The echo of footsteps on cobblestones in a hidden Baroque courtyard, the scent of fresh rye bread drifting from a Vilnius bakery, the sound of church bells ringing across the rooftops of 65 churches. Vilnius is one of the most beautiful and underrated capital cities in Europe, a Baroque jewel whose UNESCO-listed Old Town is the largest in the Baltic region. The skyline is a forest of spires and domes. The complex, tragic history of Lithuania sits alongside a vibrant contemporary culture of independent cafes, craft breweries, street art, and the self-declared Republic of Uzupis, an artists’ quarter whose constitution includes the right to be happy, the right to be unhappy, and the right to have no rights. Vilnius rewards the wanderer. Its greatest pleasure is simply walking the cobbled streets of the Old Town, discovering a hidden courtyard, a Baroque church you have never heard of, or a cafe in a former monastery, and allowing the city to reveal itself at its own pace.

Cathedral Square and Gediminas Tower

The Cathedral Square is the heart of Vilnius. The Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Ladislaus, built between 1783 and 1788 in neoclassical style on the site of a 13th-century pagan temple, dominates the square. The bell tower, originally a 13th-century defensive tower, stands 57 metres tall and offers views across the Old Town for 4.50 euros. The square has been the site of every major event in Lithuanian history: the proclamation of independence in 1918, the Soviet occupation in 1940, and the human chain of the Baltic Way in 1989 when two million people linked hands across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The castle complex above the square houses the Gediminas Tower, the remains of the 14th-century upper Castle. The tower, rebuilt after 1831, now holds a museum about the history of Vilnius. The climb to the top via the hill, a 10-minute walk, or the funicular, costs 6 euros and offers the best view over the Old Town. The Three Crosses monument on the adjacent hill, rebuilt in 1989 after the Soviets destroyed the original in 1951, is the symbol of Lithuanian independence.

St. Anne’s Church and the Gothic Masterpiece

St. Anne’s Church is the most beautiful Gothic building in Lithuania. Completed in 1500, the church is built entirely from brick in the Flamboyant Gothic style. The facade features 33 different types of brick arranged in elaborate patterns. Napoleon allegedly said he wanted to take the church back to Paris in the palm of his hand. The story is probably apocryphal but it captures the effect the church has on visitors. The adjacent Bernardine Church, built in the 16th century, is a Gothic and Renaissance hybrid with a stunning fresco cycle. The complex sits on the banks of the Vilnia River and is best photographed from the footbridge opposite, where the reflection of both churches shimmers in the water. The churches are free to enter. The interior of St. Anne’s is surprisingly plain compared to the ornate exterior, a result of the 19th-century restoration that stripped the Baroque additions.

Gates of Dawn: The Sacred Icon

The Gates of Dawn is the only surviving city gate of Vilnius’s original nine, built between 1503 and 1522 as part of the city’s defensive wall. The gate houses a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Mercy, painted in the 17th century on oak panels. The icon is one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in Eastern Europe, visited by Pope John Paul II in 1993. The icon is covered in 200 silver and gold votive offerings, many shaped like hearts, left by pilgrims over the centuries. The chapel above the gate is open daily from 6am to 6pm. The icon itself is displayed in a silver frame, the riza, added in 1671. The street below, Ausros Vartu Street, is lined with shops selling religious souvenirs, amber jewellery, and traditional Lithuanian linen. The gate survived the Soviet period when the street was renamed and the chapel was closed, but local Catholics continued to pray outside on the pavement regardless.

Uzupis: The Republic of Artists

Uzupis, meaning beyond the river, is Lithuania’s most famous neighbourhood. In 1997, the residents, mostly artists and bohemians, declared their district an independent republic. Uzupis has its own constitution, printed on a wall in multiple languages on Paupio Street. The constitution includes articles such as the right to be happy, the right to be unhappy, the right to have no rights, and the obligation to not make forced comparisons. The republic has a president, a national anthem, and celebrates Independence Day on April 1. The neighbourhood is a warren of galleries, workshops, and cafes. The Uzupis Art Incubator hosts 20 artists in residence. The church of St. Bartholomew, a 14th-century Gothic church, hosts concerts and exhibitions. The guardian angel of Uzupis, a bronze statue of an angel blowing a trumpet in the main square, was erected in 2002 to replace the original egg sculpture that was stolen. The statue represents the artistic freedom that the district celebrates.

Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights

The Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights occupies the former KGB headquarters at 2 Gedimino Street. This is where the KGB interrogated, tortured, and executed Lithuanian resistance fighters from 1940 to 1991. The museum is a sobering and essential visit. The basement cells, the interrogation rooms, and the execution chamber with the bullet-scarred wall are preserved exactly as they were found in 1991. The museum documents the Soviet occupation, the Holocaust in Lithuania, and the resistance movement that fought for independence. Allow two hours. Entry costs approximately 6 euros as of 2026. The museum is not suitable for children under 14 or for anyone looking for light entertainment. The building was known locally as the house of tears, and the experience of walking through its corridors stays with you long after you leave.

Lithuanian Food and Drink

Lithuanian cuisine is hearty and seasonal. Cepelinai are the national dish: potato dumplings stuffed with meat or curd cheese, shaped like zeppelins, served with sour cream and bacon bits. Saltibarsciai, the cold beet soup, is the summer essential, a pink soup made from beetroot, kefir, cucumbers, and dill, served with a hot potato on the side. Kibinai, pastries filled with mutton or vegetables, are a souvenir from the Karaim community, a Turkic ethnic group who were brought to Lithuania in the 14th century. The craft beer scene in Vilnius is excellent. Alaus Biblioteka, the beer library, has 100 bottled beers from small Lithuanian breweries. The Genys brewery in the old town serves unfiltered, unpasteurised beer brewed on site. The local honey spirit, Krupnikas, is a sweet herbal liqueur served cold as a digestif. A meal in Vilnius costs 10 to 15 euros. The street food scene includes the traditional kebab, kebabas, from the city’s small Karaim community.

Have you explored the hidden courtyards of Vilnius, celebrated in Uzupis, or walked through the history of the Museum of Occupations? Share your Lithuanian discoveries in the comments below.

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