After a bizarre first half of 2020 it’s lastly doable to journey once more. I had a number of cancelled journeys (to 9 new international locations!) however lastly it was doable to hit the highway once more. Vilnius, Lithuania, was my the primary vacation spot of 2020. I went there mid-June with my daughter. The Baltic international locations are new for me as I solely visited Riga a couple of years in the past. I used to be wanting to lastly observe my Lithuania itinerary together with a Vilnius metropolis journey I compiled over two years in the past.
On this Lithuania itinerary I’ll first share my high 12 Vilnius locations of curiosity for a Vilnius metropolis journey. They’re all a should see! I additionally did 3 day journeys from Vilnius with my daughter which I extremely advocate doing as properly. These locations are near Vilnius which was my base for this Lithuania itinerary. Be a part of me on this journey and let me amaze you with all the sweetness Lithuania has to supply.
Planning a Lithuania itinerary
Lithuania is in north jap Europe and is considered one of three Baltic states. Latvia and Estonia being the opposite two. Except you reside in one of many surrounding international locations one of the best ways is to fly into Vilnius.
Flights to Vilnius
Vilnius airport isn’t a significant hub however has good connections to all main airports in Europe. Inside Europe it’s straightforward to get a direct flight however from exterior you most likely want a connection. To avoid wasting prices attempt to search for main hubs in Europe and fly there first and proceed on a second ticket to Lithuania. I wrote about cheaper (enterprise class) tickets earlier.
Vilnius motels
Vilnius has loads of motels from funds to luxurious. Main resort chains are additionally represented. As I’m Titanium Marriott member on the time of writing I, logically, stayed on the Courtyard by Marriott. An awesome resort and good worth for cash.
Visa necessities
For Europeans, no visa is required as Lithuania is a part of the Schengen settlement. In case you are from exterior the Schengen space you would possibly want a Schengen visa. Test with the embassy in your nation. Do notice {that a} Schengen visa from any nation will do as you may journey freely between Schengen international locations.
Remember
Lithuania makes use of the Euro as foreign money. When you have different foreign money, then be sure that to trade it within the metropolis and never on the airport. The charges are significantly better on the town. Playing cards are accepted in most locations besides American Specific which isn’t extensively accepted.
In case you make the three day journeys as I did, I extremely advocate hiring a automotive instantly on the airport. Rental vehicles are low cost and cheaper as a taxi to the town. The times you don’t want the automotive you may simply park it at your resort.
Take a look at my Vilnius eating places and craft beer bars information as properly. It has some nice suggestions on the place to eat and have a chilly one.
Lithuania itinerary day 1-3: Vilnius metropolis journey
Vilnius has a lovely previous city which is a UNESCO World Heritage Website. It isn’t large however from north to south and likewise east to west it’s a 30-minute stroll. Except you wish to run from place to put, I like to recommend splitting a Vilnius metropolis journey itinerary into two days. Begin the primary day on the Gediminas tower and discover the north jap elements to Uzupis and the bastion (objects 1-6 from the checklist). When you have time left stroll in the direction of the Gate of Daybreak to complete the day and begin there once more the following day to discover the remainder of city.
High 12 issues to do and see in Vilnius
Within the following checklist I checklist the highest 12 locations in Vilnius in chronological order of go to. This checklist doesn’t include all locations of curiosity simply the highlights. I’ll cowl extra in an in-depth information abouy Vilnius later. Make sure that to choose up a map on the Vilnius Vacationer Workplace to see what different locations of curiosity you cross (primarily church buildings and structure) between the highest 12 locations of curiosity in Vilnius. Remember museums are closed Mondays, so it’s greatest to not go to Vilnius on a Monday. Exit into nature on Mondays.
Gediminas tower & museum
The Gediminas tower is situated on the northern tip of Vilnius previous city. You’ll be able to both stroll as much as the previous fortress or take the funicular up. The views are breathtaking!
Nationwide Museum of Lithuania & Palace of the Grand Dukes
The Nationwide Museum of Lithuania is a moderately small museum however a should see. It comprises varied vital relics. The Palace of the Grand Dukes is a reconstruction from 2018 however value visiting. You’ll be able to see the previous foundations, archeological finds, and reconstructed rooms of the unique palace.
Vilnius Cathedral & Bell tower
The Vilnius cathedral is an imposing constructing and never your typical cathedral. From the skin it sort of appears like a Roman temple to me. In entrance of it’s the bell tower which could be climbed however views aren’t nice on the high.
