A first-time guide to Vilnius

07.08.2024 - 12:05 / lonelyplanet.com

Aug 6, 2024 • 10 min read

Vilnius is a big breath of fresh air. From the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers, Lithuania's capital stands as a bastion of sustainability in the Baltics with initiatives to protect the environment and its commitment to be climate neutral by 2030.

The Old Town of Vilnius, the European Green Capital 2025, is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Winding through its cobbled alleyways you'll find a harmonious succession of buildings of different architectural styles ranging from Baltic Gothic to neoclassical, bordering on eclecticism in Užupis (the bohemian creative quarter that is a self-proclaimed – unofficial – republic).

At 700 years young, Vilnius has become the focal point of traditional Lithuanian culture and cuisine, contemporary theater and dance, national and international auteur cinema, and folk, jazz or electronic music festivals in the Baltic States. Here’s how to experience the best of Vilnius on your first visit.

With a busy cultural agenda, any season is a good time to travel to Vilnius. It all depends on the Vilnius you want to discover and the events you would like to attend during your stay.

In spring, you'll find Vilnius at its most vibrant and lively. From April onwards, the temperature is perfect for wandering around the Old Town, sipping a coffee or a refreshing craft beer on a terrace, strolling through the beautiful Bernardine Garden on the banks of the Vilnia, and kayaking or exploring the neighborhoods on the other side of the Neris by bike.

Over 100 films in Lithuanian and English are screened throughout the season during Kino Pavasaris (Cinema Spring) and on the third Saturday in May, every corner of the city gets its original live soundtrack for Street Music Day. And if that's not enough, you'll also have the chance to sample šaltibarščiai, Lithuania's cold – and coolest – beetroot soup at the Pink Soup Fest, a tribute to the creamy summer delicacy with themed games, activities and concerts. 

The city buzzes in summer with parties, a national food fair and iconic music festivals, such as the spectacular Lithuanian Song Celebration, a large-scale Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity festival that just celebrated its 100th anniversary; the Christopher Summer Festival with its original amalgam of classical, jazz and experimental music (including sailing on the Neris); or LOFTAS, which sets Vilnius abuzz with electronic and techno music in September.

In autumn and winter, you'll find a capital that's breezy and warm despite falling temperatures, with a wide variety of cultural, gastronomic and sporting events, including the Vilnius International Sirenos Theatre Festival's varied programme of contemporary plays (in Lithuanian with surtitles in English,