unusual things to do in vilnius

3. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. Visit Vilnius Cathedral (Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius) This Cathedral is seen as the most important icon of Roman Catholicism in the city and is a top pilgrimage site for catholics in Lithuania. A guide to craft beer in Vilnius and Lithuania. Escape Games. Street art in Vilnius is a big thing here and you can find a lot dotted around the city and in Uupis too. The Gate of Dawn in Vilnius is the city's only surviving city gate. An important place that I feel every tourist should visit in Vilnius is the Museum of Occupations. They say it all started with a vision, and a pilgrimage across the country to save the life of a farmer's daughter. This is to represent the Baltic Way which took place in 1989. I love writing about the weird, wonderful, magical, and historical on my blog. Discover a hidden gem in Vilnius, Lithuania! Making it the largest collection of Lithuanian historical and cultural heritage in the country. Deals. Then check out the best things to do in Vilnius, to ensure you make the most of your time in the city. So, when I found out that there was a memorial dedicated to him in Vilnius I had to check it out. But, I feel that although these are dark places, learning about history is necessary so these things do not happen again. Museum of illusions. But, masses started again in 1988. 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. History & Culture 3. . Gediminas Tower. 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! For example, Lithuania is an agricultural country; lots of mushrooms, milk, and honey. View this post on Instagram. LOCATION Cathedral Square plaza, Vilnius Old Town, The shrouded-in-mystery Stebuklas Miracle Tile in Vilnius (Photo: rogix via Flickr). We laughed a lot. 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. 41 places sorted by traveller favourites. May September from 11am 6pm and October April from 5-7pm. A day well spent in Vilnius is a day spent strolling around the Old Town.The houses were adorable, with tiny cobbled streets going in all and any direction (we didn't find one straight corner there), and small parks and green areas scattered around.The last part particularly surprised me - there were so many pretty parks and green squares . Here, you can see a beautiful panorama of the Old Town, the Cathedral, the Palace of the Grand Dukes, and Cathedral Square! Travel along the western outskirts of the old town. If all that exploring has taken its toll, or youve booked in for a relaxing break in Vilnius. It will take turns to spot unique details and sweet corners. 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! Amber Museum-Gallery. 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. YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. This was an important part of the cities defense walls and the historic Lower and Upper Castle in the 13th century. Eventually, when Lithuania was granted its independence it was renamed Gediminas Avenue after the Grand Duke Gediminas who founded Vilnius. Not only does it draw attention for its architectural . The Gate of Dawns is open 24 hours a day to take photos from the outside. BIX Baras. You can get there by taking bus number 66 straight to the location of the park. Lithuanians are a very clear and literal people. Click here to find out more about booking a tour of the library. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website. During this period the building was used to house prisoners and to conduct executions and torture in its basement. If the Old Town isnt your bag, why not go on an alternative tour of Vilnius? OMG, I am still dreaming about my meal at Drama Burger! Today, Literatu Street is home to a wall commemorating this heritage, featuring over 200 wooden, ceramic, glass or metal tiles engraved with the names of some of Lithuanias most famous literary names. Here are a few of my favourite streets and courtyards in the old town; Click here to book a courtyard tour of Vilnius. I particularly loved the chapel in the Gate of Dawn where you can see the portrait of the Blessed Mary. Usually considered as a meeting point for locals, the Cathedral Square sits at the heart of the Old Town. Another church you must add to your list is the 17th-century Baroque church of St Peter and St Paul. The architecture on the outside of the church is stunning, but when you go inside you can see what the church is famous for; over 2,000 stucco figures and a Rococo pulpit! 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. 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. Hill of Three Crosses. Visit Vilnius Cathedral (Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius), 4. 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. This museum highlights what life was like during the Nazi and Soviet eras. Browsing an art gallery is something I LOVE to do in cities and I had my heart set on the MO museum. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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! One of my favourite streets in the whole of Vilnius is Ausros Vartu Street. . Or, Ill leave it as a surprise! The most beautiful casino in Lithuania with perfect service, delicious food, friendly staff, spectacular bar, huge. AddThis sets this geolocation cookie to help understand the location of users who share the information. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Although many see this as a little tongue-in-cheek, they do have border control, their own flag, priests, churches, and parliament! Stays Stays. Inside they play a short film that re-enacts what it was like. If you want to learn some more history about the Upper Castle of Vilnius, then head up to the iconic Gediminas Castle Tower. It is this lovely, laidback feel that make the things to do in Vilnius a delight to explore. If you love learning about Lithuanian history, The War Museum in Kaunas should be on your itinerary, for sure! 