St. Anne’s and Bernadine church buildings
The St. Anne’s church and Bernadine church are two interconnected church buildings constructed from purple bricks. They actually stand out with their separate bell tower. The inside of each are fully totally different. I personally cherished the picket inside of the Bernadine church essentially the most.
Republic of Uzupis
The Republic of Uzupis can be known as the “Montmartre” of Vilnius. It’s an element Vilnius previous city however throughout the river. You’ll discover there writers, artists, and the like. In 1998 on April 1st they “declared” independence and even have their very own structure. An awesome space to walk for an hour and have lunch.
Bastion of the Defensive Wall Museum
The Bastion of the Defensive Wall Museum was as soon as a part of the fortifications of Vilnius. From the Bastion you might have good views over Vilnius previous city. A protracted hall descends from road stage into the fortifications the place the museum is situated.
Gate of Daybreak & St. Theresa’s church
The Gate of Daybreak is the final remaining metropolis gate of Vilnius. It was as soon as a part of the defensive wall. Most gates usually had spiritual artifcats to assist shield the town. Within the Gate of Daybreak is an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mom of Mercy. It’s an vital relic in Christianity and many individuals go right here for pilgrimage. A go to is greatest mixed with the St. Thersa’s church subsequent door.
City Corridor
Vilnius City Corridor is a should see. It’s a lovely neoclassical constructing nevertheless it wasn’t all the time in that fashion. You’ll be able to go to the older Baroque cellars that remind of the previous nonetheless at the moment. Across the city corridor you discover loads of eating places and retailers. An awesome place for lunch.
Literary Avenue
Literary Avenue is a beautiful road in Vilnius. For these it’s additionally a terrific spot for an Instagramable picture! The road is stuffed with plaques of Lithuanian writers.
Vilnius College
Within the historic previous city of Vilnius, you discover varied college buildings. It’s one of many oldest universities within the space over half a century previous!
Presidential Palace
The presidential palace is simply across the nook of the college. Its interiors are usually open for a tour however on the time of my go to I couldn’t discover any possibility to go to. Attempt to ask on the tourism workplace for extra data because it is likely to be associated to the worldwide pandemic it was closed.
KGB Museum
The KGB Museum, though not the very best KGB Museum on the planet, is a should go to in Vilnius. It has a small exposition concerning the former prisoners, however the spotlight are the jail cells. You’ll be able to see how small these cells have been and even go to the chamber of demise. Don’t miss this museum. Close by is a beautiful sq. stuffed with actions in summer season to loosen up the remainder of the day.
Lithuania itinerary day 4: Trakai day journey
A Trakai day journey from Vilnius might be essentially the most well-known day journey you are able to do. Trakai is situated simply half-hour from Vilnius by bus or automotive. I mixed a go to with a go to to the ethnographic Zervynos village. A small city with authentic picket buildings and three crosses in its middle. Zervynos is in Dzukija Nationwide Park which is known for its pine forest and land dunes. I didn’t have time to hike or go kayaking however a stroll by Zervynos gave a great understanding how individuals have lived there for hundreds of years.
EXTEND YOUR TRIP: Cut up at the present time into two: A day journey to Trakai together with water actions and one to Dzukija Nationwide Park the place you may hike or go kayaking within the afternoon and go to Zervynos within the morning.
Trakai is situated between lakes and most well-known for its fortress on an island within the lake. In case you see the fortress you most likely acknowledge it because it’s Lithuania’s most well-known landmark. It was constructed within the 15th century by the Dukes of Lithuania. In the present day it’s a part of the Trakai Historic Nationwide Park which features a few different options as properly. The small previous city is straightforward to stroll because it’s only a few buildings however choose up a map on the Trakai Vacationer Workplace to plan your stroll effectively.
A go to doesn’t take extra as 2-3 hours except you go swimming or take pleasure in one of many many water actions in summer season. In winter, the lake is frozen however there are additionally loads of winter actions to do. If you wish to get out of Vilnius for in the future that is the day journey you wish to do. I had a good time with my daughter and even time left for an hour for swimming!
SHORTEN YOUR TRIP: If it’s essential to shorten your journey by a day you may do a morning Trakai go to and make the Vilnius metropolis journey simply 1.5 days and never two full days. In fact you must skip Zervynos as properly.
