Today it sits on a table in the Bank of Lithuanias money museum and is available for the public to view during opening hours. I went on a private walking tour with them which I would also highly recommend if your budget can stretch. The interior is just as pretty with flowers and trellises and I made sure I was first there for photos! I had their Phillie cheese steak burger and it was layers of bread, juicy beef, and layers of yummy cheese with jalapeo sauce. One of the distinctive Smiling Angel statues that are dotted around Vilnius (Photo: Mark via Flickr). While it may not be Rome, or Paris, it packs a punch with history, passion, resilience and fabulous food and stories. Discover 0 fun things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania. 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. 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! I will warn you that the church is located next to a busy road. It may be closed to visitors during mass times. History & Culture 3. A lot of local people hang out here and play pool/billiard or do Karaoke in the weekdays. The City Bastion used to be a stronghold as part of the city defense walls during the Duchy of Lithuania but later on, it became a barracks for the garrisons of German troops during World War II. This micro-nation may be some sort of prank, but its constitution sure seems official. As the tallest and oldest tower in Vilnius, it stands approximately 52 metres high and overlooks the whole of the Old Town. A short walk on Pilies Street could turn into a few hours if you get lost down the small alleys and the labyrinth of laneways in the Old Town. Bernardine Park. You can visit the memorial on K. Kalinausko g. 2B, but its quite hard to spot at first. All rights reserved. Review of: Holy Spirit Orthodox Church. Check out my complete guide for this caf including the love story here! Museum of Genocide Victims - particularly interesting if you're curious about the Soviet occupation and the atrocities of that period. The Church of Casimircan be shot from the outside 24 hours a day. 3. Originally it was built in the Gothic style but the style we see today is a Neoclassical reconstruction by Laurynas Stuoka-Guceviius. Take a tour of the Vilnius University Library, 32. Deals. Source: Shutterstock. After paying the fee, you can ascend into the upper reaches of the towerpartly by elevator, and the rest via a set of stairs. Parents were separated from their children and sent away. So, without further ado, here are all the amazing things to do in Vilnius on your trip. And they can open your eyes . There is a castle museum that is chargeable if you want to go inside which has a better view from the top. In other words they can be carried anywhere at any time. In Vilnius, all roads lead in the Old Town lead to the Cathedral Square! Only the bottom part of the Bellfry tower is original, the rest is a reconstruction from the 19th century. You could drink a few pints like juice and then be absolutely trashed. When Lithuania got its independence, a lot of the artists took advantage of the cheap housing that became available there. We visited Vilnius this summer for a weekend from Norway on an invitation from Tinggly Experiences. 7 were executed and thrown from Bleak hill and the other 7 were crucified thrown into the Vilnia River. Vilnius has some great open spaces and parks in and around the Old Town. If you want to know what you can expect, they have a nifty3D tour here. 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. I travelled to Vilnius from London with Ryanair and the prices in December were incredibly cheap at 30 each way. Jelonek - Heavy Metal Sabre Dance in Vilnius Lithuania. ("What to do in Vilnius, our website TripOriginal has more than 10 attractions and best things to do in Vilnius.") ("If you want to go on a day excursion or Day Trip from Vilnius, go here Fast Go") (" With our website TripOriginal and our partner GetYourGuide, we've compiled a list of the finest and fun things to do in Vilnius ") Perhaps the most unusual of sites in all of Lithuania, the Hill of Crosses in the north of the country is a must-see on any road . Share. Every Sunday at 12 pm you can see a solemn flag hoisting ceremony, where soldiers of the Honour Guard Company of the Lithuanian Armed Forces dress up in Medieval attire. It can be found around 19 kilometres out of Vilnius City Centre. Hill of Three Crosses. This library is one of the oldest and largest academic libraries in Lithuania founded in the 1570s by the Jesuits. The Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower is open from 10am 7pm in summer and 10am 6pm in winter. People were watched at every moment. Colourful churches on every street corner, an epic craft beer scene, and some tasty local cuisine; there is enough to keep you occupied here for weeks! Its well worth putting this stop on your itinerary for lunch to do what the locals do! 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. 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. Perfect for a rainy day. It features 10 ski trails ranging from beginner to veteran. The cherry on top? But, things really took off at the beginning of the 20th century and it became a huge food market in 1906. 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. Ask 100 people about the history of this unassuming concrete tile and youre likely to get 100 different answers. Out of all the views in Vilnius, this one was my favourite. It shuts around 6pm each evening and is closed on Mondays. The Uupis district, a self-declared independent republic since 1997, shows a more bohemian side to the city, full of artists, creative studios and colourful graffiti. You must remain silent inside out of respect and dress modestly. Entrance is 4.50 Euros. But, the President of Vilnius celebrated the work, claiming that the people of Lithuania are not silenced censorship. Browsing an art gallery is something I LOVE to do in cities and I had my heart set on the MO museum. 