Read my complete Three Cross Hill guide here. there was no listening to popular music, watching mainstream TV, freedom of speech. List your property . Click here to see Drama Burgers website and menu. Review of: Holy Spirit Orthodox Church. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Learn About Vilnius Ghost Stories & Legends, Vilnius Lithuania Points of Interest | 7 Tourist Attractions, 7. 10am 5pm Sundays. It was one of the most successful warrior states at that time and used Vilnius as its capital. But, if you werent fussed the views from the bottom of the tower are pretty amazing too. It can be found around 19 kilometres out of Vilnius City Centre. Fighting UFO's. This 560 m2 area is separated into several rooms. Although many businesses and attractions here do take cards, I would have cash on you at all times. Lithuania is a small country and so most big cities and attractions can be reached in less than a few hours from the capital. On our three-hour tour, we explored and ate our way through the Old Town. Source: Shutterstock. It is a 510km river that starts in Belarus and flows all the way to Vilnius.. Perfect for a rainy day. He had a prophetic dream on a hunting trip where he dreamt of a wolf made of iron, howling with the power of a thousand wolves. Abandoned 3. This bell tower has unobstructed open views from its windows at the top which is why people prefer it over the Cathedral Square Bell Tower. 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. Furthermore, it is also set in a former KGB . 6. You see, the city is actually quite hilly and so if youre heading downwards, youll know youre on the right track to the square! Children were deported to labour camps in Siberia that saw just over 100 days of daylight a year and subzero temperatures. Its also FREE to visit. If you really want to experience something local then Hals Market (Hals Turgis) should be your place. 19 Fun Things to Do in Vilnius on a Quick Trip. For example, Lithuania is an agricultural country; lots of mushrooms, milk, and honey. It may be closed to visitors during mass times. This is one of them. YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. The site is surrounded by a vast garden and is also close to St. Annes Church and the Vilnele River, meaning theres plenty of things to see and do during your stay. It is unique in that it also is a Chapel that holds a miraculous . During my? Today, you can find fountains, sculptures, flowers, benches, and grass to sit on or have a picnic! It was even used by both Tsar Alexander I and Napoleon while they were in Vilnius! I travelled to Vilnius from London with Ryanair and the prices in December were incredibly cheap at 30 each way. For anyone who is into escape rooms or any kind of innovations, you are going to have a blast here.. Even today, when you walk through the gate, youll see many locals pause and say a little prayer towards her portrait that can be seen through the window. I went on a day tour to the Hill of Crosses from Vilnius but you can do this self-guided too. Years ago the whole upper castle was a defensive fortification built by Gediminas grandson, Duke Vytautas. This street is like a temple for those that are fans of Lithuanian literature as there are artworks mounted to the wall dedicated to Lithuanian writers! In 1914 it was officially known as Hals Turgis. The Church of Casimircan be shot from the outside 24 hours a day. Surrounded by history it stands tall in a capital city Vilnius. It had the most EPIC Christmas decorations, but also has a gorgeous interior throughout the year. With ochre rooftops and green rolling hills, Vilnius is stunning. Climb Bell Tower of St. Johns Church for the best view over Vilnius. This could be found on Pylimo Gatv outside Keule Ruke a popular restaurant in Vilnius. They were originally set up by Bernadine Monks that were invited to Vilnius. According to legend, in 1347, the Grand Duke Algirdas wife Julijona built a wooden Orthodox Church in their honour. 9th Fort of the Kaunas Fortress - a museum and memorial for the Holocaust victims. Many Lithuanian freedom fighters fought against the Soviet troops and were jailed and killed. They have a show stopper of a Christmas Tree all lit up and there is a lot of festive cheer around this area too. Panemun Castle - one of the most authentic castles in Lithuania (17th century). Read more about the most Instagrammable places in Vilnius here. Legend has it that Napoleon Bonaparte fell in love with this Gothic church. It sparked worldwide media attention and was extremely controversial at the time. Vilnius, Lithuania. Today its cells have been left virtually untouched, making it a true memorial to a past that many would rather forget but that the wider world cannot allow to happen. The wall first began in 2009, when a group of artists decided that Literatu Street should live up to the name. Pretty cool, check them out!). But, the President of Vilnius celebrated the work, claiming that the people of Lithuania are not silenced censorship. The interior is just as pretty with flowers and trellises and I made sure I was first there for photos! The result is a truly unique festival and one of the highlights of Vilnius cultural calendar. If you can, I highly recommend staying in a hotel or apartment in the Old Town so you're close to the action. 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. So, the people revolted and kill them all. This library is one of the oldest and largest academic libraries in Lithuania founded in the 1570s by the Jesuits. The Atlas Obscura Guide To Vilnius 16 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Vilnius, Lithuania Updated August 22, 2022 Or, have a play on the swing of fate (secret Uupis swing) 4. 7. 1. LOCATION v. By the 17th century, the foundations were falling apart and it was reconstructed into the Neo-Classic style. 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. Help. If youre planning a trip here in summertime, this is a must-visit. They started small and placed a few artifacts, like tiles, paintings, abstract symbols, excerpts, and even FALSE TEETH! Hill of Three Crosses. Another fun place with plenty of digital things to do in Vilnius is Future Live interactive exhibition. But, once I arrived and experienced all the unique and amazing things to do in Vilnius, I fell head over heels in love with it! Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 6. Its the oldest market in Vilnius that is still thriving today and sells everything from all sorts of meat including pigs ears, fruits, cheese, mushrooms, bread, to clothes and electricals. Unusual Things To Do in Vilnius: There are some very interesting, unusual things to do in Vilnius; check out these: 7. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Each one is created by renowned local sculptor Vaidotas Ramoka and each is also mobile. Eventually, when Lithuania was granted its independence it was renamed Gediminas Avenue after the Grand Duke Gediminas who founded Vilnius. Vilnius has some great open spaces and parks in and around the Old Town. Some leave crosses as a sign of love. Vilnius old town is definitely worth to visit, one of the oldest old towns in Europe, mist be in everyones list! 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. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. Over the years, this has been expanded and now there are over 200 plaques dedicated to authors who have a connection with Vilnius and even those from around the globe. It will take turns to spot unique details and sweet corners. I love writing about the weird, wonderful, magical, and historical on my blog. See some more details here. If you carry on to the end, youll find the Vilnius Town Hall. 25 Things To Do In Vilnius Lithuania in Winter. 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. Way back in the 19th century the majority of Vilnius bookstores and antiquary shops could be found in a small street in the heart of the Old Town. Appreciated for its ornate architecture and rich history, Vilnius is home to some of the world's most unique works of art dating back to the Gothic period during the 14th and 16th centuries. I was first introduced to it on my Vilnius walking tour and couldnt help gawking at the pink exterior, with loads of shiny baubles and PINK UNICORNS! Then take a look at these 12 fun things to do in Riga! Watch on. Making it the largest collection of Lithuanian historical and cultural heritage in the country. Courtyard shopping or walking down old streets maybe your next favourite hobby while youre in Vilnius. Climb up the Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower, 5. Here are a few of my favourite streets and courtyards in the old town; Click here to book a courtyard tour of Vilnius. 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. ? Read more why you need to visit Vilnius in December. One of my favourite areas of the city was the bohemian Free Republic of Uupis! Heads up: my accommodation in Vilnius and some tours were sponsored by Tinggly, who is an awesome gift card experience company! As well as religious monuments and memorials, there are over forty pieces of art by famous Lithuanian painters. On August 23, 1989, a few months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, around two million people joined hands across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to make the Baltic Way, the longest unbroken human chain in history, spanning over 370 miles. 8. A lot of the exhibitions are memorials to those who fought for Lithuanias freedom at that time. Even today, there are markers where those used to be in the square. Museum of Genocide Victims - particularly interesting if you're curious about the Soviet occupation and the atrocities of that period. It features 10 ski trails ranging from beginner to veteran. Copyright Third Eye Traveller 2023 | Disclosure & Privacy Policy. The tour will wind along charming Old Town streets, pause at the iconic landmarks, stop at the enchanting viewing points. and surprisingly hip and inventive stalls moving in to peddle trendy eats. Trying all sorts of Lithuanian cuisine and alcohol as we went! These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. . Despite only being home to 570,000 people, Vilnius has a lot of fun and interesting things to do. 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. With 48 hours in Vilnius and plenty of sightseeing to do, you're going to need to know the best ways to get around the city. Thats because he is known as the founding father of Vilnius! Its split up into 4 sections, so if you didnt want to see all of it, you can pay less for just one of the routes. (the company that believes in giving stories, not stuff! If the Old Town isnt your bag, why not go on an alternative tour of Vilnius? Uber and the competing app Bolt work in Vilnius to get you around the city too. Then it switched hands to the Orthodox Church in the 19th century and eventually, after the independence, went back to the Uniates! Once upon a time, this area was one of the poorest parts of the city, it was home to Jewish migrants and labourers. 12. Today, this picturesque street is home to historic architecture, boutique stalls, coffee houses, restaurants and so much more. Discover mysterious legends and stories as you walk around the city with a professional local guide. 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. One of my favorite things to do in Vilnius when people come to visit is go up to Gediminas Castle. Things to do in Vilnius in a nutshell Bike tour for the first-comers to Vilnius featuring must-see classics in combination with newly trending spots. One of my favourite coffee houses in Vilnius was the Augustus Ir Babora Love Story Caf! This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. nekutis came highly recommended, so thats where I went! One of my favourite streets in the whole of Vilnius is Ausros Vartu Street. Visit the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, 6. They will introduce you to different aspects of the local culture and to different parts of the city beyond the centre. Make sure you have a look on the Vilnius Town Hall website for whats on while youre here. To mark the occasion, a quirky project was put forward that resulted in the construction of the worlds largest coin pyramid. If you only have time for one, I would recommend visiting either the National Gallery of Art (LAM) or MO Museum. Guided tours cost extra. The private museum, founded by Viktors and Dangole Butkus, has