Vilnius: 72 Hours in Lithuania’s Capital

Vilnius: 72 Hours in Lithuania’s Capital

Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania and is perhaps the most overlooked cultural capital of the three Baltic states – Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. A picturesque city of historical importance and religious significance, Lithuania’s grim past is deeply embedded in its identity today. I was lucky enough to spend a full week discovering the Old Town’s charm, weaving in and out of its cobbled streets and indulging in a few too many lattes along the way. However, since I know most people traveling to Vilnius will have less than a week to spend, I put together a three-day itinerary for your convenience that covers the highlights. Go Vilnius kindly provided me with a Vilnius City Card to explore Lithuania’s capital and I must confess, I think I found one of Europe’s best kept secrets.



 
Day One
 
I began my sightseeing adventures at the Museum of Genocide Victims, the former KGB headquarters and one of Lithuania’s most important historical buildings today. Founded as a museum in 1992, this establishment provides a glimpse into the brutality faced by Lithuanians in their fight for freedom. The inmate cells and execution chambers found in the basement make it all the more real and it’s frightening to imagine the torture that these individuals endured. After a heartbreaking history lesson, I was in need of a more uplifting environment and was happy to discover the Cat Café located just around the corner. If you are a cat lover then this might just be your heaven on earth. The Cat Café is exactly as it sounds, a café with you guessed it, cats… in other words, a cuteness overload. As soon as I sat down, a cat curled up in the chair across from me and while the menu isn’t anything to rave about, the company was purrr-fect.


After a smoothie and a much needed cuddle session, I set out to explore two of the Lithuanian Art Museums. First up was the Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum, a collection of nearly 200 works donated by world-famous painter Vytautas Kasiulis, a Lithuanian painter who studied in Paris. Among his beautiful drawings and paintings, his restored workshop from Paris is also on display and the general atmosphere of the museum makes it an ideal setting to appreciate his art. Slightly further from the city center but still a walkable distance, the National Gallery of Art lies on the opposite side of the Vilnia river and is a very modern museum with both permanent and temporary exhibitions. Eleven galleries display Lithuanian art from the 20th and 21st centuries and the open floor layout is very inviting, but make sure you grab a museum guide on the way in because the writing on the gallery walls is not in English.


 
Day Two
 
Situated on the corner of the Cathedral Square, also known as the heart of the city, the Cathedral Belfry is one of the oldest and tallest towers of the Old Town. As part of the Church Heritage Museum, the exposition of bells and earliest surviving clock mechanism combined with the historic photos from the reconstruction of the Belfry and Cathedral reveal a piece of Lithuania’s cultural heritage. I climbed one wooden staircase after another until I reached the top of the 52 meter tower and was rewarded with a beautiful panorama of the city. I made my way back down the steps and walked through the Vilnius Cathedral right next door before continuing to the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. This museum was founded in 2009 and begins underground, guiding you through a number of preserved archaeological collections and historical remains, then up to a row of ceremonial halls with Gothic and Baroque art.


On a mission to discover even more of the historical and cultural heritage of the Lithuanian State and its rulers, I entered the New Arsenal for a comprehensive look at Lithuania’s national culture. Then I walked next door to the Old Arsenal, simultaneously stepping back in time to see how the first inhabitants lived in the 11th century BC up until the formation of the Lithuanian state in the 13th century. If you are a history buff, this museum houses one of the biggest archaeology displays in Europe, “Lithuanian Prehistory”. The Gediminas Castle lies on the hilltop behind the Old Arsenal where models of the Vilnius castle complex are on display and an observation deck overlooks the city skyline, however the area was closed due to repair work during my trip so I sadly couldn’t see it for myself, but I have heard great things!


 
Day Three
 
No trip to Vilnius is complete without walking through the Gates of Dawn, the only gate from the original defensive walls that still stands today. The gate was built in the early 1500s and the chapel next door houses the world-known painting of the Virgin Mary, a religious symbol of the city. Just around the corner, the Bastion of the Vilnius Defensive Wall has been turned into a museum, allowing visitors to walk around the semi-circular artillery wall and through a connecting tunnel to an underground exhibition. Permission to build a defensive wall around Vilnius was granted by Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander in 1503 and this Renaissance-style fortification was later constructed in the first half of the 17th century. After taking in the views from the Bastion terrace, I walked down Pilies Street until I reached the House of Signatories, a particularly special exposition to visit on this day because it just so happened to be the 100th anniversary of Lithuania’s Independence.


The centennial of the restored Lithuania occurred on February 16, 2018 and I felt absolutely honored to be a part of the celebrations in the country’s capital itself. But before I joined in on the centennial celebrations, I had one more stop to make at the beautiful Bernardine Gardens. This public park lies on the corner of the Old Town and backs into the Hill of Three Crosses, providing a peaceful space to escape city life and enjoy the nature. I breathed in the serene surroundings and then returned to the city’s main square where I found that the evening festivities were well underway. A night of concerts, fireworks, and pure joy, I could feel the love that Lithuanians share for their country and their culture. If you couldn’t make it to Vilnius this month, don’t worry – the country is celebrating Lithuania’s Independence all throughout the year. Congratulations Lithuania!


A special thank you to Go Vilnius for hosting me in Lithuania’s capital. As always, all opinions are my own.

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4 Comments

  1. Jurga
    February 27, 2019 / 16:42

    Hi there, your photos is stunning and I can’t wait for impressions from Vietnam also 🙂

    • February 28, 2019 / 15:04

      Thank you so much, I look forward to sharing them!

  2. February 23, 2018 / 16:08

    Those pictures are stunning! I am actually considering traveling to Vilnius for a few days this summer so this post couldn’t come at a better time. Thanks so much for these tips!

    • February 23, 2018 / 16:20

      Thank you Nina! Oh how exciting, I can only imagine how pretty Vilnius is during the summer and I heard there are some beautiful day trips as well 😍 Enjoy your trip!

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