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. 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. Today, its a popular viewpoint where you can see the whole of the Old Town. Or, have a play on the swing of fate (secret Uupis swing) 4. Youll notice Hebrew on the signs and you can visit the spot where the Great Synagogue was destroyed during the Nazi era. Vilnius Bike Tour. I had a one-hour body scrub and full body massage treatment. Although many see this as a little tongue-in-cheek, they do have border control, their own flag, priests, churches, and parliament! By 695arthurm. I went on a day tour to the Hill of Crosses from Vilnius but you can do this self-guided too. There is so much to do on Gediminas Avenue it may take you a while to browse around! I later found out that the statue was erected in 1993 after his death to mark a new era of Post-Soviet Lithuania. After the Nazis left a few years later, it became re-occupied by Soviet Secret Police better known as the KGB. Sacred Spaces 4. But, through time, the building suffered major fires and had to be reconstructed. The Gate of Dawn in Vilnius is the city's only surviving city gate. 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. The Hill of Crosses. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Things to Do in Vilnius, Lithuania: See Tripadvisor's 156,023 traveler reviews and photos of Vilnius tourist attractions. You will see public art all over Uupis. Not as romantic as all that! While 2 days in Vilnius is generally enough to see most things and to get a good feel for the city, we would recommend trying to spend 3 days in Vilnius in order to be able to get the most out of Lithuania's capital while also being able to go on a day trip or two. See some more details here. In the museum, you can learn about Vilnius as a fortification and the history of its defenses through the ages. Visit Vilnius Cathedral (Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius), 4. Its a lovely peaceful part of the city with great views of the Gediminas Castle and Hill of Three Crosses. 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. Not much to say, we fell in love with it straight away! Three Crosses Hill: Another monument to Lithuania's tense past with . The castle itself dates from 1409, but there have been fortifications on the spot since the early 1300's. Firstly check out the Republic of Uupis sign and learn the laws of the code; 2. I think if there is one bar or restaurant you need to visit while in Vilnius, its the quirky and eccentric nekutis! Unusual Things To Do in Vilnius: There are some very interesting, unusual things to do in Vilnius; check out these: 7. My favourite caf was the Augustus Ir Babora Caf which Ill explain more about below. St. John's Church is located on the campus of Vilnius University. Explore the Old Town. All Rights Reserved - PRIVACY POLICY, From Vilnius Airport to City Center with public transportation. Visit the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, 6. St. Annes Church is FREE to enter and open daily. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website. You can get there by taking bus number 66 straight to the location of the park. Its a testament to the strength of the Lithuanian people despite their dark past. For example, Lithuania is an agricultural country; lots of mushrooms, milk, and honey. 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 . I love Baltic countries and have had the pleasure of visiting a few during my years of travelling. Take a closer look at this bustling city with our suggestions for unique things to do in Vilnius. Mead from the Baltics is one of my favourite drinks and so whenever I have the chance to drink some I snap it up! Then it switched hands to the Orthodox Church in the 19th century and eventually, after the independence, went back to the Uniates! 8. . 2. Its lucky that this gate survived at all, because all the others were destroyed on orders from the government in the 18th century! Vilnil. These traffic lights celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the women's suffrage movement in Lithuania. Plus its only 30 minutes from Vilnius making it the perfect day trip. . The mead from here was incredible. Many Lithuanian freedom fighters fought against the Soviet troops and were jailed and killed. Children were deported to labour camps in Siberia that saw just over 100 days of daylight a year and subzero temperatures. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 1. Heaven. Make sure you have a look on the Vilnius Town Hall website for whats on while youre here. There is a legend surrounding this hill (known as Bleak Hill) that 14 Franciscan monks were invited to Vilnius and started preaching about God. Together with a professional local guide, you will look for treasures hidden in the streets of Vilnius. Read the top attractions in Kaunas here and where to find the best street art. Made with red bricks, it is one of the finest examples of a Gothic building in Lithuania. Wander around Vilnius Old Town. Escape Games. And if youre a committed train spotter too, all the better. 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! 26 DATES July 2 August 27, A musical stage performance during Christopher Summer Festival (Photo: Evgenia Levin). Although the accomplished chef champions seasonal, local and sustainable products, his food rivals top restaurants in countries like France and Japan. But, the reality is that the French soldiers used it for shelter during the Napoleonic wars. 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. You were brought to the room and without a word shot. How the KGB converted the country to Atheism and communism. 