Short Breaks in Vilnius

Vilnius at a glance

Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, boasts Europe’s largest medieval Old Town and has a rich history and enchanting architecture. It’s a compact city and the cobbled streets of the Old Town contain an array of neoclassical and baroque churches and beautiful parks, and are home to a lively café culture. Gedominas Tower, the remaining part of the Upper Castle, sits on a hill and offers striking views of the red-roofed buildings below. A visit to the Museum of Genocide Victims provides an insight into the country’s darker history.

Perfect if you’re looking for:

• History and culture
• Fascinating architecture 
• A city of contrasts

Getting around

There is a good bus system taking visitors all around Vilnius city and slightly outside of the central point. There are frequent trolley buses occupying popular routes which are up to ten minutes apart, as well as night buses and fast buses with limited stops. Uber is a popular choice for modern travellers, however it is not recommended to use the local taxis. Additionally, Vilnius has an automated bicycle rent system, easily to spot, the bikes are bold orange.

Dining in Vilnius

Restaurants in this city are teeming with ultra-local ingredients which evolve with the seasons, visitors can expect some new, exciting dishes made with familiar ingredients. And of course, these vibrant ingredients readily available in Lithuania creates some colourful cuisine, an example being beetroot, fresh beetroots are made into shockingly bright pink soups known as chilled borscht and is often served in the cosy winter. Craft beer has entered into Lithuania’s drinking scene with Vilnius at the forefront, hosting a number of good café-bars for local and international beers.

Must-try local dishes:

• Cepelinai – large dumplings crafted from raw and cooked potato dough, they are filled with pork and smothered in a sour cream and bacon sauce.
• Fried curd cakes – a Lithuanian staple, fried curd cakes are made with cheese curd, flour, egg and sugar, often served with berries and jam. These can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner!
• Grybukai – directly translated to “mushroom cookies”, these cookies are flavoured with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and cardamom and glazed to resemble a mushroom.

Shopping in Vilnius 

There are many shopping centres in Vilnius, the Go 9 shopping mall on Gedimino Avenue is popular and the avenue is also home to some upmarket shops. The oldest and largest shopping centre is Akropolis which is well known across Lithuania and the alternative Ozas mall boasts a good food court.

Get your tailor-made short break itinerary

Osprey Holidays can create a fabulous short break to Vilnius designed completely around your needs. We can arrange whatever you need, including:

• All travel and transfers on days of your choice
• Accommodation from our handpicked range of Vilnius hotels, to suit your budget and requirements

Our award-winning team can provide expert advice and recommendations, from general questions to tiny details. Contact us now for your tailor-made itinerary.