One day in Vilnius: what to do in Lithuania’s capital
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, offers a mix of history and culture that makes it ideal for a one-day visit. The city’s compact size means you can easily cover its main attractions in one day, whether you’re touring Lithuania, the Baltic States, or taking a quick trip from nearby Kaunas.
Keep reading for the top things to do during one day in Vilnius and an itinerary for walking around the main centre.
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The best things to do with one day in Vilnius
– Start at the Gates of Dawn and see the painting of the Virgin Mary
– Walk down to the statute of the Lithuanian activist and the National Philharmonic Hall
– Continue down to the Town Hall Square and see the Vilnius Town Hall
– Take a look at the Presidential Palace
– Wander through Pilies Street, the oldest street in Vilnius
– Visit Cathedral Square and admire the Cathedral and bell tower
– Learn about the country’s history in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
– Go to up to Gediminas Hill to Gediminas Castle Tower
– Visit the castle tower museum and take in the views across the city
How to get to Vilnius
Direct flights to Vilnius are pretty limited. However, they do operate from London Stansted with Ryanair and Wizzair, from Riga with Baltic Air, from Stockholm with SAS Airlines, and from Warsaw with LOT. If you’re prepared to take an indirect flight, you’ll have a much greater choice.
Once you have landed at Vilnius International Airport, you can take a bus or train from the main terminal to the city centre. The airport is around 6 kilometres outside the centre, so it’s a reasonably quick journey.
If you’re catching a bus, I’d recommend you ask which one is best to catch before you leave the airport. When I was there recently, the airport was being renovated, so the express buses didn’t seem to be running, and I needed to walk to the main road to catch a public bus. You can get more information here.
If you prefer the ease of a taxi, these are quick and cheap. I did this on my return, and it was less than 7 euros (although the exact price will depend on the traffic).
How to get to Vilnius from Kaunas
Alternatively, you may be flying into Kaunas (I noticed when booking my trip that some carriers advertise flights to ‘Vilnius’, but you land in Kaunas). Or you may be staying in Kaunas and just planning a day trip to Vilnius. Either way, it’s easy to get from Kaunas to Vilnius by public transportation.
Trains run between the two cities and take just over an hour.
Once you’ve arrived, the train station is around a 10 to 15 minutes’ walk to the old town.
How to get around Vilnius
Once you’ve arrived in Vilnius, the city is compact and easy to navigate.The central layout makes Vilnius easy to explore on foot, especially the old town.
I’ve therefore outlined a walking route that I think is ideal for seeing the main attractions during one day in Vilnius. This focuses on Vilnius old town and the nearby cathedral and castle area.
Alternatively you can do a walking tour of the city centre with a tour guide who can show you the main sights and give you information on Vilnius’ history.
This walking tour lasts for 2.5 hours and takes you around the main attractions in the city.
And this tour takes you to the Jewish quarter in the old town.
Or if you want to try out some traditional food during your one day in Vilnius, you could book this tour which includes some Lithuanian snacks and drinks.
The Vilnius Pass
– If you plan to visit a few places during your one day in Vilnius, consider purchasing the Vilnius Pass.
– You can buy this for a 24-hour period and it covers lots of free activities that you can book, as well as additional ones at a discounted price.
– Several of the sights in my itinerary are covered: free access to the Gediminas Castle Tower, the Cathedral Bell Tower, and a city tour. There’s also a discount for the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and a bus tour to Trakai.
You can buy the Vilnius Pass here.
Top things to do in one day in Vilnius
Start at the Gates of Dawn
I’d suggest you start your walking route in Vilnius at the Gates of Dawn. This is close to the train station if you’re coming from Kaunas and near one of the stops on the bus from Vilnius airport (ask for the old town – it’s then a 5 to 10-minute walk).
This entrance to the old town, once part of the old city wall, is attractive enough as you approach it from this direction. However, once you’re under the archway and on the other side, turn and look back.
You’ll see an eye-catching pastel-coloured religious building with a cross on the top. In the middle, there is a painting of the Virgin Mary. This is said to be one of the country’s most famous Renaissance paintings and may be why the gate attracts so many visitors.
A few paces down from the Gates of Dawn is a square with several restaurants and outdoor terraces. In front is a sculpture of Dr Jono Basanaviciaus Aikste, an activist involved in the movement to establish an independent republic in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Opposite Is the Lithuanian Philharmonic Hall.
I ate in this square and had a great meal. I tried the traditional cold beet soup with warm potatoes and a glass of Lithuanian sparkling wine. There’s a nice vibe in the evenings.