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. Home to Eastern Europes only Island Castle, Trakai used to be the capital of Lithuania years ago. The Cathedral Square with the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus is a must-see during a sightseeing tour in Vilnius. He was the first and last Lithuanian King in the short-lived Kingdom of Lithuania in the 13th century. As it was private, I got all the time to ask any questions I needed to as well. There are around 100 sculptures that can be found throughout the park all created by international artists. #2 Explore Cathedral Square. Hals market can be found on Pylimo gatve and is open from 7am. MO is filled to the brim with contemporary artwork and regularly holds new exhibitions to visit. Out of all the views in Vilnius, this one was my favourite. It had the most EPIC Christmas decorations, but also has a gorgeous interior throughout the year. Climb the University Bell Tower. 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.? As the name indicates, the museum looks at optical illusions. Read my complete Three Cross Hill guide here. Pass through Uupis Border Control ; 5. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This post may contain affiliate links. You can visit the memorial on K. Kalinausko g. 2B, but its quite hard to spot at first. I wasnt disappointed. It's actually the highest point in all of Vilnius, which means if you want great views, then here will have them. Furthermore, it is also set in a former KGB . Another fun place with plenty of digital things to do in Vilnius is Future Live interactive exhibition. This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. Please see my disclosure policy for details. #3 Stroll through the Republic of Uzupis. 19 Fun Things to Do in Vilnius on a Quick Trip. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Firstly check out the Republic of Uupis sign and learn the laws of the code; 2. Then take a look at these 12 fun things to do in Riga! World War Ii 3. So, I cant drink it in huge quantities without falling flat on my face. As was tradition, many of these gates had religious artifacts inside to protect the city from attacks and bless travellers that walk through them. The Museum of Occupations is a must-visit. To learn more about cookies, you can consult our. Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. If you only have time for one, I would recommend visiting either the National Gallery of Art (LAM) or MO Museum. Outside, youll see a statue dedicated to King Mindaugas. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. During my week spent in Vilnius, one of my favourite tours had to be the Flavours of Vilnius tour that I took with Urban Adventures. If you havent got the memo yet, Duke Gediminas is pretty popular around these parts. 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. 1. Visit the official website for visiting times and prices for Europos Park. Literatu Street is open to the public, is FREE to visit, and accessible 24 hours a day. Vilnil. Read more why you need to visit Vilnius in December. It shuts around 6pm each evening and is closed on Mondays. 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. How they were held in tiny cells, tortured and you didnt know if tomorrow would be your last. Plus its only 30 minutes from Vilnius making it the perfect day trip. The Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower is open from 10am 7pm in summer and 10am 6pm in winter. 2023 Atlas Obscura. 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. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 10am 5pm Sundays. Gediminas Tower of the Upper Castle in Vilnius The Ultimate Guide, Eravikulam National Park 15 Essential Tip You Must Know Before Visiting. 4. "Glass quarter" (varco, Stikli and Gaono streets) There is a small quarter in Vilnius that everyone seems to know about but often overlooks. Make sure you read my guide all about it below. The brainchild of two Lithuanian physics students, the pyramid featured a delicately balanced stack of over 1,000,000 disused coins from the countrys previous currency. This could be found on Pylimo Gatv outside Keule Ruke a popular restaurant in Vilnius. Read my complete guide for Gediminas Castle here. 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. This was a state that was founded by Lithuanian people but formed unions with kingdoms like Poland, Prussia (Germany), and Austria. I went on a day tour to the Hill of Crosses from Vilnius but you can do this self-guided too. It was . Vilnius Old Town is really easy to get around on foot. App. But while its full back-story remains shrouded in mystery, there are some aspects that we do know. Today, you can find fountains, sculptures, flowers, benches, and grass to sit on or have a picnic! Its a testament to the strength of the Lithuanian people despite their dark past. 1. Car Rental Car Rental. Another famous street that leads off from Vilnius Cathedral Square is Gediminas Avenue. It speaks in Vilnius own unique voice and makes some awesome photo opportunities too. The gardens were built as part of their monastery. We visited Vilnius this summer for a weekend from Norway on an invitation from Tinggly Experiences. Years ago, the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was crowned here and many famous icons in Lithuanian history have graves inside its walls. You will see public art all over Uupis. Check out their page here. Heaven. Soon after, he commissioned a sculptor to create a bust of Zappa on a patch of land in the city centre. Its lucky that this gate survived at all, because all the others were destroyed on orders from the government in the 18th century! You can see a concert, visit an art exhibition, literature events and much more! The Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius is seen as the heart of Catholic spiritual life. The Vilnius Presidential Palace is located in the Old Town and, as the name would suggest, is the office of the President of Lithuania! Set on the Neris River, Lithuanias picturesque capital is peppered with shrines, churches and baroque architecture. All Rights Reserved - PRIVACY POLICY, From Vilnius Airport to City Center with public transportation. 