Vilnius Mini Guide CONTENT 10 MUST SEE 14 INTERESTING DISTRICTS 18 ACTIVE LEISURE 22 WHERE AND WHAT TO EAT 26 WHERE TO PARTY WE VILNIANS ARE AN 28 WHERE TO SHOP 30 ART IN VILNIUS ACTIVE BUNCH. 34 PARKS IN VILNIUS 38 DAY TRIPS Vilnius can take you by surprise - many of the Lithuanian capital’s most 40 JEWISH VILNIUS beautiful secrets are kept in plain sight for all to see, and somehow there’s not too much talk about them. The UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town 42 PILGRIMAGE IN VILNIUS is home to many historical buildings and luscious parks, and the past 44 VILNIUS WITH KIDS is closely intertwined with the present. Modern street art installations, contemporary cuisine, and adventurous leisure activities are the perfect 46 BUDGET VILNIUS mix for a memorable getaway. 48 TOURS IN VILNIUS This guide gives you dozens of puzzle pieces to create your own picture 52 MEET A LOCAL of Vilnius as you see it. Welcome! 53 TIPS Vilnius Mini Guide 3 1 6 You can fly like a bird, You can have empty pockets, or at least get a bird’s-eye view but a heart full of experiences. of the Old Town from a hot-air Adventures, street art, and balloon. sightseeing can cost you 10 nothing. REASONS TO FALL IN LOVE 2 7 It’s greener than a dollar. It’s like living in Four Seasons - WITH VILNIUS Parks, squares, and nature Vilnius actually has four distinct reserves in the heart of the city seasons you can feel and make Vilnius one of the greenest explore. capitals of Europe. 3 8 Your feet can take you to all the You can feast like a king. Vilnius best places. Vilnius is compact has so much great food it might and walkable, making it easy for be difficult to try it all. you to reach your daily 10,000- step count. 4 9 The city never sleeps. Truly. It’s great for your beer belly. Enter the Golden Triangle and Craft breweries and pub culture you won’t know if it’s day or are alive and well, peaking night. around every corner. 5 10 It will turn you into an art It’s an open house 24/7 connoisseur in a weekend. The welcoming everyone to the city is filled to the brim with coolest architecture, wonders of contemporary art and museums. nature, and amazing views. 4 Vilnius Mini Guide Vilnius Mini Guide 5 ABOUT VILNIUS KEY DATES Population: Currency: 570,806 Euro 1323 1387 1579 Grand Duke of Grand Duchy of Vilnius University is Size: Membership: Lithuania Gediminas Lithuania accepts founded 401 km² EU, NATO relocates capital to Christianity Vilnius from Trakai. Time: Tourist Tax: GMT +2 hours 1 Euro per person per night Climate: 1812 1795 1636 Marine / Old Town: Napoleon Vilnius becomes part Kaziukas fair is Continental Biggest in the Baltic visits Vilnius of the Russian Empire, founded states, UNESCO and the capital of Vilna Language: World Heritage Site Governorate Lithuanian 16.02.1918 1940 1945 Lithuania restores Vilnius occupied World War II ends independence by the Soviet and Lithuania Union, later by remains in the Nazi Germany Soviet Union 2009 2004 1990 Vilnius becomes the Lithuania joins the Lithuania breaks European Capital of European Union and from the Soviet Culture NATO Union and declares independence 2015 TODAY Lithuania joins the you are here Euro Zone 6 Vilnius Mini Guide Vilnius Mini Guide 7 SAVE up to VILNIUS PASS 93 Eur TOP OFFERS Free Tours Discover the best of Vilnius in 24, 48 or 72 HOP-ON-HOP-OFF Bus Tour hours! Have fun and save money in Vilnius Old Traditional Old Town Tour Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Embark on an excursion on foot, by bus or even by Audio Guide Tour boat. With Vilnius Pass you get free entry to Thematic Walking Tours with Vilnius With Locals museums, free travel on public transport, and Gondola Boat Trip special discounts from more than 60 partners. Free Museums Lithuanian National Museum Expositions Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights Church Heritage Museum Toy Museum TV Tower Chocolate Sculptures Museum in Trakai Vilnius Pass Free Hot Beverage Hot beverages await you at a few local restaurants. At some you have to order something, others offers free drinks no strings attached. ERTLIO NAMAS ...GREY 24-hour Pass 48-hour Pass 72-hour Pass 72-hour Pass KYBYNLAR without a public without a public without a public with a public transport ticket transport ticket transport ticket transport ticket SAULA 19,99 € 29,99 € 35,99 € 42,99 € Free Public Trasport Vilnius Tourist Information Centres: Pilies g. 2 (Main Office), +370 5 262 9660, e-mail [email protected] Free Public Transport with the 72-hour Vilnius Pass Didžioji g. 31 (Town Hall), Rodūnios kelias 2 (Vilnius International Airport, Arrival Hall A). Book online and save 1 euro on every