Top Things To Do In Vilnius On and Off The Beaten Path [+Map & Photos] (2024)

Vilnius is just… perfect. It’s hard to not fall in love with this city. The capital of Lithuania has it all: awesome architecture, delicious food, interesting people and a lot of things to do both during a day and at night. There are many awesome things to see in Vilnius so you can’t possibly get bored there.

The best way to see all the important places in the city is to attend one of the Vilnius walking tours. I personally recommend the one offered by Get Your Guide. You will be guided by a local, see the highlights of the city and try the local food.

See the map of things to do in Vilnius that you can find in this article:

General Info About Vilnius

Local Time in Vilnius:

Vilnius Things to Do

See recommended Vilnius Old Town Tours:

Gediminas Tower & Castle Hill

Gediminas Tower is situated on the top of the castle hill. It’s one of the things to do in Vilnius that you can’t miss. In order to get there, you need to walk up for approx 10 minutes on the uneven, pebbly road. You can also take a funicular for 1 euro one way.

If the weather is good, the views from the top are absolutely breathtaking. You can see the beautiful landscape of the city and take awesome photos.

Gates of Dawn

Gates of Dawn is one of the most unusual churches in Europe.

It is easy to guess that it is located at the… gate! Right in the heart of Old Town, so it’s hard to miss while Vilnius sightseeing. It looks really amazing!

Be sure to get inside to see the famous painting- Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn. It is really impressive!

KGB Museum in Vilnius (also known asGenocido Auku Muziejus)

It is one of the worst places you can see in Europe. Not as bad as Auschwitz Concentration Camp but still terrible. The way prisoners were treated by the communist were beastly.

If you are interested in the history of Lithuania and Eastern Europe, be sure to visit KGB Museum in Vilnius.

KGB Museum is a part of the Alternative Vilnius Walking Tour, check it out here.

Vilnius Cathedral

Vilnius Cathedral is the most important sacral buildings in Lithuania, so be sure to add it to your Vilnius itinerary.

The cathedral is huge, monumental and all white. It is the final resting place of many important people including Saint Casimir and Alexander Jagiellon.

#5 things to do Vilnius

Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania

The palace was one of the most important places of Poland- Lithuania Commonwealth. It was demolished at the beginning of the 19th century. All you can see now is the reconstruction done about 20 years ago. Still, it’s one of the top things to see in Vilnius.

Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace is the most politically important place in Lithuania. The building is really impressive from the outside. If you want to see the interiors, you need to book a tour in advance. Contact ekskursijos@prezidentas.lt for more.

Presidential Palace is also one of the places to see on a Vilnius city tour (click to see more).

Holy Trinity Church with theDivine Mercy painting

If you are Christian, it is one of the must-visit places to visit in Vilnius Lithuania for you. You will see there the miraculous Divine Mercy painting. If you are not, you still should visit the Holy Trinity church. The baroque architecture of the building is very impressive.

It is one of the most beautiful churches in Vilnius.

St. Casimir’s Church

This church is really huge. It was built in the 17th century and was the first baroque sacral building in Vilnius.

It is a must-see for all architecture lovers!

St Kasmir Church is a part of a Private Vilnius Walking Tour, check it out here.

Town Hall Square

It is the most vibrant place in the Old Town of Vilnius. Full of lovely cafes and restaurants.

In the summer, children are cooling off in the fountain and running barefoot around the square.

Wrong Room

Escape rooms are getting more and more popular all around the world. They are great alternatives for those of you who don’t like museums, architecture, art, and history.

The rules of the game are simple: you will be locked in a room and have 1 hour to escape. You will have to solve the riddles that are hidden all around the room in order to find the key to the door.

It is so much fun!

Hill of Three Crosses

Climbing up the Hill of Three Crosses is the best hike in Vilnius you can take. The view from the top is beautiful! This place is not as crowded as Castle Hill, so you can enjoy the quiet time during your hiking.

If you are looking for more Vilnius activities, check out this Afternoon Vilnius bike Tour.

Church of St. Theresa

Another beautiful and monumental Baroque church in Vilnius. It has one of the most impressive altars in Lithuania!

Orthodox Church of St Nicolas

You won’t find this church in any guide of Vilnius. That is why we think it is worth seeing. It is a truly local place, where you can watch people praying and professing their faith.

National Lithuanian Philharmonic

The National Lithuanian Philharmonic is really impressive.

It is worth to see it from the outside but also to book a ticket online to get inside and listen to classical music.

Saint Cathrine’schurch

The church was built in the 17th century and is another beautiful example of baroque architecture in Vilnius.

Check out the most unique tours in Vilnius:

How to Get Around Vilnius?

The easiest way is, of course, taking a Vilnius bus tour. You will be taken to all the important places in the city.

If you don’t have time, you can just stay in the Vilnius sightseeing bus for the entire time and listen to the history of the city. You can lease anytime you want and get back to the bus when you want to get to another Vilnius tourist attractions.

Car Rent Vilnius

The second most convenient option is car rent Vilnius. You can drive around and see something else than just the Old Town.

Vilnius Public Transport

You can always use Vilnius public transport. Depending on the length of your travel, the ticket will cost 0,65-0,9 euro one way. You can also buy a 24h ticket for 5 euro, 3 days ticket for 8 euro, or even 10 days ticket for 15 euro. There is no subway in Vilnius, so you can either travel by bus or train. Plan your tip online here.