Lithuania itinerary day 5: Kaunas day journey
Kaunas is the second largest metropolis in Lithuania and as soon as served because the capital for a short interval. It may be reached from Vilnius by prepare or automotive in simply over an hour. I extremely advocate a Kaunas day journey from Vilnius you probably have the time! It’s nonetheless the primary day journey I recommend skipping from this Lithuania itinerary in case you don’t have a day for it. You could possibly shorten the Vilnius metropolis journey from 2 days into 1 as properly in case you hurry by the town. It’s not equivalent as Vilnius in fact however is analogous. In case you’re coming by automotive, I like to recommend parking on the fortress and stroll to the city corridor first to pickup a map on the Kaunas Tourism Workplace.
In case you take a look at the map of Kaunas, you’ll discover that every one locations of are between the fortress and the Orthodox cathedral (a 30 minute stroll). I like to recommend strolling first to the previous Presidential Palace Museum passing varied locations of curiosity. From there make your method to the Orthodox cathedral. You’ll cross loads of cafes for a morning espresso.
Proceed up the Žaliakalnis funicular to the church and again down. Make your method to the Vytautas the Nice Battle Museum. Again on the primary road discover a restaurant for lunch. After lunch end the rest of the sights (that are all on the map which I’ll clarify in additional element in a Kaunas metropolis journey article later). End on the fortress and the city corridor for a day drink or dinner!
One other should do day journey from Vilnius is one to Kernave archeological web site mixed with a hike in Neris Nationwide Park. I didn’t know what to anticipate from Kernave archeological park as most evaluations simply say it’s a couple of “hills”. That is partly true and a very powerful function. These have been hill forts. The museum on web site explains the positioning from prehistoric instances till the late Iron age. There may be even a reconstructed picket village on high of one of many hills. A go to takes about 2 hours so go early morning after which drive again (10 kilometers) to Neris Nationwide Park which you already handed coming from Vilnius.
Neris Nationwide Park is a lovely nautre park simply north east of Vilnius. I extremely advocate going because the pine forest air is so recent and the views wonderful. The Neris river meanders by it. There may be one hike close to the Neris Park guests middle which is most beneficial because it has signage concerning the nature and cultural historical past of the forests. Take lunch with you as there are locations alongside the path to picknick. The path is 5 kilometers and will take round 2 hours excluding lunch. After lunch cross the Neris river by automotive to the left financial institution and drive the 25-kilometer route alongside the river for magnificent views!
If you do not need to make a 2-3-hour hike, then drive the 25-kilometer route solely. When you have time left on the finish of the day contemplate visiting some geographical factors of curiosity (see under) in your means again to Vilnius.
Bonus: Geographical factors of curiosity
Simply north of Vilnius is the geographical middle of Europe. I’m not certain if the small museum is closed completely because it regarded abandoned however standing on the precise middle of Europe is value going. A kilometer north of it it’s also possible to go to a marker of the Struve Geodetic Arc which is a UNESCO World Heritiage Website. Within the arc had a whole lot of factors from Hammerfest to the Black Sea however simply 36 are left at the moment. These factors have been used to calculate the meridian of earth and its dimension. Each websites are open 24 hours and greatest visited after the day journey to Kernave and Neris Nationwide Park described above. It’s only a 45-minute detour together with visits.
Departure on day 7
I travelled to Lithuania in June 2020 and flights the place simply restarting after the Pandemic. The one flight again to Amsterdam was at 07:30. Too early for me on a standard day! I’d change a direct flight for one with a stopover and fly later in a heartbeat however throughout a Pandemic a direct flight was my first selection.
I used to be all the time informed Vilnius didn’t have a lot to supply in comparison with Riga and Tallin. I have no idea about Tallin, which I go to in August 2020 however in comparison with Riga it for certain has quite a bit to supply. They’re totally different however for certain value going. Vilnius, for certain now, however typically sees much less guests and continues to be extra genuine. I actually loved my Vilnius metropolis journey! It’s additionally a terrific vacation spot for an extended weekend. Most locations of fascinated by Lithuania are inside a day journey from Vilnius so it’s additionally a terrific place to make use of as a base for a Lithuania itinerary. There are some lovely locations on the coast however for every week it’s to a lot driving. I’ll return to the Lithuania coast both from Latvia or Kaliningrad (Russia) later.
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Gallery Lithuania itinerary
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