Baroque Capital & Užupis Republic

Vilnius: Baltic Baroque Gem

Walk 1,200 church spires, a self-declared artists' republic, and a fairytale island castle in Lithuania's capital.

Hi, I'm Rasa. I've lived in Vilnius for thirteen years and have explored every church, alley, and market from Senamiestis to Naujamiestis. This guide was last updated in September 2026.

7 Days / 6 Nights
Vilnius, Lithuania
All Travelers
City Walking
$$ - Moderate
May-September
Gediminas Tower Užupis Republic Vilnius Old Town Trakai Castle Baroque Churches

Tipping Note: In Lithuania, a 10 percent tip is appreciated for good service but not mandatory. Round up at casual spots and leave 10 to 15 percent at nicer restaurants. Credit cards are accepted everywhere. The euro is the currency since 2015.

Why This Journey is Extraordinary

1,200 Spires

See more Baroque, Gothic, and neoclassical churches per capita than anywhere in Europe

Užupis Republic

Visit a bohemian quarter that declared independence with 41 articles including the right to be happy

Island Castle

Day-trip to Trakai, a 14th-century castle on an island in a lake with 32 connected waters

Baltic Bargain

Enjoy the cheapest Baltic capital, with beer at 3 euros and lunch under 10

Daily Journey Inspiration

1

Gediminas Tower & Cathedral Square

Fourteenth-century towers and the city's grand cathedral

Morning
Gediminas Tower
Start at Gediminas Tower, the 14th-century remnant of the upper castle standing 48 meters above the Old Town. Take the funicular (2 euros) up and see the panorama of over 1,200 Baroque and Gothic buildings. Grand Duke Gediminas founded Vilnius here in 1323, and the tower is the city's symbol.
Pro tip: The funicular is convenient but the walking path up takes ten minutes and gives better views. Do it once each way.
Afternoon
Cathedral Square
Walk to Cathedral Square and the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and St. Vladislav, founded in 1251 with its current neoclassical facade from 1783. The St. Casimir Chapel from 1623 is a Baroque masterpiece. The 57-meter bell tower stands apart from the cathedral. Find the "Stebuklas" (Miracle) tile marking where the Baltic Way human chain of 1989 reached Vilnius.
Evening
Dinner at Bernelių Užeiga
Eat at Bernelių Užeiga for traditional Lithuanian food at 10 to 15 euros. Order cepelinai, potato dumplings stuffed with meat that are Lithuania's national dish. The cold beet soup, šaltibarščiai, is bright pink and delicious.
2

Old Town UNESCO

Lithuania's oldest street and its 1579 university

Morning
Pilies Street
Walk Pilies Street, the oldest street in Vilnius, dating to the 15th century. The University of Vilnius, founded in 1579, is the oldest in Eastern Europe. The President's Palace has stood since the 14th century. Pilies is touristy but the architecture is stunning and the amber shops have genuinely good pieces if you know what to look for.
Afternoon
Vilnius University
Tour Vilnius University, founded in 1579 and now educating 12,000 students. The grand courtyard, the observatory from 1753, and the library with 5 million books are open to visitors. The library frescoes from 1979 to 1980 depict 2,000 years of human thought. The campus is a maze of courtyards you can wander for hours.
Local secret: Ask the library desk for the reading room. It's often empty and the painted ceiling is a hidden masterpiece. Photography allowed, no flash.
Evening
Dinner at Vinohara
Eat at Vinohara for European cuisine at 15 to 25 euros per person. It's a wine bar with a great selection of Lithuanian and Georgian wines. The charcuterie boards are excellent and the atmosphere is intimate.
3

Užupis Republic

The bohemian quarter that declared independence

Morning
Užupis Quarter
Cross the bridge into Užupis, a neighborhood that declared itself an independent republic on April Fools' Day 1997. Its constitution has 41 articles translated into 23 languages, posted on a wall on Paupio Street. Article 1: "Everyone has the right to live by the River Vilnia." Article 40: "Everyone has the right to understand nothing." About 4,000 residents live in this arty, scruffy quarter.
Afternoon
Angel of Užupis & Constitution Wall
Read the constitution wall, then find the Angel of Užupis. The sculpture by Romas Žmuidzinavičius from 2002 is a trumpeting angel that replaced an egg on the same spot. It symbolizes freedom and the artistic rebirth of the neighborhood. Grab a coffee at Užupio Kavinė and watch the artists and students drift by.
Evening
Dinner at Užupio Kavinė
Stay in Užupis for dinner at Užupio Kavinė, spending 10 to 15 euros per person. The food is simple, the wine is cheap, and the vibe is bohemian. Sit by the window or on the terrace. This is the kind of place where you order another bottle and the night stretches on.
4