Go down to the Town Hall Square
From here, wander down to the Town Hall Square. As you near the square, you’ll see the Church of St Casimir on your right. This is a gorgeous pink 17th century baroque building which is named after the son of the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland.
When you get to the Town Hall Square, you’ll see that it isn’t actually a square! It’s more of a long rectangular open area with restaurants on one side, a small fountain at one end, and another pretty church behind it.
At the end of this open area is the Town Hall, a large neo-classical building that dates from the 15th century. It was once the venue for the city’s first opera show, once an art museum, and is now an events centre.
When I visited, it was quite a buzzy area, with people sitting and having a drink on the outdoor terraces, and children running around and playing games.
See the Presidential Palace
Take a left from the Town Hall Square into Stikliu Gatve and then into Gaono Gatve and Universiteto Gatve. You’ll find Vilnius’ Presidential Palace on a side street off of this.
The Presidential Palace is a sleek white classical building in a wide-open square with another small classical building at the other end.
The palace has a long history, including being the residence for local bishops and for the Governor-General when the country was part of Russia. During this time, it was apparently visited by the likes of Tsar Alexander I and Napoleon Bonaparte. It now houses the country’s presidential offices.
You can go inside if you prebook one of their free tours. These take place at weekends (in English on Sundays).
After seeing the palace, walk back onto Universiteto Gatve and down Skapo Gatve. You’ll go past some grand and eye-catching buildings. These are part of Vilnius University. Nearby is St. John’s Church: you can see its bell tower as you wander along.
Stroll along Pilies Gatve
Turning left, you’ll come out onto Pilies Street.
Pilies Street is the oldest street in the city. When you’re here, you’ll know you’re in the old town and appreciate why it’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Unlike some of the other nearby areas, which have grand classical buildings in wide open spaces, this street is small and quaint. The area has cobblestone streets framed by charming old buildings in different architectural styles (among them Gothic, baroque, and Renaissance).
It’s a great place for a leisurely stroll: there are some interesting shops along the street to browse in, more restaurants serving traditional Lithuanian cuisine, stalls selling ice cream, and the odd musician playing music. At one point, if you look up, you’ll get a glimpse of Gediminas Castle sitting high on its hill.
Go the Cathedral Square
After wandering through Pilies Street, cross over the road, and walk into Cathedral Square. From this direction, you’ll first see the huge and striking statue of the Grand Duke of Gediminas.
To the side of this is Vilnius Cathedral, with its bell tower on the left.
The Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Laudilaus is a beautiful classical style building. Don’t visit Vilnius without seeing it.
You can get a wonderful view from the bottom of the square with the 57-metre bell tower next to it (this houses Vilnius’ oldest clock). If you visit on a fine day, the two white structures almost seem to gleam in the sunshine.
I’d suggest you quickly pop into the cathedral to look inside. The interior is also very sleek and white, in keeping with its exterior.
You can also go into the tower and view the city from the top. I didn’t do this, mainly because I’d visited two other observation decks: one at the top of Gediminas Tower and the other in the museum of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.
Visit the museum in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is a short walk from the cathedral. Walk under the archway opposite the statue, and you’ll come into a beautifully peaceful courtyard. There are some benches here if you want to sit and have some down time.
You’ll see some escalators here. If you go down these, you’ll find the National Museum.
I nearly didn’t go to this. It took me ages to find the entrance to the museum (it wasn’t that clearly marked that you need to enter via the downward escalators). But I’m so glad I persevered. It’s one of the best museums I’ve been to in a long while.
Inside the museum
When you buy your ticket, you will have access to four routes. If you have the Vilnius Pass, you are entitled to discounted tickets.
The first route provides a wealth of information and artefacts about Lithuania’s history. These cover the early dukes and duchesses and the different periods the country went through, including times of war, occupation, and eventual independence.
You’ll also learn about the castle, and how it fell into neglect and was destroyed. There’s a section with fascinating photos showing its reconstruction in the early 20th century.
The sheer amount of information and artefacts on show means it takes quite a bit of time to walk along this route.
Don’t do what I did and start to worry that you will run out of time! The main routes are routes 1 and 2, so if you leave time for them, you will be fine. Arguably, you could skip route 3 if you’re short on time (this is a small section with displays on weaponry, ceramics, and music) and route 4 (when I was there, this had a small exhibition of artwork).
Route 2 takes you through several reconstructed palace rooms, offering a glimpse into different architectural styles. You’ll walk through a gothic antechamber, explore various Renaissance rooms, visit a Baroque ruler’s room, and step into a grand bedroom, each space reflecting the history and design of its era.
It’s therefore also worth going through route 2. In one part, you can climb some stairs to the observation tower. You get great views across the city from up here.