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. The Church of St. Anne is a Gothic style church in Vilnius' Old Town. More things to do and see: Uupis - the hipster quarter in Vilnius and a self-declared independent republic with its own flag, currency, president and constitution. But, most of the food stalls will not open until 9/10am. This will take you through the street art areas, Halle Market, and some of the vibrant streets of Vilnius New Town. This monument is a memorial to them that was torn down twice during the Soviet occupation. This is one of the citys most popular and quirky drinking dens. You can take a balloon ride or join a free walking tour to get around the main sights and learn more about Vilniuss fascinating history. This was a decree of the Flemish rule which granted certain members authority in the city. MO is filled to the brim with contemporary artwork and regularly holds new exhibitions to visit. 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. See the official website for opening times. For those who prefer a quiet evening but still have fun and learn about Vilnius nightlife and try out some local beers and ciders, BIX baras is the place for you. Today, you can climb up to the tower to find incredible views of the whole of Vilnius! Legend has it that Napoleon Bonaparte fell in love with this Gothic church. During his visit to Vilnius in 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte . Climb up the Gediminas Castle Tower to take in the views, 7. An abandoned masterpiece of Soviet Brutalist architecture. Have some cheap eats or Lithuanian Mead at Snekutis, 16. The tower, which is one of Vilnius' oldest and most popular tourist attractions, offers a 360-degree panorama of the city and exhibits objects related to Lithuania's history. Just over a year later, Lithuania was granted independence in 1990. See here for details. But, I feel that although these are dark places, learning about history is necessary so these things do not happen again. 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. It even has the largest sculpture made by TV sets that earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. The private museum, founded by Viktors and Dangole Butkus, has two exhibition halls - large and small. We laughed a lot. It was . The caf is open from 9 am 11 pm daily. 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 gardens were built as part of their monastery. Here are the best things to do in Lithuania: 1. ? The Palace of the Grand Dukes is a reconstruction of the original palace that used to sit in the Lower Castle from the 15th 17th centuries. It means youre officially a resident of Uupis! It sparked worldwide media attention and was extremely controversial at the time. Here, I want to share with you a few of the more unique things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania. Heres their menu. But, it has been taken down in 2019 with a pink mural that reads make compassion great again. Even today, there are markers where those used to be in the square. The Chapelis FREE to visit and is open from 6am 7pm Monday to Sunday. #1 Walk around the Old Town. Join a Free Tour. Zen Republic. AddThis sets this geolocation cookie to help understand the location of users who share the information. Outsider Art 3. I didnt know much about the capital of Lithuania before I landed in this city. Visit the National Museum of Lithuania, 10. Years ago, before Duke Gediminas united and founded Vilnius, it actually used to be a series of villages. As I visited Vilnius in December, I didnt get to visit these gardens for long. Search Bookings. Look out for the The Walls Remember, People Tell street art around here, these are paintings inspired by real people who used to live in the area. Explore the scary history of Vilnius. 6. Visit the Presidential Palace of Lithuania, 31. The Gate of Dawns is open 24 hours a day to take photos from the outside. Most to remember loved ones who passed away or to symbolise a body they could not bury. Admire the Gothic Architecture of the Church of St. Anne. Vilnius is one of Europe's smaller capital cities, but that doesn't necessarily mean everything is close together. You never know where it may lead! . Read more. Another famous street that leads off from Vilnius Cathedral Square is Gediminas Avenue. Churches 3. 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! The largest coin pyramid in the world is a carefully balanced stack of over 1,000,000 pieces. The Vilnius TV Tower is the tallest building in Lithuania and an attraction in the new part of the city. 10am 5pm Sundays. Third Eye Traveller participates in various affiliate marketing programs. Read more the best viewpoints in Vilnius. The part that really gave me the chills was the death chamber. Pass through Uupis Border Control ; 5. It was even used by both Tsar Alexander I and Napoleon while they were in 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. GIFTEDWe spent ab. Going to Gediminas Tower is one of the best things to do in Vilnius. Soviet Architecture 2. Fun Things to Do in Vilnius with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. The Gediminas Tower of the Upper Castle is the last remaining part of his legacy here. Address: Etmon g. 6, Vilnius 01129, Lithuania. Compared to the Old Town, this street was only built in the 19th century. Lithuania & # x27 ; s 156,023 traveler reviews and photos of Vilnius, I feel that these! This stop on your itinerary for lunch to do what the locals!! Could not bury 10am 7pm in summer and 10am 6pm in winter switched hands to the location of users share! And quirky drinking dens today, you can get there by taking bus 66! 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