Lithuania in a nutshell
Planning a trip to lithuania - especially Vilnius
I finished the previous post with the fear that I would never be able to do everything I want in Lithuania, and in this post you will understand why.
What you won’t get in this post? There will be no background here on the history of the city or places, there will be no detail here, there will be no description of experiences. All of these are in the post “Vilnius Solo Travel” which summarizes the trip. The goal is to do a brief overview of what to do in Lithuania, with emphasis on Vilnius.
The post is primarily for those who think of Lithuania and Vilnus as a destination for a trip, wondering what to do there, and of course for those who have already purchased plane tickets to Lithuania and are lost in the sea of information. If you are not interested in information on what to do in Lithuania and Vilnius, or if you do not like lists, you may want to skip to another post (I recommend the post for all the best reasons for traveling solo).
So let’s start. The first thing I found out is that Lithuania has a lot beyond Vilnus, which is what confused me.
We will come to the confusion later, but for the benefit of my future journeys, and for those who have already been to Vilnius and want to know if there is a good reason to return to Lithuania, here are the main places I found that are outside Vilnius:
Kaunas
Lithuania’s second largest city, which has quite a bit of interesting street art, a painful history of Nazi and Soviet occupation. It is made up of an old city, a new city and an interconnected avenue. Rich in museums, and it’s preparing itseld for 2022 after being chosen as the “European Capital of Culture” for that year. There seems to be quite a bit to discover. It is about an hour and a half by car from Vilnius.
Palanga
A town located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, suitable for seaside and indulgent recreation in the summer months. Because I will be a little after the summer is over, I decided to leave it for another time. It’s two and a half hours drive from Kaunas.
Druskininkai
A resort town full of lakes, nature, spas and activities for all ages. Both Vilnius and Kaunas are within driving distance (almost two hours drive).
Birštonas
A healing town located in the center of a nature reserve, on the shores of the Nemunas River, with plenty of mineral springs, nature and tranquility. Less than an hour’s drive from Kaunas.
Anykščiai
Another resort town, with small winter ski runs, and plenty of nature, tranquility and scenery in the summer. There are not many exciting tourist attractions here, but if you are looking for just a few days of relaxation, this is the place. About an hour and a half drive from Vilnius, and almost two hours from Kaunas.
Each of the these places can provide a trip on its own in Lithuania, but … I have a total of three days. At first, I debated whether to spend a day or two in Vilnius, and then take a day trip to one of the above places, but after discovering quite a few things to do in Vilnius, I decided that there was really no reason to move too far from it. Get to know it in depth, get back to that delicious restaurant with that nice waiter, get to know the streets, alleys, hidden magical corners, and maybe some intriguing people.
So what did I find out about Vilnius?
I’ll go over everything briefly. The goal is to make some order in all the information i found online, and to concentrate it concisely so that I (and you) will use it on a trip to Vilnius. Obviously, I didn’t cover everything, and there are many more options, but I think I covered most of the interesting stuff. When I return from the trip, I’ll write in detail about everything I will experience myself. Tighten your seatbelts, because here we go.
Getting to know the city
Gedimino prospektas Street – Central Avenue, closed to vehicles on weekends. Overflowing with luxury shops, cafes and restaurants.
Pilies Street – A busy street all day and night. From it you can reach the writers’ alley, which perpetuates Lithuanian writers.
The Uzupis Anarchist Quarter – an artists’ quarter located where the Jewish ghetto was located during the Holocaust.
Halle market – Indoor art market with authentic Lithuanian atmosphere.
Lookout points for a good panoramic view
Gediminas Tower – the last remnant left of the city fort. It can be reached either on the north side with a Punicular or on a southern path that leads out of Bernardine Park. Address: Arsenalo g. 5
Bell tower of St. Church Johns – Address: Šv. Jono g. 12
Tourist attractions
Vilnius Cathedral – 4 minutes on foot from my hostel, I guess I will see it every day if I stay in the same hostel, and the bell tower next to it. In the square there is a brick with the inscription STEBUKLAS, which means a miracle, and the belief is that everyone who stands on the brick and turns 3 times gets his wish, in memory of the protest against Soviet rule. Shall I check it out?
Museum of Illusions – as it is. Not for children only. It’s worth arriving on Thursday or Friday evenings, because then there’s a nice lights show. 11€ admission, 5.5€ for Vilnius pass holders.
