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Vilnius

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Vilnius
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Vilnius Travel Guide

  • About Vilnius
Once the least known and visited of the three Baltic State capitals, Vilnius has now established as a city-break destination of considerable repute and most tourists start from its Old Town, one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Europe and a UNESCO-listed site.Though occupied for much of the 20th century by Russians and Nazis, it is the period of Soviet rule that is most tellingly portrayed in the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, housed in the former KGB headquarters, complete with still-intact cell block and specialised torture rooms.Elsewhere, the National Museum of Lithuania tells the story of prouder moments in the country’s history and has the largest collection of Lithuanian cultural artefacts seen anywhere.However, the city’s history began long before occupation and its historic core is still stunning, centred on a well-preserved and expansive baroque old town that is fringed by the Vilnia and Neris Rivers. A riot of red pitched roofs, often punctuated by church spires, reaches for the heavens, and the best vantage point is from the summit of the Hill of Three Crosses in Kalnai Park. Another great vantage point – fitted with a lift so you only need to climb the last few steps up to the veranda – is from the campanile of St John’s Church. At 68m (223 ft), the campanile is the tallest structure in the Old Town.If it’s art you’re after, the city is awash with creatives too. The huge Contemporary Art Centre is one of the biggest art spaces in the Baltic region and is the place to go for exhibitions, retrospectives, one-off events and hand-picked cinema pieces. Else, hunt out the amazing street art including two portraits of Titan Atlas supporting the Liubarto bridge and the viral-sensation Trump-and-Putin street art – the original version had them sharing a kiss, but it was vandalised and later changed.Add in the buzz that the large local student population injects into the narrow cobbled streets, it all makes Vilnius a thrilling, energetic and rewarding place to visit.
  • Vilnius History
According to Lithuanian folklore, Vilnius was built upon a dream. After hunting in the forests in the Šventaragis Valley in the early 14th century, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Gediminas, had fallen asleep.He dreamt of a large iron wolf atop a hill, howling as loud as a pack of 100 wolves. When he woke, he asked the priest Lizdeika to interpret his dream. He was told to build a city here as the iron wolf represented the fame of the future city spreading far and wide.In 1323, Gediminas erected a wooden castle on top of a nearby hill, and named the city below Vilnius, after the nearby Vilnia River.Gediminas sent news of the city to various towns across Europe, inviting the Jews and Germans from the Hanseatic League to visit. By the end of the 14th century, a German medieval military order called the Teutonic Knights had all but destroyed the city and castle. The knights were finally defeated in July, 1410 at the Battle of Grunwald, one of the largest battles in medieval Europe.Vilnius was then rebuilt with huge city walls, allowing it to grow in stature, size and influence. No invitations were dispatched ahead of the Russians taking the city in 1655, nor before the Swedish occupied it in both 1702 and 1706.After the Third Partition of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795, Vilnius was annexed by the Russian Empire. The 120- year Russian occupation was interrupted when the French, led by Napoleon, stormed the city in 1812. The French did not enjoy much success, however, as 40,000 soldiers died here due to cold and starvation.The next invasion came in 1915 when German occupied Vilnius during World War I, and again in 1941 during World War II.When the German withdrew in 1944, the Soviets took back control once again. It was only after the Soviet coup attempt of 1991, the Soviet Union finally acknowledged the independence of Lithuania.On 1 May 2004, Lithuania joined the European Union and in 2015, it adopted the euro.
  • Did you know?
Lithuania was the last pagan country in Europe, accepting Christianity only in 1387. Vilnius was once known as the ‘Jerusalem of the North’, but the Nazis slaughtered most of the Jewish population during WWII. Founded in 1579, Vilnius University is the oldest university in the Baltic states. Vilnius was a European Capital of Culture in 2009.
  • Weather in Vilnius
Vilnius has a humid continental climate marked by warm summers and cold winters.Spring (March to May) sees the temperatures gradually increase from 1°C (34°F) in March to 13°C (55°F) in May.Summer (June to August) is the peak season with many tourists come to town. Cafes and restaurants all spill out on to the cobbled streets of the Old Town and a flurry of festivals breeze through Vilnius. The city’s zinging nightlife is also in full swing. In July, the average high is 21C (70F) while the average low is 12C (54F), though temperatures over 30C (86F) have been recorded.Autumn (September to November) is pleasant; savvy visitors like to visit in early autumn when the tourist crowds dissipate. In September, the average high is 16C (61F) while the average low is 8C (46F).Winter (December to February) can be long and hard, expect snow and low temperatures so wrap up warm, but it is also the ideal time for cosying up in traditional pubs and discovering the romantically deserted streets.

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