The capital of Lithuania is known for its medieval old town, red roofs, the abundance of churches and narrow streets. Established in the early 14th-century, the city offers many cultural objects. Here you’ll find the top 11 sights in Vilnius.
It’s probably impossible to visit Vilnius without passing through Cathedral Square. And it’s the main square of the city for many reasons:
- You get a view of the Hill of Three Crosses, which you can later climb to see the city from a bird’s-eye view.
- Gediminas Castle tower is a three-minute walk away
- Pilies Street is nearby (the oldest street in the capital) with many souvenir shops, local restaurants and buildings
- Next to the Cathedral stands a 57-metre belfry tower, open to visitors
- The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is behind the Cathedral
- The iconic view of the Cathedral Square from Gediminas Avenue (main street of Vilnius)
The Gates of Dawn is one of the main symbols of Vilnius — an important historical, cultural and religious monument. Inside the chapel, there is an image of the Virgin Mary. Christians from around the world worship and consider the picture miraculous. The painting from the 16th-century is one of the most famous Renaissance paintings in Lithuania.
St. Anne’s Church (built in 1495-1501) is one of the most admired buildings in Vilnius. It is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture — constructed in a flamboyant style, unique to the city. The grand church consists of 33 different yellow bricks, and the interior has Baroque decorations and altars. In the 18th century, after some damage caused by a fire, the exterior was painted in red. The church stands on the right bank of the Vilnia River.
After more than a year of reconstruction in 2013, the authentic 19th-century park is now restored. In Bernardine Garden, you can see the old elements: pond, Belvedere hill, central square, paths along Vilnelė River, fountains installed in historical places, one of which is musical. The park also has a rose garden, a nice cafe and children’s playgrounds. The park is in the very centre of Vilnius, between Gediminas Castle Hill, Vilnelė and Bernardine Monastery.
5. Užupis
Užupis is a 16th-century suburb of Vilnius Old Town that began to develop at the beginning of the 19th century. Surrounded on three sides by Vilnelė River, Užupis once was an abandoned, poorly reputable quarter. At the end of the 19th century, it became a favourite place for artists and bohemians to live and create. Thus, giving the district a unique image of Lithuanian Montmartre and a special aura still alive today. In Užupis, you will find art galleries, coffee shops, cosy restaurants and small charming shops, where you can find unusual things — from antiques to various works of art.
6. “Glass quarter” (Švarco, Stiklių and Gaono streets)
There is a small quarter in Vilnius that everyone seems to know about but often overlooks. In the 15th-century, jewellers were the first to gather in the quarter, which later was inhabited by the first glass manufacturers. Here in the 17th-century, King Vladislav Vaza allowed the Jewish community to settle. The quarter still houses jewellers, local artist and crafts shops, organises workshops, has beautiful restaurants, a chamber orchestra, art galleries and one of the oldest operating “Stikliai” (“Glazier”) hotel.
7. Vilnius University Ensemble
Vilnius University, founded in 1579, is the oldest university in the country. The architecture reflects major styles that dominated Lithuania — Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism. The old campus consists of History, Philology and Philosophy faculties, the Institute of Foreign Languages, the University Library and the Rector’s Office. Inside the campus, there’s the highest building in Vilnius Old Town, the 68 metres Bell Tower of St. John’s Church.
Grab a scooter, a bike or go for a walk and follow a beautiful path by Nėris River, which flows through the centre of Vilnius. The trail is recently renovated and offers a view of buildings from afar, and along the path, you can appreciate sculptures and street art. Even by foot, you can reach the Žvėrynas district that has many old decorated wooden houses and different architecture than the rest of the city.
9. Fabijoniškės
Fabijoniškės is among the last built residential areas from the Soviet era. In 2019, the whole world learnt about Fabijoniškės from the “Chernobyl” series, one of the highest-rated TV series of all time. For the TV show, the district was transformed into the 1980s Pripyat (Ukrainian ghost-town). The urban landscapes of Chernobyl on the outskirts of Vilnius offer a completely different city feeling.
10. Šeškinė
Šeškinė is another attention-worthy residential district with distinct buildings, a large shopping mall and two sports arenas. Like Fabijoniškės, Šeškinė gained popularity as a TV series filming location. It became a Swedish city Malmö for Netflix’s crime drama “Young Wallander.”
Once, the district was a wooden-house village with 84 residents, and now it’s home to 36,000 inhabitants. Centuries ago, the surrounding hills in Šeškinė were used as natural barriers to defend Vilnius territory from enemies.
11. Vilnius TV Tower
Vilnius TV tower was built in 1978 in Karoliniškės residential district. It’s the tallest building in Lithuania (326,5 metres) and has an open-air observation deck. From here, visitors can enjoy the impressive view of the city.
The TV tower is a symbol of Lithuanian opposition against the Soviet military seizure on the 13th of January, 1991. Inside the tower building, there’s a museum called “Fight for Freedom,” which tells a part of the Lithuanian independence history.
