Climb up to see the Hill of Three Crosses and take in the panoramic city views or enjoy one of the regular festivals and events held here. During his visit to Vilnius in 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte . 9th Fort of the Kaunas Fortress - a museum and memorial for the Holocaust victims. It was originally built for Anna, the Grand Duchess of Lithuania, and the wife of Vytautas the Great. With his iconoclastic image, American rock star Frank Zappa became a symbol of the freedom that people had for so long been denied and in 2001 a member of the Vilnius bohemian set founded the Frank Zappa Fan Club. A guide to craft beer in Vilnius and Lithuania. Escape Games. 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. The Church of St Johns is meant to have the most amazing views from the top of its bell tower. It was founded by Gediminas, built upon by his son Kystus and eventually expanded by his son Vytautas. If youre heading around some of the neighbouring countries, make sure you browse some of my blog posts; Moomin Cafe: why you need to visit one in Helsinki! But, in the summer I reckon this will be a small green oasis in the heart of the city. Today, they are known as the Franciscan martyrs of Vilnius. Amber Museum-Gallery. Vilnius has some great open spaces and parks in and around the Old Town. 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. 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. (the . Help. My guide on a Vilnius walking tour also told me that you can always navigate your way around the city by heading down to this spot. How many of the churches were destroyed and how so many Lithuanian people were deported to hard labour camps, imprisoned, or killed. Kaunas is often called Vilnius quirky brother and, as the second-largest city in Lithuania, its well worth checking out. List your property . I visited in December and loved the festive feel of the square. Even today, when you walk through the gate, youll see many locals pause and say a little prayer towards her portrait that can be seen through the window. The first church that stood here was to mark the spot where the three Lithuanian Christian Martyrs (Anthony, John, and Eustace) died. I preferred Uber as I found it cheaper and more reliable. Tickets to visit the 19th floor of the TV tower and Freedom museum cost 8 Euros for adults and concessions are cheaper. (the company that believes in giving stories, not stuff! I want to inspire you & turn your wildest travel dreams into a reality through my travel guides and tips! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 41 places sorted by traveller favourites. 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. Roman Catholicism is the country's primary religion, but the Eastern Orthodox and Protestant faiths are also well represented. Of more interest to me was the panoramic view from the top. The Church is open from 6am 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Vilnius Old Town. See the official website for opening times. These traffic lights celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the women's suffrage movement in Lithuania. The Vilnius Presidential Palace is located in the Old Town and, as the name would suggest, is the office of the President of Lithuania! It was built during the Russian occupation, so it was originally called A. Mickiewicz. This is due to the fact that Vilnius has some perfect Soviet backdrops in the city. Then check out the best things to do in Vilnius, to ensure you make the most of your time in the city. . Read more the best viewpoints in Vilnius. It was then a huge art district. Its completely free! Vilnius. Uupis is an awesome place to explore and you can find street art murals and installations, boutiques, art galleries and so much more. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey there! You will see public art all over Uupis. 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. Watch on. SGD. Then take a look at these 12 fun things to do in Riga! Although the accomplished chef champions seasonal, local and sustainable products, his food rivals top restaurants in countries like France and Japan. It was . It was even used by both Tsar Alexander I and Napoleon while they were in Vilnius! Originally it was built in the Gothic style but the style we see today is a Neoclassical reconstruction by Laurynas Stuoka-Guceviius. Make sure you have a look on the Vilnius Town Hall website for whats on while youre here. 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. Climb up the Church of St Johns Bell Tower, 37. 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. With the exception of the Neo-Gothic bell tower, which was designed in the 19th century, the appearance of the church has stayed the same over five centuries! I didnt know much about the capital of Lithuania before I landed in this city. Hop around the pretty courtyards and streets of the Old Town, Recommended day trips to take out of Vilnius, If youre travelling to Vilnius, dont forget to take out Travel Insurance. To fully experience this awesome city, here are 4 epic, fun, exciting things to do in Vilnius. Visit the official website for visiting times and prices for Europos Park. Today tourists inevitably gravitate here, but in sufficiently small numbers for the area to retain all of its distinctive character and charm. But, the President of Vilnius celebrated the work, claiming that the people of Lithuania are not silenced censorship. I love writing about the weird, wonderful, magical, and historical on my blog. Cosy, spacious and the place to come for one of the best partys in town, Peronas is a must-visit for any bona fide hedonist in Vilnius. Once youve finished exploring the Upper and Lower Castle, make sure you head down Pilies Street. Its a testament to the strength of the Lithuanian people despite their dark past. Save money and book directly from local suppliers. Uutrakis Manor - restored 19th-century manor. