come across Gothic, Renaissance and Classical buildings, but above all Baroque ones. The city’s diverse character also includes its art scene and parks: Vingis Park covers 160 hectares along a bend in the Neris.

The architecture makes the Old Town an interesting destination for anyone who wants to discover different architectural styles in one place. Alongside Baroque buildings, the historic centre’s cityscape includes Gothic, Renaissance and Neoclassical structures. St. Anne’s Church is a notable example of late Gothic architecture. It is considered a masterpiece and has remained almost unchanged over the past five centuries.

Gediminas Tower is the surviving fortification tower of the Upper Castle. It offers panoramic views of Vilnius. The tower also houses a historical exhibition with reconstruction models of Vilnius’s castles. Anyone interested in the city’s history can include both a viewpoint and an exhibition in their visit plans.

Neighbourhoods also tell the story of the city’s changing history. A 600-year-old district that once occupied most of today’s Old Town was a Jewish quarter with goldsmiths, glassblowers, craftspeople and financiers. The Glass Quarter, in turn, is surrounded by jewellers, local artists, craft shops and workshops. Užupis describes itself as a bohemian enclave on the banks of the Vilnia and has its own constitution.

The MO Museum presents exhibitions of modern Lithuanian art exploring developments in Lithuanian art over the past 60 years. It has more than 5,000 works and offers educational activities. This provides a different perspective on the country’s art history from the historic buildings of the Old Town.

The Toy Museum is a family-oriented educational centre dedicated to the heritage of toys and games. Its sections showcase the oldest toys, toys from the 19th and 20th centuries, and contemporary toys. Its three themed exhibitions are “The Oldest Lithuanian Toys”, “Journey to the Stone Age” and “Memories of the 20th Century”. The different time periods give the museum visit a clear thematic framework.

People walk, cycle and roller-skate in Vingis Park. Concerts, events and festivals take place on its central stage. The park thus combines opportunities for exercise with a venue for events within the city. Bernardine Garden features a botanical exhibition inspired by the Botanical Gardens of Vilnius University. It is also home to Vilnius’s oldest oak, which is about 400 years old.

Bernardine Garden, formerly known to residents as Sereikiškės Park, lies in the heart of Vilnius between Gediminas Hill, the Vilnia and the Bernardine Monastery. Visitors who want to include green spaces and city history in their trip will find both the botanical exhibition and notable features of the surrounding area here.

Pavilniai Regional Park is one of two regional parks in Vilnius and protects the Vilnia Valley. Its distinctive natural features include the Pūčkoriai outcrop, a unique geological monument. The park has an educational-history trail along the Vilnia, starting at the Pūčkoriai Dam. In winter, Liepkalnis Hill in the regional park is popular with skiers.

A 100-km route around Vilnius is suitable for running, walking and exploring lesser-known places in Vilnius. If you prefer to go with a companion, you can include guided walks in your exploration of the city. To reach Pavilniai Regional Park, take bus 74 from the Žaliasis tiltas stop to the park. The Vilnius maps also include a section with a public transport map.

To compare more destinations, you can also consider Bezdonys, Žuklijai, Kernavė, Kiemeliai, Trakai and Glitiškės.

Which architectural styles define the historic centre?

You’ll find Gothic, Renaissance, Classical and, above all, Baroque buildings there.

What opportunities for exercise does Vilnius offer?

You can walk, cycle and roller-skate in Vingis Park. The 100-km route around Vilnius is suitable for running, walking and exploring lesser-known places.

How do you get to Pavilniai Regional Park?

Bus 74 runs from the Žaliasis tiltas stop to Pavilniai Regional Park.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Vilnius District.

Information to help plan your trip:

Vilnius in Lithuania: Old Town, museums and travel planning, restaurants and cafés in Vilnius | Poezdka.de.