Your Essential Travel Guide To Vilnius
Discover Things To Do In Vilnius
Stroll through the streets of the old town, past baroque, gothic and Renaissance buildings. St. Anne's Church, which has remained unchanged for 500 years, has become a symbol of Vilnius. Kaunas is the second largest city in the country and is located at the confluence of Nemunas (in German: Memel) and Neris. A series of disasters temporarily hampered urban development, but today Kaunas is a modern city with many museums. The beautiful old town is a masterpiece of late Gothic style. In the new town you will find the wide pedestrian street lined with shops, sidewalk cafes, restaurants and bars.
Header Image Credit: Lithuania State Department of Tourism Image Credit: Birute Vijeikiene - Fotolia
Art & Culture in Vilnius
If you are interested in the history of the city, the Museum of Modern History in Vilnius is the place for you. It's located in the same building where the German Gestapo and the KGB were based. There is also a small meadow, in a former noble suburb Zverynas, which houses the stretching "chirping cross" - also called Gitenis Umbrasas. The University of Lithuania is the largest in the country and oldest in Central Europe. For a fantastic view, climb the Vilnius TV tower where you'll have a panoramic view at 190m high.
Image Credit: Suvi Maekinen
Culinary Vilnius
In the inner city area you will find small and large restaurants with local dishes at reasonable prices on every corner. The Belmontas Entertainment and Recreation Center was a mill a long time ago and is now perfect for lunch. The Sky Bar at the Radisson Blu Hotel is a great place to spend the evening - the cocktail bar is located on the 22nd floor and offers a great panoramic view of Vilnius. To enjoy a typical Lithuanian beer, you should visit Bambalyne. The Bambalyne offers about 50 different beers.
Shopping in Vilnius
Downtown Vilnius, like every big city, offers typical fashion chains but also small and traditional boutiques and souvenir shops. Visit one of the many shopping malls to shop at bargain prices. The largest shopping center in Vilnius is the "Acropolis", with the shopping centres "Panorama", "Gedimino" and "Europe" also inviting to stroll and shop. In the centre of Vilnius, on Gedminio Street, you will find numerous other shops and boutiques.
Image Credit: Vilnius Tourism
Sports in Vilnius
From the beginning of April to the middle of October Vilnius and the surrounding areas offer hot air balloons and airships - the suitable starting places can be found in city parks such as Vingio and Kalnu Park giving you a wonderful view of the city. Basketball is also very important to the Lithuanians - the European basketball championship in 2011 was hosted in Lithuania. In Vilnius, a monument was erected in honor of basketballatanding at almost six meters high and weighing 30 tons, it was inaugurated in 2007 by the then President and Prime Minister.