Churches of Vilnius

2,000 stucco figures and Napoleon's favorite church

Morning
Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
Visit the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, built between 1668 and 1675. It's the masterpiece of Polish-Lithuanian Baroque. The interior has 2,000 stucco figures by Pietro Perti covering every surface. Saints, angels, and decorative elements crowd the walls and ceiling. Nothing else in Vilnius prepares you for this.
Afternoon
St. Anne's Church
Head to St. Anne's Church, built around 1500 in Flamboyant Gothic. Legend says Napoleon wanted to carry it to Paris stone by stone. It uses 33 different brick shapes for its lacy facade. The Bernardine complex behind it includes a monastery. This corner of Vilnius has the most authentic medieval feel in the city.
Why we love it: St. Anne's is stunning at golden hour. The red brick glows and the Gothic details pop. Come back at sunset if you can.
Evening
Dinner at Zuvir
Eat at Zuvir for European food at 15 to 25 euros per person. It's a small place with a short menu done well. The fish dishes are the standout, which is a pleasant surprise for a city that's not on the coast. The dining room is cozy and the service is attentive.
5

Trakai Island Castle Day Trip

A 14th-century castle on a lake and Karaim pastries

Morning
Drive to Trakai
Drive 30 minutes from Vilnius to Trakai, the 10th-century capital of Lithuania. The island castle sits in Lake Galvė, one of 32 lakes in the area. The Karaim community, a Crimean Tatar people, have lived here since 1397 when Grand Duke Vytautas brought them as guards. Only about 300 Karaims remain in Lithuania today.
Book ahead: Take the train from Vilnius to Trakai, it's 30 minutes and cheap. Buses also run regularly. Parking in Trakai is limited in summer.
Afternoon
Trakai Island Castle
Tour the island castle, built in the 14th century and rebuilt between 1962 and 2002. It's a five-story Gothic fortress connected to shore by a wooden bridge. The museum covers Lithuanian history and the Grand Dukes. Take a 30-minute boat ride around the island for the best photos. Buy kibinai, Karaim meat pastries, for about 2 euros each.
Evening
Return to Vilnius
Head back to Vilnius for dinner at Etno Dvaras at 10 to 20 euros per person. They serve every traditional Lithuanian dish you should try, from potato pancakes to dark rye bread with herring. The interior is decorated like an old Lithuanian farmhouse. The perfect ending to a castle day.
6

Museum District & Vingis Park

KGB history and Lithuania's largest park

Morning
Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
Visit the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, housed in the former KGB building at Gedimino 23, built in 1899. Go down to the basement execution cells where the Soviets killed over 1,000 people between 1944 and 1965. The names of the dead are inscribed on the exterior walls. Entry is 4 euros.
Why we love it: This museum is not fun but it's one of the most important stops in Vilnius. Plan for two hours and process it with a walk afterward.
Afternoon
Vingis Park
Walk through Vingis Park, 162 hectares of forest and meadows along the Neris River. A 1905 memorial marks the site of the Great Synagogue. The amphitheater from 1992 holds 15,000 people for summer concerts. The botanical garden has greenhouses and a rose collection.
Evening
Dinner at Sushija
Eat at Sushija for 15 to 25 euros per person. It sounds odd to eat sushi in Lithuania, but Vilnius has a surprisingly good sushi scene. Sushija uses local fish where possible and the rolls are creative and fresh. A nice break from heavy Lithuanian food if you need one.
7

