During this period the building was used to house prisoners and to conduct executions and torture in its basement. (the company that believes in giving stories, not stuff! But, things really took off at the beginning of the 20th century and it became a huge food market in 1906. Today, the streets around here are incredibly quaint and colourful with cafs, bars, and boutiques for shopping. A lot of the exhibitions are memorials to those who fought for Lithuanias freedom at that time. St. Annes Church is FREE to enter and open daily. 26. The Frank Zappa fan club erected this monument to their prog-rock hero to mark a new era of post-Soviet Lithuania. You will need to fill in a form and then you pay 8 Euros for a tour that will take you around the Library, University Halls and Courtyards too. Cookies containing your personal data may be used for personalized and non-personalized advertising to you. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. They were originally set up by Bernadine Monks that were invited to Vilnius. Gediminas Tower. Explore the Old Town. Vilnius has some great open spaces and parks in and around the Old Town. This is due to the fact that Vilnius has some perfect Soviet backdrops in the city. This is one of them. Lithuanian language and text were banned. It was a peaceful protest against decades of Soviet Rule which saw thousands of people unite together holding hands across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Share. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. I visited in December and loved the festive feel of the square. I want to inspire you & turn your wildest travel dreams into a reality through my travel guides and tips! We got to learn the history behind a lot of the Lithuanian dishes, like Zeppelins or Cepelinai, and other popular foods like Rye bread too. 4. If the Old Town isnt your bag, why not go on an alternative tour of Vilnius? Look for it's unusual small pink arched entrance. Situated on the foot of a hill, a few minutes walk from the Bohemian district of Uzupis in the city centre, this is one of Vilnius most unique accommodation options. Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile. 7. Originally it was built in the Gothic style but the style we see today is a Neoclassical reconstruction by Laurynas Stuoka-Guceviius. Vilnius Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sits at the point where two of Lithuania's main rivers converge. There are thought to be over 250,000 crucifixes that have been left at the site. You never know where it may lead! These include St. Ann's (Gothic), St. Peter and Paul's (Baroque), and plenty of others. These cookies will be stored in your browser. In 1914 it was officially known as Hals Turgis. It features 10 ski trails ranging from beginner to veteran. The brainchild of two Lithuanian physics students, the pyramid featured a delicately balanced stack of over 1,000,000 disused coins from the countrys previous currency. Some of their specialities at their Cold Beetroot Soup and Potato Dumplings are known as Cepelinai. 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. Vilnius Cathedral. The Church of St. Anne is a Gothic style church in Vilnius' Old Town. We recommend Trakai Castle as one of the top things to do in Vilnius, even though it's not in the city. But, it was destroyed and burned down due to the Russian invasions. If you cant get enough of the view over Vilnius, you can head to the Three Crosses Hill, a hill overlooking the city with three 12m tall white concrete Crosses overlooking the city. Its repository houses about 5,000 works of art, covering the period from the restoration of Lithuania's independence to the present day. Museum of illusions. And for real aficionados, Amber polishing demonstrations are available upon request. List your property . Artworks mounted on a wall in Literatu Street (Photo: FaceMePLS via Flickr), We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience and save your preferences. As well as the castle, you can explore Lithuanias smallest national park, learn about the Karaite community, sample Kibinai pastries and hop around historic mansions. It is one of the main shopping streets. #1 Walk around the Old Town. Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. I always use Google Maps if I have WiFi, or download Maps.Me if Im going to be offline. Another fun place with plenty of digital things to do in Vilnius is Future Live interactive exhibition. Read my complete guide for Gediminas Castle here. There are historical exhibitions, excavations, lavish reconstructed rooms (my favourite part) and also artwork too! Wander around Vilnius Old Town. Today, they are known as the Franciscan martyrs of Vilnius. Third Eye Traveller participates in various affiliate marketing programs. KGB Museum (Genocido Auku Muziejus) Housing the Nazi occupants during WW2, and the Soviet KGB directly after, and up until 1989, this building has sealed. As the oldest baroque church in Vilnius, it was built in the 17th century by the Jesuits and is dedicated to the holy prince Saint Casimir. Source: Shutterstock. Here are a few of my favourite streets and courtyards in the old town; Click here to book a courtyard tour of Vilnius. Vilnius has plenty of fun things to do - tours, experiences, special museums and activities for a perfect holiday in the Lithuanian capital. BIX Baras. According to legend, before a church was placed here, it was a site of a Pagan temple dedicated to Milda. Of all the things to do in Vilnius, this is the one you can't miss as the city's Old Town is the main attraction. