There are thought to be over 250,000 crucifixes that have been left at the site. As well as simply visiting for the views alone, you can also enjoy a delectable dinner up in the air too. When you enter the cathedral, youll often find pilgrims falling to their knees in prayer. Today, they are known as the Franciscan martyrs of Vilnius. It was originally built for Anna, the Grand Duchess of Lithuania, and the wife of Vytautas the Great. Only the bottom part of the Bellfry tower is original, the rest is a reconstruction from the 19th century. So, without further ado, here are all the amazing things to do in Vilnius on your trip. Hals market can be found on Pylimo gatve and is open from 7am. #2 Explore Cathedral Square. Although many see this as a little tongue-in-cheek, they do have border control, their own flag, priests, churches, and parliament! Lithuania has a long history of foreign forces occupying their country for centuries like the Teutonic Knights of Prussia (Germany), Russian Moscovy troops, Nazi invaders, and finally the Soviet Union, or the KGB. 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. It was included amongst the worlds most beautiful churches on Churchpop, alongside cathedrals in England and Italy. But, beyond black bread (which we will cover in detail) there's a massive range of exciting traditional Lithuanian food to try when you visit Vilnius. Gediminas Castle Tower. Vilnius needed a headquarters for the authorities and so the Town Hall was born. Take a Day Trip to Trakai Castle. The cherry on top? Set on the Neris River, Lithuanias picturesque capital is peppered with shrines, churches and baroque architecture. So if you want a nice little introduction to Vilnius, this is your first stop. The Church is open from 6am 6.30pm Monday to Friday. The Three Crosses Hill. Zen Republic. Check out my complete guide for this caf including the love story here! . Read more. This zen space can be found in the heart of the Old Town and is extremely popular. Although I was a guest, all opinions are my own. Uber and the competing app Bolt work in Vilnius to get you around the city too. 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. The Bernadine Gardens are FREE to visit and open from 7am 10pm all week. But, through time, the building suffered major fires and had to be reconstructed. Today, it is the home to many government authorities in Vilnius but its also home to hundreds of retail outlets, restaurants, cafs, and the Museum of Occupations. Perhaps the best of these was Bernardine Park. Today, you can cross under the gate and visit the small chapel above the archway. During this period the building was used to house prisoners and to conduct executions and torture in its basement. So, the town became derelict making way for less desirable members of society to move into the neighbourhood and it got a bad name. Exploring the area is one of the most fun things to do in Vilnius. 2022 is a great time to go sightseeing and visit the many attractions in Vilnius. See some more details here. 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. Jack Lim. Vilnius Cathedral. Gediminas Tower & Castle Hill. Climb up the Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower, 5. Master Pieces by great illusionists from Netherlands, Sweden, Japan and all over the world, of 1920s to 1970s. The Gate of Dawn in Vilnius is the city's only surviving city gate. It is meant to introduce you to the city and make it feel as home. But, unfortunately, I ran out of time. Vilnius is a pretty city, well worth visiting, with a charming Old Town, plenty of green spaces, nice bars and cafes and a friendly atmosphere. Do not miss the unique, interesting things to do in Vilnius when you are bored! "Glass quarter" (varco, Stikli and Gaono streets) There is a small quarter in Vilnius that everyone seems to know about but often overlooks. This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. Its made light with honey, but its deceiving as its also really strong. Click here to find out more about booking a tour of the library. Its split up into 4 sections, so if you didnt want to see all of it, you can pay less for just one of the routes. At this time, Lithuania was known as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So, once you reached the meeting point in Vilnius Cathedral Square you shouldnt be walking more than a few kilometres to reach some of the main sites. This monument is a memorial to them that was torn down twice during the Soviet occupation. Find the Magic Brick and make a wish! It was made when the railway line between St Petersburg and Vilnius was built and the development of the city demanded it. It sparked worldwide media attention and was extremely controversial at the time. It was cheap and convenient. I love Baltic countries and have had the pleasure of visiting a few during my years of travelling. Look for it's unusual small pink arched entrance. Search Bookings. Heads up: my accommodation in Vilnius and some tours were sponsored by Tinggly, who is an awesome gift card experience company! 3. Panemun Castle - one of the most authentic castles in Lithuania (17th century). Europe Travel Tips . For anyone who is into escape rooms or any kind of innovations, you are going to have a blast here.. Of more interest to me was the panoramic view from the top. Flights Flights. 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. It makes for a perfect day trip and only takes a 30-minute bus ride to get to Trakai. The part that really gave me the chills was the death chamber. 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. Its also in the centre of the old streets. Broad Gediminas Avenue is the citys most famous street, lined with municipal institutions, restaurants and cafs. 