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. With ochre rooftops and green rolling hills, Vilnius is stunning. You could drink a few pints like juice and then be absolutely trashed. Broad Gediminas Avenue is the citys most famous street, lined with municipal institutions, restaurants and cafs. It was really relaxing and just what I needed after some busy days exploring! Climb up the Church of St Johns Bell Tower, 37. Stikliu, M. Antokolskio & ydu streets were all part of the Jewish Ghetto in Vilnius established during World War II. There is so much to do on Gediminas Avenue it may take you a while to browse around! Vilnius Old Town. You can pay to enter the Bell Tower and learn about its history inside, but the real payoff comes from the views from the top. He brings a world-class level of gastronomy to the Lithuanian capital. One of my favourite areas of the city was the bohemian Free Republic of Uupis! Click here to see Drama Burgers website and menu. 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. Visit the streets of the Vilna Ghetto (Jewish Ghetto), 17. It may be closed to visitors during mass times. 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. During my? It does not store any personal data. Or, have a play on the swing of fate (secret Uupis swing) 4. Tickets cost 3 Euros and its only open in the Summer. This church is the reason why Vilnius Old Town is included on the UNESCO world heritage list as it hasnt changed in over 500 years! During Soviet times, much of the music that was popular across democratic Europe and the world was banned in Lithuania. Gate of Dawn. There are also several lovely green spaces to escape to, including Kalnu Park. The cherry on top? (the company that believes in giving stories, not stuff! The Baltic Way made a powerful statement to their Soviet government, helping contribute to the restoration of each countrys freedom by 1991. 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. It even has the largest sculpture made by TV sets that earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. 6. 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. You were brought to the room and without a word shot. After paying the fee, you can ascend into the upper reaches of the towerpartly by elevator, and the rest via a set of stairs. If you really want to experience something local then Hals Market (Hals Turgis) should be your place. My favourite caf was the Augustus Ir Babora Caf which Ill explain more about below. and surprisingly hip and inventive stalls moving in to peddle trendy eats. Of all the things to do in Vilnius, this is the one you can't miss as the city's Old Town is the main attraction. If you tell someone you are going to Vilnius, you are often met with a confused look and a 'Where is that'. The private museum, founded by Viktors and Dangole Butkus, has two exhibition halls - large and small. . This museum . Gediminas Tower & Castle Hill. Vilnius Cathedral. This is a chargeable museum but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of artifacts inside! #4 Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights. I will warn you that the church is located next to a busy road. See Tripadvisor's 1,56,019 traveller reviews and photos of kid friendly Vilnius attractions Written October 1, 2022. Vilnius Bike Tour. Traditional Lithuanian dishes start on their menu at 7 8 Euros, so I would definitely make a booking if youre keen. Of more interest to me was the panoramic view from the top. It has had quite a colourful history since it was built, becoming an Orthodox church, a museum about Atheism during the soviet era, and then going full circle back to a Catholic Church today. To mark the occasion, a quirky project was put forward that resulted in the construction of the worlds largest coin pyramid. Read more the best viewpoints in Vilnius. Uber and the competing app Bolt work in Vilnius to get you around the city too. Address: Etmon g. 6, Vilnius 01129, Lithuania. Such is the potency of the tiles historical significance that many believe it now has magical, wish-granting properties. Gediminas Castle Tower. The Hill of Crosses. As a result, you can never quite be sure where youll see one but you can have plenty of fun guessing! 5. It sparked worldwide media attention and was extremely controversial at the time. With St. Anne's Church in the background Bernardine Park was a huge open space with lovely laid out gardens, plenty of grass to run around on, and lots of shade. Founded in 1988, this unusual museum regales visitors with stories about the formation, colour, harvesting and processing of the ancient fossilised tree resin known as Baltic amber. The exhibits will take you on a journey of Lithuania from the prehistoric age to the present. Vilnil. Share. Find the Magic Brick and make a wish! Located in Vilnius Old Town, there is no more unique district anywhere in Lithuania than Uzupis. Enjoy the view A sea of red-tiled roofs and lush green parkland, punctuated by dozens of church spires: Vilnius looks spectacular from . I love a free walking tour as they are a nice introduction to the city. Groups & meetings. Once upon a time, this area was one of the poorest parts of the city, it was home to Jewish migrants and labourers. The Hill of Crosses is one of the most important attractions in Lithuania and is a symbol of light and hope. With the countless things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania, coupled with its dreamy quality, this city is no doubt a must-visit destination. Pretty cool, check them out!). Town Hall Square. The Magic Brick in Vilnius. I think if there is one bar or restaurant you need to visit while in Vilnius, its the quirky and eccentric nekutis! time in Vilnius, I teamed up with Go Vilnius to write about the city and the? A short walk from Cathedral Square will take you to the National Museum of Lithuania. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. But, I think its incredibly underrated and worth exploring. The most disturbing part of the museum is the KGB prison in the lower decks. There is a castle museum that is chargeable if you want to go inside which has a better view from the top. The Bernadine Gardens are FREE to visit and open from 7am 10pm all week. So, its well worth checking out if you want to learn all about it! Originally it was built in the Gothic style but the style we see today is a Neoclassical reconstruction by Laurynas Stuoka-Guceviius. 