Vilnius Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Vilnius tours, the UNESCO baroque old town and Gediminas Tower, the bohemian Užupis republic, KGB and Soviet history, Lithuanian food, and day trips to the island castle of Trakai and the moving Hill of Crosses. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Vilnius itinerary.
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Explore Vilnius by interest
Whatever brings you to Vilnius — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Old Town
Europe’s great baroque old town.
ExploreTrakai Castle
The fairy-tale island fortress.
ExploreKGB & Soviet
Occupation and the fight for freedom.
ExploreHill of Crosses
A moving pilgrimage site.
ExploreUžupis
The bohemian “republic”.
ExploreFood & drink
Cepelinai, beer and mead.
ExploreGediminas Tower
The hilltop city symbol.
ExploreDay trips
Trakai, Kaunas and more.
ExploreTop attractions in Vilnius
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Gediminas Tower
The hilltop city symbol.
Trakai Castle
The fairy-tale island fortress.
Cathedral Square
The heart of the old town.
KGB Museum
Occupation and resistance.
Hill of Crosses
A moving pilgrimage site.
Užupis
The bohemian “republic”.
St Anne’s Church
A Gothic masterpiece.
Lithuanian food
Cepelinai and craft beer.
Vilnius in 1 day
- 1Cathedral Square
- 2Gediminas Tower
- 3Užupis republic
- 4Cepelinai & beer
Vilnius in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & Užupis
- 2Day 2: Trakai Castle
- 3Island fortress
- 4Beer & mead evenings
Vilnius in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & Užupis
- 2Day 2: Trakai Castle
- 3Day 3: Hill of Crosses or Kaunas
- 4Lithuania & beyond
Vilnius with kids
- 1Climb Gediminas Tower
- 2Užupis angel hunt
- 3Trakai castle & boats
- 4Cepelinai & treats
30 min awayTrakai Castle
The fairy-tale island fortress.
2.5 hrs awayHill of Crosses
A moving pilgrimage site.
1.5 hrs awayKaunas
The modernist second city.
40 min awayKernavė
Lithuania’s ancient capital.
20 min awayPaneriai Memorial
A moving WWII memorial.
Full day awayRundāle Palace
A baroque palace in Latvia.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Vilnius visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring and summer (May–September) bring the mildest, longest days, lively outdoor life and the best weather for Trakai and day trips — the prime time to visit.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Fresh, greening days ideal for the old town and Trakai’s lakes coming to life, with long daylight by June.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Mild and lively, perfect for the old town terraces, Užupis, Trakai’s lakes and festivals, with long days.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, golden days with fewer crowds — a lovely, atmospheric time for the city and castle.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cold and snowy, but atmospheric with Christmas markets and a beautiful snow-dusted old town.
Shoulder value
Spring and autumn offer good weather, thinner crowds and great value in already-affordable Vilnius.
One day
Enough for the old town, Užupis and food.
Two days
Add the island castle of Trakai.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Trakai, and the Hill of Crosses or Kaunas.
Four to five days
Add Kernavė, more of Lithuania and the Baltics.
A week or more
Use Vilnius as a base for Lithuania and the Baltic capitals.
Travelling with kids
Mix Gediminas Tower, Užupis and Trakai at a gentle pace.
On foot
Vilnius’s baroque old town and Užupis are compact and best explored on foot.
Buses & trolleybuses
An extensive bus and trolleybus network covers the wider city cheaply.
Trains
Cheap trains run from Vilnius to Trakai in about 30 minutes and to Kaunas, ideal for day trips.
By bike
Vilnius has shared bikes and pleasant riverside and park routes for easy cycling.
Day-trip transport
Tours bundle transport for Trakai, the Hill of Crosses and Kaunas; trains reach Trakai and Kaunas.
From the airport
Vilnius Airport is just 6km from the centre, about 15 minutes by train, bus or taxi.
Book day trips ahead
Popular Trakai and Hill of Crosses day trips and small-group tours fill up — book ahead in summer.
Currency
Lithuania uses the euro; Vilnius is excellent value, with cards accepted almost everywhere.
Try cepelinai & kibinai
Sample cepelinai (potato dumplings) in Vilnius and kibinai pastries in Trakai, with local craft beer and mead.
Climb for views
Climb Gediminas Tower or the cathedral bell tower, or head to the Hill of Three Crosses, for the best old-town views.
Explore Užupis
Wander into the bohemian Užupis “republic” to see its constitution wall, the Angel statue and street art.
Train to Trakai
A cheap 30-minute train reaches Trakai; the castle is a scenic walk from the station.
Trakai tours
Popular Trakai Castle day trips fill up — book ahead.
Hill of Crosses
Hill of Crosses day trips have limited places — reserve early.
Walking & food tours
Small-group old-town and food tours fill up — book ahead.
KGB museum tours
Guided KGB and Jewish-heritage tours have limited slots — reserve early.
Hot-air balloons
Vilnius and Trakai balloon flights are weather-dependent and popular — book ahead.
Summer & festivals
Summer and festival dates are busy — plan ahead.
Walking tours
Around €12–40 for a guided old-town or history tour.
Trakai tours
About €35–60 for a Trakai Castle day trip.
Hill of Crosses
Roughly €60–100 for a Hill of Crosses day trip.
Food tours
Around €30–60 for a Lithuanian food-and-drink tour.
Balloon flights
About €120–160 for a hot-air balloon flight over Vilnius or Trakai.
How to save
Walk the compact old town, take cheap trains to Trakai and Kaunas, and enjoy great-value Lithuanian food.
Vilnius through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh days for the old town and Trakai.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Long daylight returns by late spring.
- Best for
- Mild days, festivals and lakeland Trakai.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak season; book day trips ahead.
- Best for
- Golden days with fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A lovely, atmospheric time to visit.
- Best for
- Christmas markets and snowy old town.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold and snowy; pack warm.