Vilnius

Go For the Views. Stay for the Scene.

Lithuania’s capital is famous for its Baroque architecture but there’s much more to this vibrant city. Vilnius’s built environment spans a diverse range of styles and ages, from the neoclassical to the Gothic. All reflect a wealth of dramatic history that has coalesced to shape a modern, multi-cultural city that’s quickly made an impact on the tourist trail.

Visitors are drawn to Vilnius’s Old Town, one of Europe’s largest and oldest, complete with narrow streets, churches, museums and pretty courtyards. It’s a busy, lively area with people enjoying the cafés, bars and restaurants. You might want to pick up a piece of amber jewellery, wood carving or some authentic Lithuanian cheese as a memento of your trip.

If you prefer your sightseeing to be a little more relaxed, rise above it all and get a bird’s eye view of the red roof tops and ever-expanding business quarter skyline. There are more than a few great viewing spots across the city, from climbing the Bell Tower of St. John’s Church or Vilnius Cathedral to the panoramas from Subačius Viewpoint, Hill of the Three Crosses, Tauras or Altana Hills. The 360˚ view from the rotating TV Tower café allows you to see the whole of Vilnius without moving a muscle and is especially spectacular at night. But the best views of all are from a hot air balloon – Vilnius is the only European capital where you can climb in a basket and enjoy this incredible aerial experience.

Beyond the Old Town, you’ll find a city that is sophisticated and elegant with a cultural scene that is uniquely Lithuanian but also embraces a world of international influences. This dynamic destination has incredible energy – and excellent taste!

While there’s more than enough to see and do, we recommend leaving lots of time to make the most of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Vilnius is a foodie paradise, the ultimate hub of which is Paupys Market. A fairly recent addition to the scene, you can relax and enjoy authentic and experimental dishes from any of the outlets in what is essentially an urban jungle, or pick up exciting ingredients to cook up a storm for yourself. If you like your markets with a more traditional twist, Hales in the Old Town has the best of locally grown, in-season foods and home-made goods.

Brunch is a bit of an event around here so schedule it in before embarking on a long lunch that may take you right through to dinner. Isn’t that what city breaks are for?

But if you simply must do a little more traveling around the region, take a trip west to the fairytale Trakai Island Castle. This spectacular monument sits in Trakai National Park in the region’s lakelands and is home to the local history museum. We think you’ll get a few great pics here – and some joyous travel memories!