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. My favourite part of Pilies street was veering off down the small pretty side streets, courtyards and alleyways. Vilnius isn't just beautiful to behold - it's also an economic powerhouse in the Baltics. Finally, in 1870, the three parks that were next to each other, the Botanical Gardens, the Cathedral Park, and Bernadine gardens, all became one park. Then it switched hands to the Orthodox Church in the 19th century and eventually, after the independence, went back to the Uniates! All of them have small QR codes to scan to learn a little more. Car Rental Car Rental. I went on a private walking tour with them which I would also highly recommend if your budget can stretch. Read my complete Trakai guide here and the best way to get there here from Vilnius! Another fun place with plenty of digital things to do in Vilnius is Future Live interactive exhibition. But, I would recommend seeing the whole thing. Take a tour of the Vilnius University Library, 32. During the Soviet Era it was used as a Military office until finally in 1997, it became the official seat to the Lithuanian President. AddThis sets this cookie to track page visits, sources of traffic and share counts. Ah, the effortlessly pretty pink church of St Casimir. 3. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Vilnius, 4. If youre interested this church was built in 1387, so it has a lot of history to tell and is worth popping in to have a look too. This was shockingly even until the 1990s! Hill of Three Crosses. Ask 100 people about the history of this unassuming concrete tile and youre likely to get 100 different answers. 1. Youve got the Gate of Dawns in the background, a whole range of historic architecture including the Philharmonic building, church spires, and cobbled streets. 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. Its also in the centre of the old streets. YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. avenue). LOCATION Gedimino av. I think if one street captures the essence of Vilnius, this is the shot. Such was the interest in the new edifice that a military brass band played famous Zappa hits at its unveiling and it remains a popular attraction to this day. 10am 5pm Sundays. But get in quick the monument will come down one day, with all of its coins earmarked for childrens charities. 4. . Years ago the whole upper castle was a defensive fortification built by Gediminas grandson, Duke Vytautas. The Palace used to be the centre of the political, diplomatic, and cultural aspects of the state and home to the Grand Dukes of Lithuania too. The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. But, with traditional Lithuanian mead, you can drink it cold and by the pint; its absolutely delicious! App. The oldest part of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, it has developed over the course of many centuries, and has been. This museum highlights what life was like during the Nazi and Soviet eras. LOCATION Auk g. 2A HOURS Wed-Sun 10am-6pm Closed Mon-Tue, The eerie interior of the Museum of Genocide Victims in Vilnius (Photo: DAVID HOLT via Flickr). Make sure you take a bucket list selfie in the Uupis consitution. 6. Made with red bricks, it is one of the finest examples of a Gothic building in Lithuania. This library is one of the oldest and largest academic libraries in Lithuania founded in the 1570s by the Jesuits. Flights Flights. 2022. 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. This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. 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. Uber and the competing app Bolt work in Vilnius to get you around the city too. 2.Catch the highest view in the City at St John's Church. 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. It is HUGE at over 1,000 feet high, so youre bound to feel like youre up in the clouds. 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 . A winter entertainment park in Vilnius, Liepkalnis Ski Run will turn your holiday in the city into a roller coaster of snow adventure. Discover 0 fun things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania. Click here to see Drama Burgers website and menu. He had a prophetic dream on a hunting trip where he dreamt of a wolf made of iron, howling with the power of a thousand wolves. But with the fall of communism came a cultural liberation and suddenly bands that were previously outlawed were pumping out of teenage bedrooms, park stereos and music venues across the nation. There is still no evidence to whom the exact architect was behind this church but many believe it was Michael Enkinger. . To mark the occasion, a quirky project was put forward that resulted in the construction of the worlds largest coin pyramid. Outsider Art 3. Exploring the area is one of the most fun things to do in Vilnius. They will introduce you to different aspects of the local culture and to different parts of the city beyond the centre. When you enter the cathedral, youll often find pilgrims falling to their knees in prayer. Copyright Third Eye Traveller 2023 | Disclosure & Privacy Policy. GIFTEDWe spent ab. Pass through Uupis Border Control ; 5. The best things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania. Children were deported to labour camps in Siberia that saw just over 100 days of daylight a year and subzero temperatures. . 3. They were originally set up by Bernadine Monks that were invited to Vilnius. For example, Lithuania is an agricultural country; lots of mushrooms, milk, and honey. Soviet Architecture 2. But, the reality is that the French soldiers used it for shelter during the Napoleonic wars. Oct 3, 2020 - Are you travelling to Lithuania? The most disturbing part of the museum is the KGB prison in the lower decks. Likely to get there here from Vilnius 's browser supports cookies get you the! 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