Vilnius is a great start or end point for your tour in the Baltics. Here you’ll meet the kindest people of the country that strives to constantly improve, paving the pathway for the rest of Europe culturally and technologically.
If you are not simply impressed by this modern Baltic ethos then you can always enjoy some more traditional tourist attractions that this splendid country offers, if it means hiking through astonishing nature, enjoying the cultural heritage or simply devouring some of the best eastern European delicacies.
In this article we focus on touristic recommendations in Vilnius and its surroundings based on personal impression from our short stay here.
Explore Vilnius
Free walking tour
As we were completely oblivious to the history and cultural heritage of Lithuania we started our visit with a free walking tour guided by Vilnius with Locals Tours. This well constructed tour gave us a good basic introduction to the history of the nation and of the city of Vilnius as well as a beautiful walk through some of the hundreds of inner courtyards and other must-see sites.
We highly recommend any tourist visiting Vilnius to take this general tour that we had, as it really adds a layer of insights to the otherwise mundane city.
Walk along Vilnia river
From the cathedral square there is a pretty route that would lead you along the Vilnia river to Bernardine Garden. You can take a rest from your walk at the street food trucks area, a beautiful corner surrounded by fruit trees. If you still have time, you can continue your walk to Užupis neighborhood which is just across the Vilnia river.
Get lost in Užupis
On April 1st 1997 this half-island neighborhood of artists declared itself a independent sovereign entity named the Republic of Užupis, by the local parliament of the drinkers, yet even they don’t take this definition seriously. Along the numerous artworks spread allover this side of the river bank one can find also their official constitution that is based upon moral values of peace and freedom.
As you enter the neighborhood from the city center you will find a mystical spot to relax immediately under the bridge. There is a long swing hanging from the bridge and over the river which you reach through some walking on water. Further up the stream there are more interesting sitting spots with nice sculptures and hidden treasures.
If you walked until here and still have the will and strength to complete the Vilnia river walk then you should definitely continue to Kūdrų lakes park.
Relax at Kūdrų lakes park
Kūdrų park is situated south to Užupis neighborhood just across the Vilnia river. This is a relaxing oasis with charming lakes and trees. If you keep climbing up the hill you will also get a great panoramic view.
Street Art
Apart from astonishing sculptures Vilnius is a vibrant graffiti hub house to some impressive works of famous artists side by side with emerging local artists. We could not see all of the major graffiti works around the city, but we had a glimpse of the scene.
Our favorite work is of course the hidden graffiti in the children playground in front of the central market, representing the 3 major cities of Israel including Haifa, our hometown. Another intriguing graffiti is the one featuring the renown Nobel prize winner scientist Albert Einstein as a backpacker.
Also worth mentioning is the open art gallery, Atvira meno galerija, though to us it felt like it is still looking for its unique artistic direction and not worth the long and dull walk from the city center.
Eat vegan in Vilnius
The following is a shortlist of the best vegan food that we had during one week. However, we’ve ate only as much as humans can eat, so it is far from representing the abundance that the Lithuanian cuisine offers.
The central market
The central market of Vilnius, Hall Market (Lithuanian: Halės turgus), is a great place to get a grasp of Lithuanian food basics, and a fun cultural experience recommended for every tourist.
Not all of us are fluent in Lithuanian or Russian so there is a bit of a language barrier here. If you just want to buy a small quantity simply give the vendor a coin of €1 or €2 and point to what you want to buy.
If you are not yet familiar with the eastern-European produce, these are some of the best vegan delights to try when you’re here:
- Pickles – Lithuanians pickle just about anything edible. The fermentation process adds a layer of delicious stickiness to the already great produce, however this is an acquired taste so don’t give up after taking your first bite. If you find the taste repulsive yet intriguing, just take a sip of water to wash your mouth and try it again with a smaller chunk chewing it for a longer time.
Our favorite fermented vegetables, that we bought from the far most stand on the right side of the building when entering from the main entrance, are the cucumbers, halved-tomatoes fermented in their own juice and the red cabbage. If you want to try some more fancy stuff you can try some fermented wild mushrooms. - Fruit – The variety and quantity of freshly picked wild berries is just overwhelming. Before buying you can always politely ask to taste a small fruit (hand gestures are welcome).
- Mushrooms – If you have the facilities to cook at your accommodation, in summer you’ll have the chance to buy Chanterelle mushrooms freshly picked from the nearby woods. You can also find them yourself in nature if you already have acquaintance with picking it in wild.
At the center of the Hall Market’s main building there is a surprisingly good roastery that also serves their high quality aromatic coffee with plant based alternatives to cow milk and a few pastries to choose from, though none is vegan.
At the city center
This tiny and charming bagel bistro serves fresh self-made delights and offers a few tasty vegan options. They really know their way around bagels, and it is a must visit for real bagel fans.
This popular vegan café offers the traditional Lithuanian cold beetroot soup (Šaltibarščiai) which we found very tasty. We also had a pretty good tempeh stir-fry. All the dishes are served with a pile of deep fried potato wedges.
A day trip to Kaunas
Taking a 1½ hours train from Vilnius you can comfortably reach Kaunas, the former temporary capital of Lithuania during the Polish occupation of Vilnius between the world wars.
The market
Getting off the train and walking towards the city center one cannot ignore the surrounding market vibe with its overwhelming smells, sights and vibrant rhythm.
It is less organized in respect to the Vilnius central market, but nevertheless it will complete your comprehending of this honorable city.
The architecture
In September 2023 the unique architecture of Kaunas was recognized officially as an UNESCO world heritage site. Indeed, the styles-mix makes this city an open air museum of the 20th century architecture. We walked for several hours through side streets and the residential neighborhoods surrounding the city center, and we probably experienced only a fraction of all its beauty.
Vegan food that is worth the travel
A traditional east-European bistrot in the center of Kaunas is all you need to make us happy. This place serves traditional Lithuanian delights in their most exquisite vegan version, and their Burek is just to die for.
A day hike to Trakai and the marshes
A tip from a friend and a half an hour train from Vilnius brought us to Trakai, the Lithuanian fairy tales castle immerse between lakes and natural marshes. Though most tourists enjoy an hour walk to the castle and back, it is highly recommended to go further into the woods and across the marshes.
On the way we passed a mass grave, an excruciating reminder of Lithuania’s horrific past, when more than 200,000 of its Jewish residents were brutally murdered in the forests by their long time neighbors who chose to cooperated with Nazi-Germany. Sadly Lithuania never admitted to voluntarily collaborate with the Nazis and is up to this day trying to make laws to cleanse them from genocide. They are also making laws to block any future financial claims for returning the tens of thousands of stollen homes of the Jewish victims. Amit’s grandfather was the only survivor from his whole large family of his 6 siblings with their spouses, children, parents, grandparents and many other relatives that were all murdered on this land.
By foot, bicycle or car you can reach the educational trail of Varnikų botanical-zoological reserve. Here you can hike along a few kilometers of wooden bridges to best explore the natural wetlands in a circular path.
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