Baroque old town, hill forts and a bohemian republic
The capital mixes one of Europe's largest baroque old towns with a young, creative energy. Most of what you want to see fits inside a walkable square kilometre.
Official city tourism siteCultural highlights
Old Town & Gediminas Hill
UNESCO-listed lanes, Cathedral Square and a short funicular ride to the castle tower for the classic rooftop view.
Užupis
A self-declared artists' republic across the river with its own tongue-in-cheek constitution on the wall in 30+ languages.
Gate of Dawn
A working pilgrimage chapel above the last surviving city gate; quiet, and free to enter.
Travel tips
- Walk the Old Town early morning — tour groups arrive after 10:00.
- Sunday morning is the calmest time for photos on Pilies street.
- Try cepelinai at a lunch-menu price (pietūs) on weekdays, usually until 15:00.
Getting around
From the airport
Train to the central station takes 8 minutes; buses 88 and 3G serve the centre. Bolt to the Old Town is usually under €10.
City transport
Buses and trolleybuses run 05:00–23:00, with night buses at weekends. Tap a bank card on board.
Day trips
Trains to Trakai (30 min) and Kaunas (1h10) leave from the central station and run through the day.
Between cities
Intercity buses are the backbone (autobusubilietai.lt); trains (traukiniai.lt) are cheaper and comfortable on Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda.
Tickets
Buy bus and train tickets online or from the driver. City buses accept a contactless bank card tapped on the validator.
Taxis & apps
Bolt is the default app in every city and costs a fraction of Western European taxi fares.
Driving
Dipped headlights on at all times. Winter tyres are compulsory 10 Nov – 1 Apr. City parking is paid by app (mPay) or meter.
Opening hours
Old Town churches
Generally 07:00–19:00; the Gate of Dawn chapel opens early for morning prayer.
Gediminas Tower
10:00–21:00 in summer, 10:00–18:00 in winter; the funicular follows the same hours.
Nightlife
Bars until 01:00–03:00 at weekends; alcohol is not sold in shops after 20:00, or after 15:00 on Sundays.
Shops
Weekdays roughly 10:00–19:00, Saturday 10:00–16:00. Many small shops close Sunday.
Shopping centres
Usually 10:00–21:00 or 22:00, seven days a week.
Supermarkets
Maxima, Iki, Rimi and Lidl typically 08:00–22:00 daily; some Vilnius and Kaunas stores run 24h.
Museums
Usually 10:00–18:00, closed Monday and often Sunday afternoon. Last entry is 30–45 minutes before closing.
Restaurants
Lunch menus (pietūs) 11:00–15:00 on weekdays. Kitchens often stop at 22:00, earlier in small towns.
Pharmacies
09:00–19:00 typically; every larger city has at least one 24-hour pharmacy.
Banks & post
Weekdays 09:00–17:00, closed weekends. Cash machines are everywhere.
Public holidays
Most shops and museums close on 1 Jan, 16 Feb, 11 Mar, Easter, 24 Jun, 6 Jul, 1 Nov and 24–25 Dec.
Typical hours — always check the venue's own page before travelling.
Practical info
Getting around
Buses and trolleybuses; tap a bank card on the validator. Old Town is best on foot.
From the airport
Bus 88 or a 10-minute train to the central station; taxis and Bolt are inexpensive.
Money
Euro (€). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including buses and markets.
Emergency
112 for police, ambulance and fire — English is understood.
Useful Lithuanian
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