Vilnius: Old Town, Art and Green Spaces

Vilnius has many sides: buildings from several eras shape the historic centre, while parks, art venues and distinctive neighbourhoods offer other perspectives. When planning your holiday, you can decide whether architecture, exhibitions, the history of toys or time spent among green spaces should take centre stage.

Old Town, architecture and distinctive neighbourhoods

The historic centre includes a UNESCO-listed Old Town. On a walk, you will encounter Gothic, Renaissance and Classical buildings, but above all Baroque architecture. St Anne’s Church adds a late Gothic note: it is considered a masterpiece of this style and has remained almost unchanged over the past five centuries. Gediminas Tower offers panoramic views of Vilnius. The surviving defensive tower of the Upper Castle also houses a historical exhibition featuring reconstructed models of Vilnius’s castles.

The neighbourhoods also tell different stories. The Republic of Užupis is a self-proclaimed bohemian enclave on the banks of the Vilnia and has its own constitution. The Glass Quarter is surrounded by jewellers, local artists, craft shops and workshops. A 600-year-old neighbourhood that once occupied most of what is now the Old Town was a Jewish quarter of goldsmiths, glassblowers, craftspeople and financiers. These historical and contemporary connections give you different themes to explore as you discover the city.

Art and the history of toys

The MO Museum presents exhibitions of modern Lithuanian art that explore developments in Lithuanian art over the past 60 years. Its collection comprises more than 5,000 works; educational programmes are also among the museum’s activities. If you are interested in art and its development, this offers a different way to get to know Vilnius than exploring the historic centre’s architecture.

The Toy Museum in the Old Town is a family-oriented educational centre dedicated to the heritage of toys and games. Its exhibits range from the oldest toys in the archaeological section, through 19th- and 20th-century toys in the ethnographic section, to contemporary toys. There are also three themed exhibitions: “The Oldest Lithuanian Toys”, “Journey to the Stone Age” and “Memories of the 20th Century”. The museum thus brings archaeological, ethnographic and contemporary perspectives on toys together in one place.

Parks and nature within the city

Bernardine Garden lies in the heart of Vilnius, between Gediminas Hill, the Vilnia and the Bernardine Monastery. Residents once called it Sereikiškės Park. The garden is home to Vilnius’s oldest oak, around 400 years old; it also features a botanical exhibition commemorating the Botanical Gardens of Vilnius University. Its location and botanical connections make the garden a distinct natural and historical point of interest within the city.

Pavilniai Regional Park is one of two regional parks in Vilnius and protects the Vilnia Valley. Visitors can follow an educational historical trail along the Vilnia, which begins at the Pūčkoriai dam, and see a geological monument: the Pūčkoriai Outcrop. In winter, Liepkalnis Hill in the regional park is popular with skiers. To get there, take bus 74 from the Žaliasis tiltas stop to Pavilniai Regional Park.

Vingis Park offers a different landscape: it covers 160 hectares along a bend in the Neris. The park is used for walking, cycling and roller-skating. Concerts, events and festivals take place on the central stage. If you are choosing where to stay with park activities or events in mind, this offers a different focus in Vilnius from the Old Town neighbourhoods and museums.

More ways to explore Vilnius

Guided walks are another way to explore the city. The 100-km route around Vilnius is suitable for running, walking and discovering lesser-known places in the city. The Vilnius maps include a section with a public transport map. For further trip planning, you can also discover these places: Karvys, Žydkaimis, Antatilčiai, Bezdonys, Lentvaris, Juodšiliai, Trakai, Eišiškės.

For the broader travel overview: Vilnius County.