two exhibition halls - large and small. Compared to the Old Town, this street was only built in the 19th century. The Church of St Johns is meant to have the most amazing views from the top of its bell tower. The chapel inside the Gate of Dawn contains a portrait of The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy or the Vilnius Madonna who is said to perform miracles. This cookie is installed by Google Universal Analytics to restrain request rate and thus limit the collection of data on high traffic sites. Vilnius. I was gutted I didnt get a chance to explore the inside of the library, but you can go inside on an organised tour if youre interested. The park is a reconstruction by Vladislovas trausas in the 19th century of the gardens that stood here from the 15th century all the way up to World War II. 4. Things to do Things to do. Gediminas Tower of the Upper Castle in Vilnius The Ultimate Guide, Eravikulam National Park 15 Essential Tip You Must Know Before Visiting. The chain began in Tallinn, Estonia and finally ended in Vilnius, right at the stebuklas tile in Cathedral Square. 2. Parents were separated from their children and sent away. It speaks in Vilnius own unique voice and makes some awesome photo opportunities too. By Crazyguy14. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Here you can see where prisoners were kept. Step inside the Church of St Peter and St Paul, 39. Street art in Vilnius is a big thing here and you can find a lot dotted around the city and in Uupis too. YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. Read about the things to do in Vilnius, including things that are still fun during the winter such as visiting the bell tower and enjoying snowy views. The Gate of Dawn in Vilnius is the city's only surviving city gate. Visit Vilnius Cathedral (Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius), 4. #2 Explore Cathedral Square. This cookie is used by Facebook to control its functionalities, collect language settings and share pages. 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! Discover Vilnius in an exciting and extraordinary way! Presidential Palace. After my massage, I was treated to some green tea and I felt so refreshed. The first church that stood here was to mark the spot where the three Lithuanian Christian Martyrs (Anthony, John, and Eustace) died. I didnt end up going inside as it was closed, but the church itself has a mix of Gothic, Baroque, and Russian Byzantine styles. There are also several lovely green spaces to escape to, including Kalnu Park. See Tripadvisor's 1,56,019 traveller reviews and photos of kid friendly Vilnius attractions Located directly next door to Vilnius main train station, patrons can enjoy imbibing till their hearts content while gazing out at trains passing by. We laughed a lot. Here are the best things to do in Lithuania: 1. See here for details. This classic walking tour will take you through the quaint Old Town of Vilnius and Uupis too! Plus its only 30 minutes from Vilnius making it the perfect day trip. They say it all started with a vision, and a pilgrimage across the country to save the life of a farmer's daughter. Have fun in Liepkalnis Ski Run. Visit the official website for visiting times and prices for Europos Park. 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. LOCATION Cathedral Square plaza, Vilnius Old Town, The shrouded-in-mystery Stebuklas Miracle Tile in Vilnius (Photo: rogix via Flickr). I use. Today, you can cross under the gate and visit the small chapel above the archway. Their independence day, Uupis Day falls on the 1st of April. Soviet Architecture 2. Today, its a popular viewpoint where you can see the whole of the Old Town. Master Pieces by great illusionists from Netherlands, Sweden, Japan and all over the world, of 1920s to 1970s. You can get there by taking bus number 66 straight to the location of the park. Visit The KGB Museum / Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fighters, 18. 2023 Atlas Obscura. One of those is a set of footprints. Pass through Uupis Border Control ; 5. When Lithuania got its independence, a lot of the artists took advantage of the cheap housing that became available there. But, masses started again in 1988. I went on two free tours in Vilnius: the Free Walking Tour with guide Ele, and the Free Alternative Tour with Marge, both showing two completely different sides of Lithuania's capital. All Rights Reserved - PRIVACY POLICY, From Vilnius Airport to City Center with public transportation. Most to remember loved ones who passed away or to symbolise a body they could not bury. I wasnt disappointed. 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That resulted in the whole upper Castle in Vilnius here time for one, I would recommend visiting either National... Neo-Classic style or have a show stopper of a Christmas Tree all lit up and there is truly. It stands tall in a nutshell Bike tour for the cookies in the Square several..., wonderful, magical, and honey exhibitions are memorials to those fought! Of St. Johns Church for the first-comers to Vilnius 100 days of daylight year... A blast here used Vilnius as its capital, in 1347, the stebuklas. Burgers website and menu Chapel above the archway by the Jesuits was even by. The video preferences of the most unusual things to do in vilnius views from the outside 24 hours a tour! Consent plugin I would have cash on you at all times to view during opening.! From the top of its Bell Tower was extremely controversial at the.! Track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads the!. For Europos Park day, Uupis day falls on the Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower, 5 set by cookie. Embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data will take turns to spot unique details and sweet.. Wall first began in Tallinn, Estonia and finally ended in Vilnius, right at stebuklas... Amazing too found on Pylimo Gatv outside Keule Ruke a popular restaurant in Vilnius to book a tour., will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement started small and placed a few hours the! Paul, 39 we explored and ate our way through the quaint Old Town isnt bag... Trending spots labour camps in Siberia that saw just over 100 days of daylight a and.