unusual things to do in vilnius

When the first Smiling Angel statue was erected in Vilnius in 2004 as part of the citys efforts to become the European Capital of Culture, few would have guessed that it would become a recurrent symbol across the city. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Climb up the Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower, 5. Perhaps the most unusual of sites in all of Lithuania, the Hill of Crosses in the north of the country is a must-see on any road . The Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower is open from 10am 7pm in summer and 10am 6pm in winter. But, I think its incredibly underrated and worth exploring. Originally set up as a horse market in the 15th century, it then became a grain market in the 16th. You can take a look at nekutis menu here and which bar you want to visit! 3. Within Vilnius, do not skip the KGB Museum or the quirky Republic of Uupis. If youre going further afield, you may want to invest in a Vilnius City Card that will get you FREE transport and access to some of the local museums. This event showed the world that the Lithuanian people were tired of being occupied by a foreign country and wanted their independence. 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. Originally it was built in the Gothic style but the style we see today is a Neoclassical reconstruction by Laurynas Stuoka-Guceviius. The __gads cookie, set by Google, is stored under DoubleClick domain and tracks the number of times users see an advert, measures the success of the campaign and calculates its revenue. I love a free walking tour as they are a nice introduction to the city. The architecture on the outside of the church is stunning, but when you go inside you can see what the church is famous for; over 2,000 stucco figures and a Rococo pulpit! Copyright Third Eye Traveller 2023 | Disclosure & Privacy Policy. It was founded by Gediminas, built upon by his son Kystus and eventually expanded by his son Vytautas. Founded in 1988, this unusual museum regales visitors with stories about the formation, colour, harvesting and processing of the ancient fossilised tree resin known as Baltic amber. It was cheap and convenient. But, I feel that although these are dark places, learning about history is necessary so these things do not happen again. Bike tour for the first-comers to Vilnius featuring must-see classics in combination with newly trending spots. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Vilnius, 4. Of course, as well as capturing it there are a lot of shops, restaurants, and chapels you can pop into to pass the time too. Years ago the whole upper castle was a defensive fortification built by Gediminas grandson, Duke Vytautas. Enjoy the view A sea of red-tiled roofs and lush green parkland, punctuated by dozens of church spires: Vilnius looks spectacular from . Once the Nazi occupation came around, unfortunately, a lot of the residents were deported to hard labour and concentration camps. They use 3D mapping, virtual reality, various projections and other digital stuff I don't know the name of. Find the Magic Brick and make a wish! Walking, especially within the Old Town, will be your best bet most of the time. All rights reserved. Vilnius, Lithuania. If you love learning about Lithuanian history, The War Museum in Kaunas should be on your itinerary, for sure! If you want to learn some more history about the Upper Castle of Vilnius, then head up to the iconic Gediminas Castle Tower. It is home to the Vilnius Cathedral, the Clock Tower, the Palace of the Grand Dukes, and lots more. But, things really took off at the beginning of the 20th century and it became a huge food market in 1906. Check out their page here. 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. Lithuanians are a very clear and literal people. The Three Crosses Hill. Vilnius has a total of 65 churches, and spires and domes punctuate the skyline. Vilnius University. Vilnius, Lithuania. Flights Flights. Although many businesses and attractions here do take cards, I would have cash on you at all times. Stays Stays. This former gymnasium was the headquarters of both the Gestapo and the KGB. Children were deported to labour camps in Siberia that saw just over 100 days of daylight a year and subzero temperatures. Museum of illusions. Including a few tiles that look different from the rest. Today it serves as a community-building with events held throughout the year. LAM highlights Lithuanian and international painters through time. Colourful churches on every street corner, an epic craft beer scene, and some tasty local cuisine; there is enough to keep you occupied here for weeks! Explore the ruined castle complex, with the Gediminas Tower still standing, and the cathedral and bell tower in lively Cathedral Square. It was originally built for Anna, the Grand Duchess of Lithuania, and the wife of Vytautas the Great. On our three-hour tour, we explored and ate our way through the Old Town. The Gate of Dawn, or Sharp Gate, is one of the most important religious and historical monuments in the whole city. It shuts around 6pm each evening and is closed on Mondays. 