1984. Survival Drama – An attraction not many people know about. Want to feel what it’s like to live under totalitarian rule? It’s actually an audience participated show during which you will feel what it is like to live under Soviet totalitarian rule for about 3 hours – you will meet watchdogs, enter the KGB interrogation rooms, they will force you to study the communist anthem, and more in a show that is supposed to be full of drama and adrenaline. If you are a group of 10, you can arrange such a show for yourself, or if not, look for the upcoming shows on the site.
Scooter Tour – I never did one. There are good reviews. 25€, 15€ with Vilnius card.
Ghost Tour – € 12 – an alternative tour that tells about Vilnius’s dark and “scary” side. Could be interesting.
Non-Museum – VR Experience – Open from 11am to 8pm, every half hour, € 8. It deserve a try.
Gondola Cruise – 8€ standard ticket, and 1 € for Vilnius pass holders. Not a bad option for some tranquility.
A hot air balloon flight over the city – a hit in Vilnius, and at half the price from Israel. I checked, and this company comes out the cheapest (€ 80) if you use the Vilnius pass.
The Toy Museum – toys of all ages in history. Not for children only. 5€, free for Vilnius pass holders. Closed on Sundays and Saturdays.
Uno Park – An amusement park that is basically designed for children, but there are also facilities that are suitable for adults such as a 16-meter jump and omega over the river, so maybe it’s worth to pay a visit.
Water Park – Pools, skis, spas. Recreation for a whole day. Perfect with kids.
Vilnius Spa – for massage, therapy and spa enthusiasts.
KGB Museum – Genocide Victims Museum, depicting the Soviet occupation period. Should be fascinating. 4€ admission, free for Vilnius ticket holders. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Opens at 2pm (and Friday at 11am).
Bernardine Park – for nature walks close to the Old Town
Street Art Gallery – Vytenio g. 50, Vilnius
There are also plenty of museums for museum enthusiasts
Nightlife (with alternative emphasis)
Largely, there are quite a few entertainment venues on Vokieciy Street.
Invino bar – A recommended bar with a slightly more mature audience.
Rock Bar – Bix Baras. Address: Etmonų g. 6
Live and Rock Performances – Tamsta Club – Address: Strazdelio g. 1
Day trips outside Vilnius
Trakai Castle – You can take a train from Vilnius Central Station or a bus (24 minutes walk from the hostel, then 40 minutes by bus)
Hill of angels – on the north side of Trakai – an hour and 20min walk – a hill full of wood carved angels
Europos parkas – An open art museum located exactly in the European Geographic Center, an hour and a quarter by bus from the hostel. 9 Euros Entry via this link (20% off for Vilnius pass holders).
Belmontas – A park with a gristmill on the banks of the Vilnia River, a recreation time in nature. There is also an adventure park for families. You can reach the green route of the Hop and Off bus (free with the Vilnius pass).
Recommended Vegan Restaurants
Rosehip Bistro – A vegan bistro restaurant. Address: B Radvilaites 7 (there is another branch in G9 Mall)
GYVAS baras – Vegan Pub – Traku 11 (at old town)
Vegafe – Vegetarian Restaurant – Totoriu g. 3
You can find more on Happy Cow or just search for Vegan Restaurants or Vegan Options on Google Maps when you’re there.
Useful information
Vilnius pass – It’s worth it if you plan to do some of the attractions I have mentioned. There are loads of discounts, and lots of free stuff (hop on / off bus, full of free museums. It costs 20/27/35 euros for 24/48/72 hours respectively (2 euros discount for online booking), and 39 euros for 72 Hours include free public transport. Just make a calculation of what you are likely to do, and then check if the price is worth the discounts.
Recommended links on the Vilnius Tourist Office website (in general, I recommend visiting the site):
Tourist routes by Subject – The Vilnius Tourist Office has a series of prepared routes for you based on a topic of interest to you
Recommended apps – and also specific apps for a trip to Vilnius
Sign up to meet with a local – and you can even meet with a local to show you around. They try to fit someone according to your preferences and your interests.
Arrival from the airport to Vilnius city center – bus line 88 or 3G line, at a cost of one euro.
SIM cards – 5 euros per 4 gigabytes. It’s worth buying at Narvesen or Telia stores on Gedimino Avenue
Public transport to / from Vilnius – Omio – a great site for public transport in Europe.
City Transportation – Buses with the help of the Trafi app. Taxis using UBER or eTaksi or Bolt. Download the apps before your flight.
Lithuania Railway Company Website
A useful guide to Vilnius – up-to-date for 2019.
It always makes them smile when you try to speak the local language, so here are some basic phrases:
Hello – Labas
Thanks – Echo
Good morning – labas rytas
Good evening – laba diena
Good night – labas vakaras
!Have a great time
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