7 things to do in Vilnius
An Old Town? Check! Feeling and ambiance that the past meets present? Check! Visual similarity to Prague? Check! And last but not least, the Frank Zappa Statue? Also, check! Welcome to Vilnius, the Lithuanian city where you can experience all these things and much more. A lot of people choose this city to be their holiday destination, and it is not hard to see why. Here are 7 things to do in Vilnius:
Climb up to the top of Gediminas:
Start your tour by hiking up the Gediminas Hill where you can see a view of the city featuring red roofs as far as the eye can see. But that is not why you’d want to go here, for there sits a top the hill a castle that offers the real eye candy view of the city. Not only will you be able to enjoy the architecture of the castle, you get to see the beautiful city in all its glory. The Upper Castle Museum is housed within the tower, just one part of a sprawling historic complex that tumbles down the hill and is part of the National Museum of Lithuania. Our advice? Guided tours are the best way to get a handle on it all.
Churches, churches everywhere:
This may seem like a cliché thing to say about the city, by Vilnius truly is the ‘city of spires’ and you are about see why, as the city is filled with beautiful churches and cathedrals. The landmark cathedral, a whitewashed monolith in the heart of the city, is the most famous, but if you want to experience the very best of them all the Church of St Peter and St Paul is the place to be, outside the center. Looking austere on the outside, the interior is the work of more than 200 painters and sculptors; a treat for all individuals, especially those who take a liking to ornate baroque art styles.
Old Town of Vilnius:
No European trip is complete without checking out the Old Town of the city; if you have been to Prague before then you will find many similarities between the Old Towns of the two cities. It is recommended to start exploring through the Gates of Dawn, which is the last remaining part of the old city wall. The Old Town Hall Square is the place where the action is, as it is filled with cafes, bars, and cobbled streets.
The Frank Zappa statue:
Though the musician never actually visited the place, Vilnius has an eccentric way of paying tribute to the legend, by displaying the only statue of Frank Zappa in the world. It certainly works in Vilnius as numerous people flock to the city to gaze upon the wonder. Head to the junction of Pylimo and K. Kalinausko streets, turn up Tauras Hill, and there you find it – Zappa’s head on a pole, as a statue bust that is.
Explore the Dark Side of History:
Though the events depicted are terrible and where they are housed in as well, this place is worth visiting as it shines some light on some of the darker parts of history. The Genocide Museum is housed within the still-terrifying building that used to be the city’s KGB prison. It tells the story of the suffering, not only of the inmates, but also the city during the Nazi and Soviet occupations.
Eat while enjoying the best of views:
This is your chance to enjoy fine dining with one heck of a view at the Milky Way restaurant, situated on the top of the Vilnius TV Tower, a 326m high tower. It’s guaranteed that you will have a hard time concentrating on your food at this location as you will be mesmerized with the view.
Hit the Bars and let loose:
No trip is ever complete without a pub/bar crawl; luckily for you, the Old Town is awash with tons of drinking opportunities. There are many places to visit for that reason such as the Amatininkų Uzeiga and the Busi Trecias where one can enjoy a cold beer and hearty grub. But if you want to break out those dance moves, then Brodvejus is the place to go. Just don’t drink too much so your friends have to carry you out.
There are many things to do in Vilnius and this was just a few, have you visited Vilnius? I’d love to hear what you got up to and what things you recommend to do.