What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Vilnius, Lithuania.
Photo: Diliff / Wikimedia Commons
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, home to about 581,475 people. It's known for its large Old Town, a mix of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance buildings, plus the quirky, self-declared republic of Užupis across the river. It's a compact, walkable city, good for a short break with historic churches, museums and a laid-back café culture. The best months to visit are May, June, August and September, when days are warmer and good for walking around the Old Town and riverside areas.
Two to three days are enough to see the Old Town, Gediminas' Tower, Užupis and a museum or two, with time to explore a second neighbourhood like Naujamiestis or Žvėrynas.
Old Town
One of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe, with baroque churches, quiet courtyards and winding cobbled streets. It is the best place to start, and most other sights on this list are inside it or a short walk away.
Old Town
The city's main Catholic church has a white neoclassical front and a separate bell tower on the open square. Inside, the baroque Chapel of St Casimir is the highlight.
Old Town
The brick tower on Castle Hill is what remains of the Upper Castle and is a national symbol. Walk up for the best view over the Old Town's red roofs and church towers.
Old Town
The only surviving gate of the old city walls holds a chapel with a famous icon of the Virgin Mary. It is an active pilgrimage site, so you will often see people praying in the street below.
Old Town
A small Gothic church with a detailed red-brick front, often called the finest Gothic building in Lithuania. The larger Bernardine Church stands right behind it.
Old Town
One of the oldest universities in Central and Eastern Europe, built around a series of linked courtyards. Visitors come for the arcaded yards, St Johns' Church and the painted halls.
Užupis
An arty district across the small Vilnia river that declared itself a 'republic' as a joke and posts its humorous constitution on a wall in many languages. It has studios, cafés and a relaxed, slightly scruffy feel.
Lukiškės
Housed in the former KGB headquarters, it covers Soviet and Nazi occupation and the Lithuanian resistance. The basement prison cells are the most powerful part of the visit.
Antakalnis
From outside it looks plain, but the interior is covered in thousands of white stucco figures, among the richest baroque decoration in the region. It is a pleasant walk or short bus ride east of the Old Town.
Old Town
A modern building designed by Daniel Libeskind that shows Lithuanian art from the second half of the 20th century to today. A good contrast to the city's churches, with changing exhibitions.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C / -5°C | 14 days (60 mm) | 2.1 h/day | 0.8/10 |
| February | 1°C / -4°C | 12 days (45 mm) | 3.9 h/day | 1.6/10 |
| March | 6°C / -2°C | 10 days (39 mm) | 6.7 h/day | 2.6/10 |
| April | 12°C / 2°C | 11 days (55 mm) | 8.9 h/day | 4.6/10 |
| Best month: May | 18°C / 7°C | 12 days (67 mm) | 11.7 h/day | 7.5/10 |
| Best month: June | 23°C / 13°C | 11 days (68 mm) | 13.1 h/day | 7.9/10 |
| July | 23°C / 14°C | 14 days (110 mm) | 11.9 h/day | 7.2/10 |
| Best month: August | 23°C / 14°C | 12 days (89 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 7.7/10 |
| Best month: September | 18°C / 10°C | 10 days (56 mm) | 8.4 h/day | 8.0/10 |
| October | 11°C / 5°C | 13 days (64 mm) | 5.1 h/day | 3.2/10 |
| November | 5°C / 1°C | 13 days (56 mm) | 2.1 h/day | 0.9/10 |
| December | 1°C / -2°C | 15 days (58 mm) | 1.4 h/day | 0.4/10 |
Highs sit at -1°C with 13.8 rain or snow days, and only 2.1 sun hours a day. The score is 0.8, the lowest of the year: cold, dark and tough for walking tours.
Still cold at 1.4°C high with 11.8 wet days and just 3.9 sun hours daily. Score 1.6 means conditions stay harsh, though days are slowly brightening.
Highs reach 6°C but lows stay below freezing at -1.7°C, with 10.2 rain days. Score 2.6 shows this is a transition month, still cold for sightseeing.
Temperatures climb to 11.7°C with 11.2 rain days and 8.9 sun hours. Score 4.6 marks an ok month as the city shakes off winter.