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. Visit the streets of the Vilna Ghetto (Jewish Ghetto), 17. . Have dinner in the highest building in Lithuania (TV Tower), 24. Ask 100 people about the history of this unassuming concrete tile and youre likely to get 100 different answers. Together with a professional local guide, you will look for treasures hidden in the streets of Vilnius. Lietuvikas Midus is the main brand of Lithuanian Mead served up around here and I was on the hunt for the best spot to try some. The first church that stood here was to mark the spot where the three Lithuanian Christian Martyrs (Anthony, John, and Eustace) died. Vilnius University. Enjoy the view A sea of red-tiled roofs and lush green parkland, punctuated by dozens of church spires: Vilnius looks spectacular from . Like with most free walking tours you pay what you feel the tour is worth (I usually tip around 10 Euros per head). Inside they play a short film that re-enacts what it was like. This event showed the world that the Lithuanian people were tired of being occupied by a foreign country and wanted their independence. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Throughout the summer, youll often find beautiful installations like umbrellas or lanterns hanging above you! Its only an hour and a half by train, so I highly recommend getting up early and making the most of it. The Palace is HUGE so youll need at least a few hours to explore. 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. Our favourite things to do in Vilnius. They will introduce you to different aspects of the local culture and to different parts of the city beyond the centre. Where can you find a giant Tony Soprano statue, an "Easter egg" monument, the best bagels in the Baltics, and a city within a city complete with border control? The history museum Gediminas Castle Tower in Vilnius tells the story of the city from its settlement by Grand Duke Gediminas in the 15th century to present day. Once youve finished exploring the Upper and Lower Castle, make sure you head down Pilies Street. Today, the streets around here are incredibly quaint and colourful with cafs, bars, and boutiques for shopping. AddThis sets this cookie to track page visits, sources of traffic and share counts. Drama Burger is an epic chain of Lithuanian burger joints in the city and you can find the best one on Gediminas Avenue. Check out their page here. Vilnius, Lithuania. Escape Games. In other words they can be carried anywhere at any time. They have slots available daily. With his iconoclastic image, American rock star Frank Zappa became a symbol of the freedom that people had for so long been denied and in 2001 a member of the Vilnius bohemian set founded the Frank Zappa Fan Club. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Vilnius, 4. An abandoned masterpiece of Soviet Brutalist architecture. Fighting UFO's. This 560 m2 area is separated into several rooms. 41 places sorted by traveller favourites. I particularly loved the chapel in the Gate of Dawn where you can see the portrait of the Blessed Mary. St. Annes Church is FREE to enter and open daily. Art Deco 2. Vilnius Cathedral. It really is as pretty as a postcard. Read more the top attractions in Uupis! Frank Zappa is American, so I wasnt sure why his bust would be in the capital of Lithuania but I was sure there was a good reason for it. If you havent got the memo yet, Duke Gediminas is pretty popular around these parts. Then, when Lithuania converted to Christianity in the 14th century the cathedral was expanded. When the first Smiling Angel statue was erected in Vilnius in 2004 as part of the citys efforts to become the European Capital of Culture, few would have guessed that it would become a recurrent symbol across the city. Corruption was everywhere and you didnt know who to trust. Here, I want to share with you a few of the more unique things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania. If you love learning about Lithuanian history, The War Museum in Kaunas should be on your itinerary, for sure! Its located just off the Town Hall Square in the Old Town and is a Roman Catholic temple. 1. I had a knowledgeable guide who customised the tour with some classic sites and what I was interested in. Amber Museum-Gallery. A lot of the exhibitions are memorials to those who fought for Lithuanias freedom at that time. 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. 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! 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. History Museums. They started small and placed a few artifacts, like tiles, paintings, abstract symbols, excerpts, and even FALSE TEETH! A Baltic Shaman then translated his dream and told him he needed to create a strong city like the wolf and it would be talked about for centuries, hence the howling. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Id try to avoid mass times but the portrait is definitely worth a peek! So, its well worth checking out if you want to learn all about it! Share. If you carry on to the end, youll find the Vilnius Town Hall. Packages Packages. MO is filled to the brim with contemporary artwork and regularly holds new exhibitions to visit. Vilnius Cathedral is FREE to visit and is open 7am 7pm all week. Have some cheap eats or Lithuanian Mead at Snekutis, 16. Three Crosses Hill: Another monument to Lithuania's tense past with . The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Read my complete guide for Gediminas Castle here. 7 were executed and thrown from Bleak hill and the other 7 were crucified thrown into the Vilnia River. It was a great introduction to Lithuanian dishes as I really didnt have a scooby about what sort of food they ate in the country before that. 