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in the 18th century and what we see today was a huge reconstruction of the original building that used to sit here. Churches 3. LOCATION Gedimino av. Climb up the Church of St Johns Bell Tower, 37. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Tickets for the Palace cost 2 Euros per tour route, or you can pay 7 Euros for all 4. Then I would book yourself in for a relaxing massage at Azia Spa. A dark and disturbing testimony to the events that still cast a shadow over the city. If youre going to need WiFi, make sure you ordered. Look out for the The Walls Remember, People Tell street art around here, these are paintings inspired by real people who used to live in the area. It shuts around 6pm each evening and is closed on Mondays. Its a testament to the strength of the Lithuanian people despite their dark past. Make sure you arrive hungry! Oct 3, 2020 - Are you travelling to Lithuania? It really is as pretty as a postcard. Outsider Art 3. Entrance is 11 Euros an adult. There is a legend surrounding this hill (known as Bleak Hill) that 14 Franciscan monks were invited to Vilnius and started preaching about God. Have dinner in the highest building in Lithuania (TV Tower), 24. How many of the churches were destroyed and how so many Lithuanian people were deported to hard labour camps, imprisoned, or killed. It's actually the highest point in all of Vilnius, which means if you want great views, then here will have them. So, when I found out that there was a memorial dedicated to him in Vilnius I had to check it out. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The district also plays host to regular feasts, fireworks shows and open-air art exhibitions, so be sure to check local events schedules during your visit. I use. The Palace is HUGE so youll need at least a few hours to explore. The Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower is open from 10am 7pm in summer and 10am 6pm in winter. Gediminas Avenue is a 2 km long street stretching from the Cathedral square and ends at our Parliament. You can see a concert, visit an art exhibition, literature events and much more! All Rights Reserved - PRIVACY POLICY, From Vilnius Airport to City Center with public transportation. A guide to craft beer in Vilnius and Lithuania. Admire the Gothic Architecture of the Church of St. Anne. Vilnius Old Town. Vilnius University. Another church you must add to your list is the 17th-century Baroque church of St Peter and St Paul. App. Its made light with honey, but its deceiving as its also really strong. #3 Stroll through the Republic of Uzupis. OMG, I am still dreaming about my meal at Drama Burger! It is HUGE at over 1,000 feet high, so youre bound to feel like youre up in the clouds. An important place that I feel every tourist should visit in Vilnius is the Museum of Occupations. It is a 510km river that starts in Belarus and flows all the way to Vilnius.. This monument is a memorial to them that was torn down twice during the Soviet occupation. The Three Crosses Hill. Vilnius is one of Europe's smaller capital cities, but that doesn't necessarily mean everything is close together. 1. This library is one of the oldest and largest academic libraries in Lithuania founded in the 1570s by the Jesuits. A day well spent in Vilnius is a day spent strolling around the Old Town.The houses were adorable, with tiny cobbled streets going in all and any direction (we didn't find one straight corner there), and small parks and green areas scattered around.The last part particularly surprised me - there were so many pretty parks and green squares . It means youre officially a resident of Uupis! Frank Zappa is American, so I wasnt sure why his bust would be in the capital of Lithuania but I was sure there was a good reason for it. Do They Speak English in Lithuania Vilnius? - Klook US . It is home to the Vilnius Cathedral, the Clock Tower, the Palace of the Grand Dukes, and lots more. Search Bookings. This museum highlights what life was like during the Nazi and Soviet eras. It was one of the most successful warrior states at that time and used Vilnius as its capital. The main sights in Vilnius + history of the city Cathedral Square & St.Stanislaus Cathedral. The best things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania. Today, Literatu Street is home to a wall commemorating this heritage, featuring over 200 wooden, ceramic, glass or metal tiles engraved with the names of some of Lithuanias most famous literary names. 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! 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. On our three-hour tour, we explored and ate our way through the Old Town. But, most of the food stalls will not open until 9/10am. I'm a UK-based solo female travel blogger. By Crazyguy14. Our favourite things to do in Vilnius. So, this seemingly small but beautiful gate on Ausros Vartu street has a big history to offer beyond a pretty photo spot. avenue). If you can, I highly recommend staying in a hotel or apartment in the Old Town so you're close to the action. Vilnius isn't just beautiful to behold - it's also an economic powerhouse in the Baltics. 7 were executed and thrown from Bleak hill and the other 7 were crucified thrown into the Vilnia River. Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania with over 580,000 inhabitants, making it the largest city in the country and the second-largest out of the Baltic states. Gediminas Tower & Castle Hill. Zen Republic. Despite only being home to 570,000 people, Vilnius has a lot of fun and interesting things to do. Just be patient with the traffic and masses of tourists using the crossroads! The National Museum costs 3 Euro a ticket and is open from 10am 6pm Tuesday through Sunday. 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