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 nations!) however lastly it was doable to hit the street once more. Vilnius, Lithuania, was my the primary vacation spot of 2020. I went there mid-June with my daughter. The Baltic nations are new for me as I solely visited Riga a number of years in the past. I used to be desperate to lastly observe my Lithuania itinerary together with a Vilnius metropolis journey I compiled over two years in the past.
In this Lithuania itinerary I’ll first share my high 12 Vilnius locations of curiosity for a Vilnius metropolis journey. They are all a should see! I additionally did 3 day journeys from Vilnius with my daughter which I extremely advocate doing as effectively. These locations are near Vilnius which was my base for this Lithuania itinerary. Join 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 japanese Europe and is one in every of three Baltic states. Latvia and Estonia being the opposite two. Unless you reside in one of many surrounding nations 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. Within Europe it’s straightforward to get a direct flight however from exterior you in all probability want a connection. To save 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 lodges
Vilnius has loads of lodges from funds to luxurious. Major lodge chains are additionally represented. As I’m Titanium Marriott member on the time of writing I, logically, stayed on the Courtyard by Marriott. An ideal lodge and good worth for cash.
Visa necessities
For Europeans, no visa is required as Lithuania is a part of the Schengen settlement. If you’re from exterior the Schengen space you may want a Schengen visa. Check with the embassy in your nation. Do observe {that a} Schengen visa from any nation will do as you may journey freely between Schengen nations.
Keep in thoughts
Lithuania makes use of the Euro as foreign money. If you may have different foreign money, then make sure that to change it within the metropolis and never on the airport. The charges are a lot better on the town. Cards are accepted in most locations besides American Express which isn’t extensively accepted.
If you make the three day journeys as I did, I extremely advocate hiring a automobile instantly on the airport. Rental vehicles are low-cost and cheaper as a taxi to town. The days you don’t want the automobile you may simply park it at your lodge.
Check out my Vilnius eating places and craft beer bars information as effectively. 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 stupendous outdated city which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It isn’t big however from north to south and in addition east to west it’s a 30-minute stroll. Unless you need to run from place to put, I like to recommend splitting a Vilnius metropolis journey itinerary into two days. Start the primary day on the Gediminas tower and discover the north japanese elements to Uzupis and the bastion (objects 1-6 from the checklist). If you may have time left stroll in direction of the Gate of Dawn to complete the day and begin there once more the subsequent day to discover the remainder of city.
Top 12 issues to do and see in Vilnius
In the next checklist I checklist the highest 12 locations in Vilnius in chronological order of go to. This checklist doesn’t comprise all locations of curiosity simply the highlights. I’ll cowl extra in an in-depth information abouy Vilnius later. Make positive to select up a map on the Vilnius Tourist Office to see what different locations of curiosity you move (primarily church buildings and structure) between the highest 12 locations of curiosity in Vilnius. Keep in thoughts museums are closed Mondays, so it’s finest to not go to Vilnius on a Monday. Go out into nature on Mondays.
Gediminas tower & museum
The Gediminas tower is situated on the northern tip of Vilnius outdated city. You can both stroll as much as the outdated citadel or take the funicular up. The views are breathtaking!
National Museum of Lithuania & Palace of the Grand Dukes
The National Museum of Lithuania is a fairly small museum however a should see. It accommodates numerous vital relics. The Palace of the Grand Dukes is a reconstruction from 2018 however price visiting. You can see the outdated 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 form of seems to be like a Roman temple to me. In entrance of it’s the bell tower which may 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 crimson bricks. They actually stand out with their separate bell tower. The inside of each are fully completely different. I personally liked 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 outdated 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 ideal 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 may have good views over Vilnius outdated city. A protracted hall descends from avenue stage into the fortifications the place the museum is situated.
Gate of Dawn & St. Theresa’s church
The Gate of Dawn is the final remaining metropolis gate of Vilnius. It was as soon as a part of the defensive wall. Most gates usually had non secular artifcats to assist shield town. In the Gate of Dawn is an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy. It’s an vital relic in Christianity and many individuals go right here for pilgrimage. A go to is finest mixed with the St. Thersa’s church subsequent door.
Town Hall
Vilnius Town Hall is a should see. It’s a stupendous neoclassical constructing but it surely wasn’t all the time in that type. You can go to the older Baroque cellars that remind of the previous nonetheless at the moment. Around the city corridor you discover loads of eating places and outlets. An ideal place for lunch.