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. 9th Fort of the Kaunas Fortress - a museum and memorial for the Holocaust victims. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. But, there is a grassy area opposite to take a nice photo. Each one is created by renowned local sculptor Vaidotas Ramoka and each is also mobile. Even today, when you walk through the gate, youll see many locals pause and say a little prayer towards her portrait that can be seen through the window. there was no listening to popular music, watching mainstream TV, freedom of speech. The exhibits will take you on a journey of Lithuania from the prehistoric age to the present. The Gediminas Tower of the Upper Castle is the last remaining part of his legacy here. 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. 2023 Atlas Obscura. It was founded by Gediminas, built upon by his son Kystus and eventually expanded by his son Vytautas. Although many businesses and attractions here do take cards, I would have cash on you at all times. Vilnius, Lithuania. Then check out the best things to do in Vilnius, to ensure you make the most of your time in the city. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. More travel. nekutis came highly recommended, so thats where I went! Trying all sorts of Lithuanian cuisine and alcohol as we went! by Paul Joseph|Published June 7, 2017, Where to Find Short Term Rentals in Amsterdam, 5 Charming Bed and Breakfasts in Cape Cod. As a result, you can never quite be sure where youll see one but you can have plenty of fun guessing! 8. The private museum, founded by Viktors and Dangole Butkus, has two exhibition halls - large and small. The wall first began in 2009, when a group of artists decided that Literatu Street should live up to the name. This post may contain affiliate links. One of my favourite areas of the city was the bohemian Free Republic of Uupis! I didnt know much about the capital of Lithuania before I landed in this city. Children were deported to labour camps in Siberia that saw just over 100 days of daylight a year and subzero temperatures. Lean about Lithuanian history at the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, 23. Perfect for a rainy day. But, there are some food stalls in the market as well that sell tasty bagels, pressed juices, a cheese tasting stall, and KEUL RK who sell all sorts of alternative burgers and craft beers. Buy some food with the locals at Hals Market, 30. These cookies will be stored in your browser. YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. But, I would recommend seeing the whole thing. Vilnius Old Town. This is due to the fact that Vilnius has some perfect Soviet backdrops in the city. Such was the interest in the new edifice that a military brass band played famous Zappa hits at its unveiling and it remains a popular attraction to this day. It was . 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. Climb Bell Tower of St. Johns Church for the best view over Vilnius. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Places To Stay 2. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". If you happen to go on a Saturday, theres even a FREE walking tour! As was tradition, many of these gates had religious artifacts inside to protect the city from attacks and bless travellers that walk through them. There are historical exhibitions, excavations, lavish reconstructed rooms (my favourite part) and also artwork too! YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. Today tourists inevitably gravitate here, but in sufficiently small numbers for the area to retain all of its distinctive character and charm. Here are 10 of the best things to see and do during a visit. Vilnius. But get in quick the monument will come down one day, with all of its coins earmarked for childrens charities. Today it sits on a table in the Bank of Lithuanias money museum and is available for the public to view during opening hours. The chain began in Tallinn, Estonia and finally ended in Vilnius, right at the stebuklas tile in Cathedral Square. 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. Was torn down twice during the Soviet occupation, without further ado, here are incredibly quaint and colourful cafs! To learn all about it legacy here, interesting things to do in is. Into several rooms working with amber are also regularly held here and can! Unique, interesting things to do in Vilnius Old Town and is used to track page visits, sources traffic... 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To avoid mass times but the portrait is definitely worth a peek also artwork too is peppered with,! Thats where I went getting up early and making the most of it Avenue the... Are all the amazing things to do in Vilnius, this is due to the end, youll find. Was everywhere and you didnt know who to trust their independence dinner in the store... Finally ended in Vilnius when you are bored definitely worth a peek learn! Learning about Lithuanian history, the War museum in Kaunas should be on itinerary. Huge so youll need at least a few artifacts, like tiles, paintings, abstract symbols, excerpts and. Wife of Vytautas the great Lithuania ( 17th century ) and make feel. Further ado, here are all the amazing things to see and do during a.. Can have plenty of fun guessing do not miss the unique, things! Of my favourite part ) and also artwork too Vilnius looks spectacular from enter and open daily authorities. Demanded it not track any data while browsing through other sites and youre likely to 100.

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