Hill of Three Crosses & Farewell

City panoramas and a food market farewell

Morning
Hill of Three Crosses
Climb the Hill of Three Crosses, where three concrete crosses 35 meters tall rise above the Old Town. The original crosses from 1916 were destroyed by Soviets in 1962 and rebuilt in 1989. The view of the Old Town's spires is the best in Vilnius. It's a short but steep climb.
Afternoon
Hales Turgus Market
Spend the afternoon at Hales Turgus, the food hall opened in 2016 covering 5,000 square meters. Buy Lithuanian cheese, black rye bread for 2 euros, and chanterelles at 8 euros per kilo when in season. This is where Vilnius chefs shop. Eat at the food stalls for a cheap lunch.
Evening
Farewell Dinner
For your farewell, choose Gaspar's (15 to 25 euros per person) for refined European cooking or Džiaugsmas for modern Lithuanian. Džiaugsmas reinvents traditional dishes with technique and flair. Order the tasting menu if available. Finish with a glass of Lithuanian mead.

Practical Tips

Getting There

Fly into Vilnius Airport (VNO). Bus 1 reaches the city center in 15 minutes for 1 euro.

Transportation

A 24-hour card costs 2.80 euros and a 3-day card is 8 euros. Trams and buses cover the whole city.

Visa Requirements

Lithuania is in the Schengen Area. Most nationalities get 90 days visa-free. EU citizens need no visa.

Budget Tips

Vilnius is the cheapest Baltic capital. A beer costs 3 euros, and a full lunch runs 6 to 10 euros.

What to Pack

Layers, a rain jacket, and comfortable shoes for the Old Town's cobblestone streets.

Best Time to Visit

May through September for warm weather and long days. December brings a charming Christmas market.

Vilnius Gallery

Vilnius Old Town aerial view with church spires Gediminas Tower on hill above Old Town Užupis angel sculpture and bohemian quarter Trakai Island Castle on Lake Galvė Vilnius Baroque church interior with stucco figures Hill of Three Crosses overlooking Vilnius Old Town

Traveler Reviews

Nate B.

Nate B.

Madison, WI | June 2026

★★★★★

Gediminas Tower gives you the best view of any city I've visited. Seeing 1,200 church spires from up there is unreal. The Stebuklas tile in Cathedral Square was a cool find too, knowing two million people held hands all the way to Tallinn in 1989. Cepelinai at Bernelių Užeiga was heavy but incredible.

Helen M.

Helen M.

Burlington, VT | August 2025

★★★★★

Užupis is the most wonderful place I've been in Europe. The constitution wall had me laughing and crying. "Everyone has the right to understand nothing" is my new life motto. Had dinner at Užupio Kavinė and the bohemian vibe was exactly right. I could've stayed a week just in Užupis.

Alex V.

Alex V.

Philadelphia, PA | July 2026

★★★★★

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul is mind-blowing. Two thousand stucco figures covering every inch of the interior. St. Anne's was gorgeous too, with 33 different brick shapes in its facade. Napoleon had good taste wanting to take it home.

Carla R.

Carla R.

Tucson, AZ | September 2025

★★★★★

Trakai Castle was like stepping into a fairy tale. The island castle in Lake Galvė is gorgeous, and walking across the wooden bridge felt medieval. The kibinai pastries from the Karaim stands were delicious. Took the 30-minute boat ride for the best photos.

Steve K.

Steve K.

Cleveland, OH | May 2026

★★★★★

The KGB Museum was harrowing but I'm so glad I went. Those basement execution cells are chilling. Seeing the names of over 1,000 killed on the exterior walls hit hard. Vilnius handles its painful history with real honesty.

Beth A.

Beth A.

Denver, CO | June 2026

★★★★★

Vilnius University's library frescoes were a total surprise. The painted ceiling showing 2,000 years of human thought was stunning and we had the reading room nearly to ourselves. The campus is a maze of courtyards.

Ryan F.

Ryan F.

Raleigh, NC | July 2025

★★★★★

The Hill of Three Crosses at sunset was the perfect farewell view. Seeing the Old Town spires glowing from up there was unforgettable. Hales Turgus market was fantastic, bought black rye bread to take home. Džiaugsmas for dinner was the highlight, modern Lithuanian cooking. Vilnius is so underrated.

Megan W.

Megan W.

Seattle, WA | August 2025

★★★★★

Vilnius is the best value city in Europe. Everything was so cheap. Beer for 3 euros, lunch for 8. The Old Town is UNESCO and gorgeous, Užupis is quirky and fun, and Trakai Castle is a fairy tale. The šaltibarščiai cold beet soup was delicious.

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