Highs of 17.6°C, lows of 7.4°C and 11.7 sun hours make this one of the best months, scoring 7.5, with greener parks and longer days.
The warmest comfortable month, 22.5°C highs and 13.1 sun hours daily, with 10.7 rain days. Score 7.9 is the year's top rating.
Highs hit 22.7°C but rain picks up to 13.9 days and 110mm, the wettest month. Score 7.2 still rates it good despite the showers.
Warm at 23.1°C high with 11.7 rain days and 89mm rainfall. Score 7.7 keeps it among the best months for a visit.
Highs of 18°C, fewer rain days at 9.9, and 8.4 sun hours bring the year's top score of 8, with mild, drier conditions.
Highs drop to 11°C with 12.9 rain days and sun falling to 5.1 hours. Score 3.2 reflects the shift into cold, grey autumn weather.
Highs of just 4.9°C, 12.9 rain days and only 2.1 sun hours bring heavy cloud and chill. Score 0.9 marks a tough month for travel.
The darkest month, with 1.4 sun hours a day, highs of 1.3°C and 14.9 rain or snow days. Score 0.4 is the year's lowest, cold and short on daylight.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Lithuania →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, sightseeing, nightlife
The UNESCO-listed Old Town packs baroque churches, cobbled lanes, courtyards, cafés and bars into a compact, walkable area. You can reach most major sights on foot, and Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower and the Gates of Dawn are all close by. Cobblestones are tough on suitcases, and streets such as Vokiečių and Pilies can be loud late on weekend nights.
Good for food lovers, longer stays, train arrivals
The 'New Town' west of the Old Town mixes 19th-century buildings with converted factories that now hold restaurants, coffee roasters and creative spaces. It is handy for the train and bus stations and feels more local than the centre. Some stretches are plain and run along busy roads, so it pays to pick your street carefully.
Good for families, quiet, runners
A leafy residential district on a bend of the Neris river, known for its old wooden houses and an Orthodox church by the water. Vingis Park is next door for walks and runs, and you can walk across the river into the centre. Evenings are very quiet, with only a handful of restaurants and bars nearby.
Good for nature lovers, repeat visitors
A green district east of the centre, home to the ornate Church of St Peter and St Paul and close to the forested Pavilniai hills and Antakalnis Cemetery. It suits travellers who want parks and peace over nightlife. Most of it is too far to walk to the Old Town comfortably, so you will rely on buses and trolleybuses.
These are large potato dumplings stuffed with minced meat or curd cheese. Locals eat them as a hearty lunch or dinner, usually topped with sour cream and bits of fried bacon.
A cold beetroot soup made with kefir or buttermilk, served bright pink and cold. It is a summer dish in Vilnius, often paired with warm boiled potatoes on the side.
Small pastries filled with meat, usually mutton or beef, brought to Lithuania by the Karaite community. You can find them in bakeries and cafes around Vilnius as a quick snack.
Potato sausages made from grated potato and pork, stuffed into intestine casings and baked or fried. This is a traditional, filling dish often served at family gatherings.
A spit cake with a tree-like, spiky surface, made by layering batter over a rotating spit as it bakes. It is a festive cake for weddings and holidays across Lithuania, including Vilnius.
Yes, August is one of the best months, with a score of 7.7 out of 10. Daytime highs reach 23.1°C and there are 11.3 hours of sunshine a day, though 89mm of rain falls over about 12 days, so pack a light rain jacket.
September, June, August and May score highest, all rated 'best' with scores between 7.5 and 8 out of 10. September is the top month at 8, with mild highs of 18°C, lows of 10°C and only 9.9 rain days, the driest stretch of the year.
Yes, January is the coldest month, with a high of just -1°C and a low of -5.3°C. It also gets only 2.1 hours of sunshine a day and rain or snow falls on 13.8 days, which is why it scores just 0.8 out of 10.
Two to three days cover the main sights. Old Town alone takes about half a day, and other highlights like Gediminas' Tower, Vilnius University, Užupis and the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights each need 1 to 2 hours, adding up to roughly 10 more hours of sightseeing.
July is the wettest month, with 110mm of rain over 13.9 days, more than any other month. Despite this, it still scores 7.2 out of 10 as 'good', since highs reach 22.7°C and there are 11.9 hours of sunshine a day.
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