If you want to use public transport only for sightseeing, it’s better to buy a Vilnius travel card. The price is ranging from 15 to 35 euros. See more here.

Vilnius Taxi

If you are not traveling on a budget, you can always choose to get around byVilnius taxi. There are many local providers out there. If you want to save some money choose Uberor Taxify (click to get the first free ride), as they are operating in Vilnius as well.

Best Restaurants in Vilnius & Places To Drink

14Horses Uptown

Having dinner at 14Horses Uptown (Dublis) is a must-do while in the capital of Lithuania if you are traveling as a group. For us, this restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Vilnius. Dining there is an unforgettable experience, not only because of the food but because of the way the food is served.

14Horses Uptown is definitely afine dining Vilnius. They are not operating on a daily basis though, so be sure to contact them to book your dinner in advance.

Zatar Falafel & Hummus

If you are looking for a cheap and healthy place to eat in the Old Town of Vilnius, you should go to Zatar. You will get there the best food in Vilnius, not only for vegan and vegetarian!

Our falafelplate sand fresh juices were out of this world. Too bad we found this restaurant on the last day of our stay in the city. We will definitely come back there next time we will be in Vilnius.

Glory Bar by Stikliai

if you wonder where to go out in Vilnius, choose the Glory bar! It is the best place to have a drink in the Old Town. It is located right next to the Lithuanian National Philharmonic. The drinks are pretty cheap (2-5 euros). In the summer you can sit outside in the beer garden.

Dream Barby Stikliai

Dream is a high-end bar, located just a few steps away from the Town Hall square. It is open until late at night.

It may be a great stop during the pub crawl Vilnius. We really liked it- the luxurious interiors, big doors with the specific handles are something we will never forget. And the drinks.. they were really good! Especially the espresso martini.

For best pub crawl Vilnius, book a tour with a local guide. You will be taken to the coolest places in the city and you’ll be able to experience Vilnius at night. Check out this tour here.

If you want to try the delicious Lithuanian cuisine, be sure to join one of the Vilnius food tours. Book it online here.

Where To Stay in Vilnius?

We were staying in Ramada Hotel & Suites. It is a lovely, 5-star boutique hotel situated in the heart of an Old Town. You can read the full review of it here.

Hereyou can check other Vilnius hostels and hotels located in an Old Town of Vilnius.

If you are planning to stay in the citylonger than just few days, search for the best apartment onAirBnbor AirBnb alternative.

If you are a budget traveler and really don’t have money, you can call Mrs. Alfreda +370 615 220 76. She is a lovely old lady that we met in a church. She has 3 rooms to rent in the heart of Old Town (with parking space available). When we asked her how much does she charge for a 1-night stay she replied: I’d appreciate anything. You will pay me as much as you want.

Best Day Trips From Vilnius

If you have enough time, it’s worth to take at least oneday trip from Vilnius. There is much more to see in Lithuania than just its capital city!

Kaunas

It’s the second biggest city in Lithuania. If you are traveling from Vilnius to the Baltic Sea, you will pass it by.

The easiest way to get fromKaunas to Vilnius and back is by bus. You can buy tickets online for as little as 6 euro one way. Here is the website where you can do it. The tip will last less than 2 hours.

An organized tour is not expensive either. The full-day tour from Vilnius to Kaunas costs about $75 per person. You can book it online here.

The Hill Of Crosses

If you are looking for interesting places to visit near Vilnius, think about going to the Hill of Crosses. It’s probably one of the best destinations in Lithuania.

The name says it all- there are many crosses on the hill close to Šiauliai. This place is unique on a global scale. It’s worth visiting, even if you are not Christian.

The best way to get there from Vilnius is to take a guided tour. Book it only here.

Druskininkai

This lovely spa town is a perfect place to relax. It’s located quite close to the border with Poland. You will get there in less than 2 hours from Vilnius.

Druskininkai has a beautiful old town, aqua park and even a place where you can ski all year round (it’s called the Snow Arena).

If you wonder what are the bestthings to do in Vilnius in winter or summer, you can take a day trip to Druskinkai. It’s also a great place if you are visiting Vilnius with kids.

Read our full post about this town here.

Augustow

Why not visiting the neighboring country while in Lithuania? A lovely town, Augustow in Poland, is located just 3 hours driving from Vilnius. In the summer, you can cool off in August lakes. You can also rent a water bike there.

Read more about the townhere.

Here you can discover more hidden gems of Poland.

Riga

Let’s go the other way. Europe is really small! If you have enough time, you can not only visit Poland but also the other neighboring country – Latvia. The best choice would its capital, Riga.

It’s a vibrant city with one of the most charming old towns we have ever seen.

Read our full post about Riga.

Curonian Spit and Klaipeda

Of all Vilnius day trips, Curonian Spit is our favorite. This lovely National Park is the most beautiful place in Lithuania.

As it’s located on the peninsula, the best way to get there is by car or join one of the tours.

Read our full post about Curonian Spit and Klaipeda.

Trakai

If you are spending just a weekend in Vilnius or your time in the capital of Lithuania is limited, visiting the island castle is one of the best things to do around Vilnius for you. It’s located just half an hour driving from the city.

The castle and the surrounding lake is absolutely breathtaking!

Book your private tour to Trakai for less than $50 here.

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