card! www.govilnius.lt Find more offers at www.govilnius.lt 8 Vilnius Mini Guide Vilnius Mini Guide 9 MUST SEE Your Vilnius bucket list VILNIUS CATHEDRAL GEDIMINAS CASTLE BASILICA This is one of the most prominent symbols of Vilnius. The only remaining 14th-century The most important Catholic sanctuary tower of the Upper Castle harkens back in Lithuania, the Cathedral Basilica of St to the time of Gediminas, the Grand Duke Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius is of Lithuania. The observation platforms of more than six centuries old. Many religious, Gediminas Hill and Gediminas‘ Tower offer artistic, and historical valuables are stored an impressive panorama of the Old Town, in this shrine. Also, the Chapel of Saint which is the most impressive as the sun is Casimir is located in the cathedral, and is setting. one of the city’s most beautiful treasures of the early Baroque period. Arsenalo g. 5, www.lnm.lt Gediminas Square 2, www.katedra.lt FREE with Vilnius Pass FREE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE PALACE OF THE GRAND Today, this classic 18th-century palace houses the office of the President of DUKES OF LITHUANIA Lithuania. The presidential flag flies above The reconstructed Palace of the Grand the Vytis decorated façade whenever Dukes of Lithuania tells the history of the President is in the palace. Moreover, Vilnius and houses the 15th-century ruins a solemn flag changing ceremony takes of the Lower Castle. Although the palace place every Sunday at 12:00 p.m. The was demolished in the 19th century, half a palace has a state-of-the-art educational million unique artefacts were found during information centre that details how archaeological excavations, which laid the Lithuanian state and its democracy the foundation for the restoration of the function. palace. The Palace of the Grand Dukes of S. Daukanto a. 3, www.prezidentura.lt Lithuania was restored in 2013, and was then opened to the public. Expositions FREE (registration needed) present restored historical interiors and offer insight into the daily life of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and other palace residents, as well as the weapons and music of that period. Cathedral Square 4, www.valdovurumai.lt FREE with Vilnius Pass 10 Vilnius Mini Guide Vilnius Mini Guide 11 MUST SEE UŽUPIS TOWN HALL THE BASTION OF THE Separated from Vilnius Old Town by Vilnelė One of the three remaining historical city VILNIUS DEFENSIVE WALL River, Užupis is the smallest and perhaps halls in Lithuania, this building was built in This two-and-a-half-kilometre-long most impressive district of Vilnius. The the 15th century, but was reconstructed VILNIUS UNIVERSITY defensive wall surrounded the entire City residents of Užupis collectively declared by Laurynas Stuoka Gucevičius in the of Vilnius when it was built in the 16th Vilnius University was founded in 1579, but independence on 1 April 1997, and for 18th century after being damaged by fires. century. In the 17th century, an artillery the construction of the university complex more than two decades the independent Today, the City Hall of Vilnius serves as a bastion was built next to Subačius Gates. took place over several centuries. It Republic of Užupis has had its own representative building hosting exhibitions The bastion’s cellars are the residence includes buildings of Gothic, Renaissance, president, currency, and anthem. The and galas. And just like ancient times, City of the legendary Basilisk of Vilnius. The Baroque, and Classicism architecture. The Constitution of the Republic of Užupis, Hall Square is used for city fairs. renewed bastion provides an overview of university conceals 12 inner courtyards which is translated into more than 25 the history of the Vilnius defensive wall and the library, which was founded in 1570, languages, is posted on a wall in the Didžioji g. 31, www.vilniausrotuse.lt and the weaponry of that time. holds many rare manuscripts. When the neighbourhood. This district is rich FREE weather is warm, you can enjoy a bird’s- with art, and has a unique bohemian Bokšto g. 20/18, www.lnm.lt eye view of Vilnius from the belfry of the atmosphere filled with creative spaces and Church of St. Johns. eccentric characters. FREE with Vilnius Pass Universiteto g. 3, www.vu.lt Užupio g. 2 € FREE GATES OF DAWN The Gates of Dawn were first mentioned in 1514, and are one of the city’s symbols. The Gates of Dawn were originally one of the MO MUSEUM defensive gates released to the Carmelites MO is a private modern museum in ST. ANNE’S CHURCH THE MUSEUM OF in the 16th century, and eventually became Vilnius that’s home to a collection of the Mother of God Chapel.