Vilnius: A vibrant city with charm and bustling arts scene

From its pleasing cobbled pathways, which wind and dance towards new and exciting adventures, to its ever-evolving calendar of cultural events and activities, Vilnius is a beautiful blend of the vintage past and the modern present – the old and the new – with a tangible sense that the future is bright for this hidden gem.

So, read on to discover the epic sights and sounds of the proud city.

Old Town magic

Travel back in time to Vilnius’ Old Town, a charming medieval town dotted with intricate Gothic, splendid Renaissance, unique Baroque and romantic Classical-style buildings; the varied façades depicting a sense of harmonious unity while whispering of the city’s troubled, unyielding and complex past.

Located here is a breathtaking ensemble of architectural brilliance, including Vilnius University – one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe – and the marvellous Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.

The palace was built in the 13th century as a stone castle, however, it was later reconstructed in the 15th century as a residence for royalty hailing from Poland and rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Then, it served as Lithuania’s political centre for approximately two hundred years.

However, in the 18th century, the once-thriving palace fell into disrepair, and in 1801, it was torn down by the Russian Empire.

The palace was rebuilt following the dawn of the Millennium, and today, its Renaissance-styling beautifully-matches Vilnius Cathedral, and it is home to an insightful public museum which showcases the rise, fall and ultimate resurgence of the building over the centuries. It is a must-visit for the history buffs among us.

Views of Vilnius

Climb up the beautiful Gediminas’ Hill until you reach Gedimina’s Tower to enjoy the best views of Vilnius.

The famous red brick churches of the city, the church towers, and the narrow streets of the Medieval Old Town are a stunning sight to behold – and particularly at sunrise if you are an early bird!

Meanwhile, the Tower houses a historic three-stories tall exhibition displaying reconstruction models of the castles of Vilnius, an armament, and iconographic material of old Vilnius.

Life behind bars

Going to jail while on holiday isn’t advisable… obviously!… but it would definitely be a crime if you didn’t embark on a tour of Lukiškes Prison.

Operational until as recently as 2019, this prison is bedecked with barbed wire, shoebox-sized cells – still decorated the way that the inmates left them – and steep metal stairs that once led prisoners to both their freedom and their fate.

Males, females and juveniles were all separated during their incarceration, and the prison’s dark underbelly was once home to the worst criminals who were either kept in solitary confinement or awaiting the death penalty.

Fact-filled daytime tours of the more than 100-year-old institute gives visitors the chance to walk in the shoes of the hundreds of residents, while soaking up the well-preserved architecture, which has survived not only both World Wars – but also Soviet occupation.

In 2019, when the cell doors swung open to the public, the complex was renamed Lukiškes Prison 2.0 – signifying its new identity as a place of both history and culture.

Today, the prison is also a popular music venue, and it boasts studios for artists, and acts as an alternative space for some of Lithuania’s most creative minds, with the walls of outdoor cells being transformed into canvases of colour and splendid works.

It’s all about the art

Vilnius is known to many as the ‘creative capital of Europe’, and it offers plenty of events for the intrepid tourist all-year-round.

Every January, the city welcomes crowds to celebrate its birthday by hosting a spectacular lights festival which brings the Old Town to dazzling, shining life. By using light art, music and state-of-the-art technology to project dynamic, dramatic and breath-taking moving images onto its buildings, this festival gives visitors the chance to see Vilnius in a whole new light… quite literally!

This year, onlookers were treated to video artist, Rimas Sakalauskas’ unique Vilnius wormhole (hypertunnel) video art in the courtyard of the Vilnius Jesuit Gymnasium; giving them the opportunity to be transported to an alternative Vilnius on the Moon.

Indeed, the festival insures that, every year, Vilnius becomes a celestial playground for talented international artists, and a winter wonderland for holidaymakers.

Making music

If music is your vibe, then Vilnius is singing your tune. On July 25, Vingis Park will, again, become an international music arena, as it pays host to the ‘As Young As Vilnius’ music festival. The event will see a cornucopia of artists spanning diverse music genres performing free concerts throughout the day and night, offering both locals and visitors a chance to revel until dawn. While in October, the oldest annual Vilnius jazz festival, ‘Vilnius Jazz’, invites everyone to the 37th edition of musical experiences, set to give enthusiasts and newcomers alike musical memories to last a lifetime.

Even the hotels in Vilnius are creative – with the Artagonist Art Hotel standing out for the trendy traveller who enjoys quirky art, glass sculptures, Neo-gothic facades – and a delicious daily breakfast spread to boot!

Curious cuisine

Delicious dining is always on the menu for jet-setters to Lithuania, with flavours adapted from neighbouring countries and centuries-old recipes simply perfected. One such speciality which is a must for anyone travelling to Lithuania in the spring or summer is the country’s famous pink soup. The magenta-coloured masterpiece is rich with beetroots and kefir, mixed together with hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, dill and finished with fragrant green onions. It is traditionally eaten cold; and is a perfect, healthy treat for those warm, balmy days while exploring the city.

• For more information on all-things Vilnius, check out  GoVilnius, and for flights, we recommend using British Airways and Finn Air, as both operate regular flights to-and-from Lithuania from Belfast City Airport and Dublin.