Literary Street
Literary Street is a beautiful avenue in Vilnius. For these it’s additionally an incredible spot for an Instagramable photograph! The avenue is stuffed with plaques of Lithuanian writers.
Vilnius University
In the historic outdated city of Vilnius, you discover numerous college buildings. It’s one of many oldest universities within the space over half a century outdated!
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. Try 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 one of the 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 can see how small these cells have been and even go to the chamber of dying. Do not miss this museum. Nearby is a beautiful sq. stuffed with actions in summer time to chill out 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 automobile. I mixed a go to with a go to to the ethnographic Zervynos village. A small city with unique picket buildings and three crosses in its middle. Zervynos is in Dzukija National 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 way of Zervynos gave understanding how individuals have lived there for hundreds of years.
EXTEND YOUR TRIP: Split at the present time into two: A day journey to Trakai together with water actions and one to Dzukija National 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 citadel on an island within the lake. If you see the citadel you in all probability acknowledge it because it’s Lithuania’s most well-known landmark. It was constructed within the 15th century by the Dukes of Lithuania. Today it’s a part of the Trakai Historical National Park which features a few different options as effectively. The small outdated city is simple to stroll because it’s only a few buildings however choose up a map on the Trakai Tourist Office to plan your stroll effectively.
A go to doesn’t take extra as 2-3 hours until you go swimming or get pleasure from one of many many water actions in summer time. In winter, the lake is frozen however there are additionally loads of winter actions to do. If you need to get out of Vilnius for at some point that is the day journey you need to do. I had a good time with my daughter and even time left for an hour for swimming!
SHORTEN YOUR TRIP: If you’ll want to shorten your journey by a day you would do a morning Trakai go to and make the Vilnius metropolis journey simply 1.5 days and never two full days. Of course it’s important to skip Zervynos as effectively.
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 quick interval. It may be reached from Vilnius by practice or automobile in simply over an hour. I extremely advocate a Kaunas day journey from Vilnius in case you have the time! It is nevertheless the primary day journey I counsel skipping from this Lithuania itinerary if you happen to don’t have a day for it. You might shorten the Vilnius metropolis journey from 2 days into 1 as effectively if you happen to hurry by way of town. It’s not equivalent as Vilnius in fact however is analogous. If you’re coming by automobile, I like to recommend parking on the citadel and stroll to the city corridor first to pickup a map on the Kaunas Tourism Office.
If you take a look at the map of Kaunas, you’ll discover that each one locations of are between the citadel and the Orthodox cathedral (a 30 minute stroll). I like to recommend strolling first to the outdated Presidential Palace Museum passing numerous locations of curiosity. From there make your strategy to the Orthodox cathedral. You’ll move loads of cafes for a morning espresso.
Continue up the Žaliakalnis funicular to the church and again down. Make your strategy to the Vytautas the Great War Museum. Back on the principle avenue 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). Finish on the citadel and the city corridor for a day drink or dinner!
Another should do day journey from Vilnius is one to Kernave archeological website mixed with a hike in Neris National Park. I didn’t know what to anticipate from Kernave archeological park as most evaluations simply say it’s a number of “hills”. This is partly true and a very powerful characteristic. These have been hill forts. The museum on website explains the positioning from prehistoric instances till the late Iron age. There is 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 National Park which you already handed coming from Vilnius.
Neris National Park is a stupendous nautre park simply north east of Vilnius. I extremely advocate going because the pine forest air is so recent and the views superb. The Neris river meanders by way of it. There is one hike close to the Neris Park guests middle which is most advisable 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 move the Neris river by automobile 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. If you may have time left on the finish of the day take into account visiting some geographical factors of curiosity (see under) in your approach again to Vilnius.
Bonus: Geographical factors of curiosity
Just north of Vilnius is the geographical middle of Europe. I’m not positive if the small museum is closed completely because it appeared abandoned however standing on the actual middle of Europe is price 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 Site. In the arc had tons of 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 measurement. Both websites are open 24 hours and finest visited after the day journey to Kernave and Neris National 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 solely 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 alternative.
I used to be all the time instructed 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 positive has rather a lot to supply. They are completely different however for positive price going. Vilnius, for positive now, however usually sees much less guests and continues to be extra genuine. I actually loved my Vilnius metropolis journey! It’s additionally an incredible vacation spot for a protracted weekend. Most locations of concerned about Lithuania are inside a day journey from Vilnius so it’s additionally an incredible place to make use of as a base for a Lithuania itinerary. There are some stunning 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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