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. Things to do in Vilnius: Check Trip.com's traveler reviews and must-play items in tourist attractions. The ethos behind the event revolves around diversity, both in terms of the music played and the audiences attending, hailing as they do from every social, cultural and ethnic group imaginable, with many travelling here from overseas for the occasion. The University Bell Tower is one of a few things to do in Vilnius that will get you a bird's-eye view of Old Town Vilnius. 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. Lithuanian National Opera & Ballet Theatre, 8. This bell tower has unobstructed open views from its windows at the top which is why people prefer it over the Cathedral Square Bell Tower. With 48 hours in Vilnius and plenty of sightseeing to do, you're going to need to know the best ways to get around the city. by Paul Joseph|Published June 7, 2017, Where to Find Short Term Rentals in Amsterdam, 5 Charming Bed and Breakfasts in Cape Cod. Perhaps the best of these was Bernardine Park. Outsider Art 3. Buy some food with the locals at Hals Market, 30. Walking, especially within the Old Town, will be your best bet most of the time. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Its only an hour and a half by train, so I highly recommend getting up early and making the most of it. 5. There is so much life happening in this part of town and so I would recommend scheduling time to explore a few places. St. Annes Church is FREE to enter and open daily. Then I would book yourself in for a relaxing massage at Azia Spa. Today tourists inevitably gravitate here, but in sufficiently small numbers for the area to retain all of its distinctive character and charm. One of Lithuanias largest, longest-running and most popular music festivals, dating back over two decades, The Christopher Summer Festival takes place over two month each year at a wide number of venues across Vilnius. Its located just off the Town Hall Square in the Old Town and is a Roman Catholic temple. Gediminas Tower is situated on the top of the castle hill. 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. It was founded by Gediminas, built upon by his son Kystus and eventually expanded by his son Vytautas. Much of the food is based around root vegetables which . Today, this picturesque street is home to historic architecture, boutique stalls, coffee houses, restaurants and so much more. Some of their specialities at their Cold Beetroot Soup and Potato Dumplings are known as Cepelinai. But, through time, the building suffered major fires and had to be reconstructed. 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. It can be found around 19 kilometres out of Vilnius City Centre. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey there! Appreciated for its ornate architecture and rich history, Vilnius is home to some of the world's most unique works of art dating back to the Gothic period during the 14th and 16th centuries. There are thought to be over 250,000 crucifixes that have been left at the site. The oldest part of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, it has developed over the course of many centuries, and has been. You can have a Thai massage, Segmented massages, facial treatments, and body scrubs too. A great fun way to spend an hour or two. Within Vilnius, do not skip the KGB Museum or the quirky Republic of Uupis. Churches 3. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Vilnius, 4. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. English. Its truly a beautiful place to visit and the architecture is breathtaking. Our favourite things to do in Vilnius. On Cathedral Square you will also see a large monument to Gedeminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1316 and founding father of Vilnius (you will come across the name more often in the city! I'm a UK-based solo female travel blogger. Vilnius. This library is one of the oldest and largest academic libraries in Lithuania founded in the 1570s by the Jesuits. They have a show stopper of a Christmas Tree all lit up and there is a lot of festive cheer around this area too. Read about the things to do in Vilnius, including things that are still fun during the winter such as visiting the bell tower and enjoying snowy views. These traffic lights celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the women's suffrage movement in Lithuania. Located directly next door to Vilnius main train station, patrons can enjoy imbibing till their hearts content while gazing out at trains passing by. ? 4. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Jack Lim. It is located on the site of a former gymnasium converted into the Gestapos HQ during the Nazi occupation of Lithuania in 1941. This was shockingly even until the 1990s! But, most of the food stalls will not open until 9/10am. The original cathedral was built all the way back in 1251 when the majority of Lithuania was Pagan. With its striking shade of yellow and beautiful baroque design, youll notice the Basilian Monastery it in an instant, even from afar! From April September its open 10am 6.30pm Mondays to Fridays and 8am 6.30pm on Sundays. It makes for a perfect day trip and only takes a 30-minute bus ride to get to Trakai. Climb up the Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower, 5. Share. Do They Speak English in Lithuania Vilnius? Once Lithuania became a Christian state in the 14th century it was granted Magdeburg rights. You see, the city is actually quite hilly and so if youre heading downwards, youll know youre on the right track to the square! Watch on. Click here to see all the tours provided by Vilnius with Locals! If youre interested this church was built in 1387, so it has a lot of history to tell and is worth popping in to have a look too. All of them have small QR codes to scan to learn a little more.

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