Go up to Gediminas Tower
After spending some time in the museum, you should head around to the other side of the palace and the entrance that takes you up to Gediminas Hill. Note that although you can see the tower from near the statue in Cathedral Square, you can’t access it from this side.
I walked through the small park to the other side of the cathedral and past the National Museum of Lithuania, New Arsenal. This has another huge monument in front. It depicts King Mindaugas, one of the country’s early rulers (and the country’s only king) from the 13th century.
If you walk for a few more minutes, you’ll come to the funicular that will take you to Gediminas Tower. This only costs a few euros, and in a few minutes, you’re at the top of the hill. You can also walk up if you prefer.
When you arrive, you should wander around, see the castle tower, and look out over the surrounding area. At one point, you get great views of the palace below.
Gediminas Tower
Gediminas Tower is all that remains of the Upper Castle of Vilnius. The current structure dates from the early 15th century and is built on a site that is said to be where the Grand Duke Gediminas constructed a wooden castle. The Lithuanian flag flies from the top of the observation deck.
Going up the hill to the castle is worth it for the views alone. But if you have time, I’d recommend going inside and looking around the small museum (you can enter for free with the Vilnius Pass).
There’s information about the city and the castle, and yet more views from the top. For me, though, the most fascinating part was the third floor, where there is information and video footage of the Baltic Way, a human chain that was formed in 1989 to demonstrate against the Soviet Union’s occupation of the three Baltic nations. It started at the castle, went through Latvia, and ended in Tallinn in Estonia.
Other things to do if you have 2 days in Vilnius
If you are lucky enough to have more than one day in Vilnius, then there are other things you can do the next day.
Go out to Trakai Castle
For me, top of the list, if you have more than one day in Vilnius, is a trip out to Trakai Castle, a medieval castle surrounded by a lake less than 30 kilometres outside of Vilnius’s old town. It was once home to the Grand Dukes of Lithuania when Trakai was the old capital of Lithuania.
I did a half-day trip here and wasn’t disappointed.
You can go to Trakai via public transport or take the minibus tour I booked (see my post for more details).
This takes you from the side of Cathedral Square in Vilnius to the small town of Trakai in about 40 minutes. From here, it’s a 5 to 10-minute walk to the lakeside and castle.
Once there, you can explore the castle, wander through the palace rooms, and see the small history museum. You can then hop on one of the boats moored up by the lake and take in the castle from the water before stopping off in one of the lakeside restaurants for a bite to eat.
This is perfect if you’re looking for an easy day trip a short distance outside Vilnius and the chance to see a different part of Lithuania.
You can book the same trip I did here.
Learn about the country’s more recent history
If you’ve been to the National Museum in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, you might also be interested in learning about the country’s more recent history.
If so, I’d recommend visiting the Museums of Occupations and Freedom Fights. This is based in a former KGB building.
You can reach the museum via Gediminas Avenue, which runs up from one of the roads by Cathedral Square. This is one of the city’s main streets, with shops, theatres, and beautiful buildings lining it.
The museum is only small, but is worth a visit. It’s a stark reminder of the atrocities that were committed during the Soviet occupation in Lithuania and what people suffered in the fight for freedom and independence. Part of the building houses a museum with different collections and displays to wander through.
You can then head down into the basement to see the cells where prisoners were held and tortured. Like the KGB museum I visited in Tallinn, this really brings home to you the realities of living under an oppressive regime. While not pleasant, it provides an important insight and reminder into this part of Lithuania’s history.
Go on a boat ride down the river
If you fancy seeing the city from a different perspective, you can book a boat tour that takes you down the Neris River. You can book gondolas, catamarans, and boats, all of which last an hour or just under an hour.
I didn’t have time to do this but if I returned during the summer, I’d consider doing it.
The Go Vilnius site gives you more information on these.
Is Vilnius worth visiting?
Yes, Vilnius is somewhere I recommend travelling to. I’d definitely put it onto your Lithuania itinerary.
I’ll admit that I wanted to go as it was the only capital of the three Baltic countries I hadn’t visited. I loved the other two, so I wanted to see if I liked it as much.
I did. There are many similarities between the three, but also differences. Lithuania’s capital city is a beautiful city, but not as ‘chocolate-boxy’ as Tallinn – but this means it’s not quite as crammed with tourists in the old town.
It’s also smaller than Riga. Although this means it feels like there is a bit less overall to do, it makes the city centre a little more manageable, especially if you only have one day to hand.
I loved all three cities and would recommend a trip to any – or all – of them.
Ideas for other European short breaks and day trips
For ideas for other European cities you can visit in northern Europe, check out some of my posts below:
For other ideas for European breaks, see my website.
Written by Emma Marshall