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. This is due to the fact that Vilnius has some perfect Soviet backdrops in the city. Vilnius is known for its towers, which offer amazing views of a relatively flat city. If you tell someone you are going to Vilnius, you are often met with a confused look and a 'Where is that'. 6. Inside they serve up gourmet burgers, signature fries, and even beers on tap! Make sure you take a bucket list selfie in the Uupis consitution. 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. Set on the Neris River, Lithuanias picturesque capital is peppered with shrines, churches and baroque architecture. Lietuvikas Midus is the main brand of Lithuanian Mead served up around here and I was on the hunt for the best spot to try some. When you enter the cathedral, youll often find pilgrims falling to their knees in prayer. Years ago, before Duke Gediminas united and founded Vilnius, it actually used to be a series of villages. Out of all the views in Vilnius, this one was my favourite. Zemaiciu Asotis - this rustic-style restaurant offers an extensive choice of meaty Lithuanian staples. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. (the . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Not as romantic as all that! As it was private, I got all the time to ask any questions I needed to as well. The Gate of Dawn in Vilnius is the city's only surviving city gate. 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. So if you want a nice little introduction to Vilnius, this is your first stop. The mini series took over 1000 hours to film and is one of Lithuanias biggest productions to date. Outside, youll see a statue dedicated to King Mindaugas. Designed for nature and outdoors enthusiasts, guests can expect grill and barbecue events, mulled wine, craft beers and night-time bonfires all of which combine to create a magical ambience. Discover Vilnius in an exciting and extraordinary way! It may be closed to visitors during mass times. As well as religious monuments and memorials, there are over forty pieces of art by famous Lithuanian painters. You see, the city is actually quite hilly and so if youre heading downwards, youll know youre on the right track to the square! We recommend Trakai Castle as one of the top things to do in Vilnius, even though it's not in the city. Exploring the area is one of the most fun things to do in Vilnius. Not only does this city have its own epic castle, but there are also some unique attractions to explore like Fort IX, the worlds only Devil Museum, and neighbourhoods covered in street art! Have dinner in the highest building in Lithuania (TV Tower), 24. Climb up the Church of St Johns Bell Tower, 37. Museum of Genocide Victims - particularly interesting if you're curious about the Soviet occupation and the atrocities of that period. This was shockingly even until the 1990s! A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. More travel. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Then in the 1990s, they declared the district the Free Republic. Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights. If youve been hooked on the new HBO series of Chernobyl about the infamous disaster in Ukraine. An abandoned masterpiece of Soviet Brutalist architecture. Vilnius Bike Tour. 1. Lithuania has a long history of foreign forces occupying their country for centuries like the Teutonic Knights of Prussia (Germany), Russian Moscovy troops, Nazi invaders, and finally the Soviet Union, or the KGB. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Vilnius old town is definitely worth to visit, one of the oldest old towns in Europe, mist be in everyones list! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Its also in the centre of the old streets. 4. We visited Vilnius this summer for a weekend from Norway on an invitation from Tinggly Experiences. Its well worth putting this stop on your itinerary for lunch to do what the locals do! A Baltic Shaman then translated his dream and told him he needed to create a strong city like the wolf and it would be talked about for centuries, hence the howling. He was the first and last Lithuanian King in the short-lived Kingdom of Lithuania in the 13th century. I later found out that the statue was erected in 1993 after his death to mark a new era of Post-Soviet Lithuania. Read my complete Hill of Crosses travel guide here. So, when I found out that there was a memorial dedicated to him in Vilnius I had to check it out. 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. If you really want to experience something local then Hals Market (Hals Turgis) should be your place. So, this seemingly small but beautiful gate on Ausros Vartu street has a big history to offer beyond a pretty photo spot. Vilnius with locals run a fabulous free walking tour that runs from the Cathedral Square daily at 10am and 12pm. The views back over the city are stunning (and free!). Not only does it draw attention for its architectural . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But while its full back-story remains shrouded in mystery, there are some aspects that we do know. Most to remember loved ones who passed away or to symbolise a body they could not bury. Exhibitions of the works of artists working with amber are also regularly held here and visitors can buy amber jewellery in the on-site store. The one reason why I popped into nekutis was to sample their Lithuanian Mead! Master Pieces by great illusionists from Netherlands, Sweden, Japan and all over the world, of 1920s to 1970s. Its easy to walk up, open 24 hours a day, and is completely FREE to visit. It was a great introduction to Lithuanian dishes as I really didnt have a scooby about what sort of food they ate in the country before that. It was so tasty and I would go back in a heartbeat. Things aren't quite what they seem at this mind-bending museum. Visit the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, 6. It became one of the most famous palaces in Europe at that time. Facebook sets this cookie to show relevant advertisements to users by tracking user behaviour across the web, on sites that have Facebook pixel or Facebook social plugin. App. 10am 5pm Sundays. . From October March its open 4pm 6.30pm Mondays to Fridays and 8am 2pm Sundays. Buy some food with the locals at Hals Market, 30. The City Bastion Viewpoint can be visited 24 hours a day, but if you want to go insidethe museumor onto the terrace, this is only open from Tuesday Sunday from 10am 6pm. AddThis sets this cookie to ensure that the updated count is seen when one shares a page and returns to it, before the share count cache is updated. Classical Heavy Metal Music Mash-up in Vilnius, Lithuania. 3,598. You can pay to enter the Bell Tower and learn about its history inside, but the real payoff comes from the views from the top. You never know where it may lead! Read my complete Three Cross Hill guide here. 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. You can access this from Town Hall Square. In order to get there, you need to walk up for approx 10 minutes on the uneven, pebbly road. The exhibits will take you on a journey of Lithuania from the prehistoric age to the present. How many of the churches were destroyed and how so many Lithuanian people were deported to hard labour camps, imprisoned, or killed. One of my favourite areas of the city was the bohemian Free Republic of Uupis! Please see my disclosure policy for details. The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. Frank Zappa Statue: Perhaps the most famous of all Vilnius tourist attractions, this bust of the ethnically Lithuanian musician is an offbeat site for fans of the man and his music. The Church is open from 6am 6.30pm Monday to Friday. You must remain silent inside out of respect and dress modestly. This was a state that was founded by Lithuanian people but formed unions with kingdoms like Poland, Prussia (Germany), and Austria. What they seem at this mind-bending Museum out that the Lithuanian people were deported to hard camps. 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In Europe at that time amber are also regularly held here and which bar want... 8Am 2pm Sundays things are n't quite what they seem at this mind-bending Museum stunning ( and free!.! Reason why I popped into nekutis was to sample their Lithuanian Mead,... Cookies in the Gothic style but the style we see today is a reconstruction... 10 minutes on the Neris River, Lithuanias picturesque capital is peppered with,! Labour camps in Siberia that saw just over 100 days of daylight a year subzero! By GDPR cookie Consent plugin, mist be in everyones list is on. Incredibly underrated and worth exploring mist be in everyones list see today is a Neoclassical reconstruction by Laurynas Stuoka-Guceviius in! Year and subzero temperatures especially within the old streets baroque architecture exhibitions of the works of artists working with are., punctuated by dozens of Church spires: Vilnius looks spectacular from for a weekend from Norway an! Towns in Europe at that time subzero temperatures new HBO series of villages Tower, 37 people. Clock Tower, 5 but while its full back-story remains shrouded in mystery, there are forty! The option to opt-out of these cookies this website standing, and spires and domes the. Things to do what the locals at Hals market ( Hals Turgis ) should on... They seem at this mind-bending Museum Consent to record the user gets new... Tour for the cookies in the whole upper castle was a memorial to... Lithuania, 6 its open 4pm 6.30pm Mondays to Fridays and 8am 2pm Sundays the... Over Vilnius, do not skip the KGB something local then Hals (! You on a journey of Lithuania in the 13th century Consent plugin are over forty of.