Europe’s Hidden Gem: Vilnius, Lithuania
A city of churches, hot-air balloons, and green parks
When most people choose to travel to northern Europe, they tend to visit big cities like London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, or Oslo. These megalithic tourist centers absorb the majority of tourism, leaving smaller countries to struggle with the competition. But, while these places are great, they can get a bit too crowdy, and overpriced, and honestly, for me, they lose some part of the magic that made them special first place. So, when the time came to visit northern Europe, I choose a small country in northeastern Europe, called Lithuania as my destination.
And it was one of the best decisions of my life…
On April 30th I took a plane and left Greece — my home country — behind. Passing the Balkans the plane dived straight into a mountain of cotton clouds and for some hours all I could see from my window was a fluffy, lead-colored sea. As soon as the plane reached the Baltics, the view changed drastically. Huge forests covered the land beneath our feet to the point where it seemed as if we were flying among two cloud levels, the one above as white as the snow, while the other below was in the beautiful color of emerald green.
Soon the pilot announced our landing. The destination?
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.
First Impressions
We landed at Vilnius International Airport, just a few kilometers from the center of the capital. From the moment I stepped out of the 3G express bus, which took as from the airport to the city center, I felt like I walked out of a time machine transferring me somewhere 100 years earlier in time! Everywhere you looked there were huge old houses made from bricks with wonderful gothic-style decorations on their fronts and large balconies towering above your head! Each block you laid your eyes upon was like scenery taken straight from the “Peaky Blinders” series!
With the exception of a short period from May to September, Vilnius is almost always cloudy with rains and cold weather. Combined with the extremely low population rate (there are about 500.000 residents in the capital), it offers the visitor a unique, cozy, and almost nostalgic feeling of a past era.
“The City of A Thousand Churches”
While the brick houses of Taurakalnis and the small traditional wooden cabins of Žvėrynas will take you on a trip to the early 20th century, the city’s churches look like they jumped out from a Harry Potter movie! There are dozens of Christian temples to visit while in Vilnius, from large Russian-style orthodox churches to evangelical and catholic ones. Each church is unique and hides its own surprises. From the main Grand “Cathedral” at the heart of the city center, where you can climb its breath-taking belltower and enjoy the view, to the “Church of Apostles St. Philip and St. Jacob” where you can enjoy a 15-minute-long carillon concert, there are lots of things to do!
One important note! Lithuanians are proud of their deep faith. While visiting the churches make sure to respect their religion! It is a great way to earn their hearts and feel that you are part of their welcoming community. Sit with them, listen together to the angelic hymns, and marvel at the marble statues of cupids, saints, and priests, along with the rest amazing renaissance architecture.
Bonus tip: for the adventure seekers and the ones who are not faint in heart, you shall contact the Church Heritage Museum and go on a tour to the underground catacombs, which serve as the final resting place of many priests and monks.
Walk, Walk, and Walk
Despite being the capital, Vilnius is a small city. For example, the distance from its center to the airport is only about 5 km, which — for an experienced hiker — will take roughly one hour. While the city has an excellent public transport system, I can tell you there isn’t a better way to explore it other by foot.
With all its major attractions located in a small area, walking is your key to exploring the city from the eyes of the locals. For example, Lithuania’s National Museum, Gediminas Tower, and the Grand Duke’s Palace are all located in the main cathedral square. This is where you will get a glimpse of Lithuania’s history, customs, and everyday life back from the Middle Ages till World War II. Both the Church Heritage and the Amber Museum are located a few blocks away. There you will discover magnificent relics from the rich religious history of medieval Lithuania, while in the latter you’ll get the chance to admire the precious Baltic Amber coming from the northern shores and even buy a valuable souvenir back home.
Off the Beaten Path
No matter how awesome the above places are, if you want your trip to be truly unforgettable, you must “get your hands dirty” and explore Vilnius off the beaten path. Trust me on this one, once you step out of “comfort tourism”, you will instantly fall in love with the city. Let me offer you a short guide on what unusual things you can do:
For the history nerds: Lithuania is a former USSR state. Its Soviet legacy still haunts the country to this day. If you want to learn more about the dark side of Vilnius’ history, you should visit the Museum of Occupation and Freedom Rights, which was once the seat of power for the infamous KGB. A few blocks away the former Lukiškės prison — Lithuania’s Alcatraz — is waiting for you for a trip down its rusty, haunted cells, where the political prisoners were tortured and prisoned during the Soviet regime. If you feel a little adventurous and you are not afraid of dark, narrowed places, you should book a tour to a Cold War Bunker! Otherwise, you can enjoy a nice trip to the Lazdynai neighborhood and marvel at its famous soviet blocks.
For nature lovers: Lithuania is known for two things: its ancient and large forests and its countless lakes. During the summer months, when the sky is clear and the sun shines bright, a trip to a nearby park or forest is a great way to escape the busy city life. If the sun is getting really hot, do not miss the chance to go for a swim in one of the many lakes near the city. Be mindful, however, that the water is going to be quite cold! Wanting to get closer to nature while in Vilnius? Why not stay in Downtown Forest Hostel & Camping, where you can camp among the green trees or stay in cute, little wooden log cabins? Here, you will enjoy the Baltic outdoors, while also making new friends!
For sports fans: Lithuanians love basketball and the country’s national team is one of the best in the world. While in Vilnius, you should visit Avia Solutions Group Arena, the largest and most significant sports facility in the entire country, where all the great games are held! If you want ideas for a souvenir, a jersey of the Lithuanian national team is a great gift to bring back home!
For adventure seekers: Would you like to live an unforgettable experience while in Vilnius? Something you will remember for the rest of your days? Well, here are some of my suggestions! For the best view of the city, climb the Television Tower, a gigantic 326,5 meters high structure with a rotating platform and a restaurant at its top. Wanna have fun with your friends? Seek the Vichy Varden Parkas, Vilnius’ best water park, and spend a day sliding on huge water slides. Finally, if you want to live a truly memorable experience, unlike no other, you should definitely go for a hot air balloon ride! Vilnius is the only European capital that allows hot air balloons to fly over the city! Unfortunately for me, the weather conditions were bad during my visit and I was forced to cancel my flight. But you can live the dream and fly above the clouds!
Eat Without a Second Thought
Do you know which activity will take lots of hours away from your vacation timetable?
Eating!
Lithuania has one of the most unique cuisines in Europe, and Vilnius, being the capital, offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars, pubs, and coffeehouses to choose from.
At this point, you need to become a little “mainstream tourist” and visit one of the many traditional restaurants to taste some authentic Lithuanian cuisine. Yes, I’m talking about all-time favorites such as the pinky Instagrammable summer soup of beetroot and kefir, called “Saltibarsciai”, the spiky tree-like-cake “Sakotis”, the always yummy potato pancakes, and of course what many claims to be Lithuania’s national dish, and my personal favorite, Cepelinai, served with bacon and sour sauce!
Despite how intriguing and delicious Lithuanian cuisine is, I strongly recommend visiting the city’s international restaurants. Vilnius is a foodie’s paradise with lots of different cuisines offered to you. Whether it will be Vietnamese noodles, crusty Italian pizza, or juicy American burgers, the city has you covered, offering a great variety of foods to taste. I can personally guarantee that Lithuanian burgers are amazing! Yet, I am not a local, so my advice is that whatever you wish to eat, always ask the locals. They know better and you will avoid any tourist traps!
Finally, while in Lithuania, you must go to one of the many pubs and drink a cold one! The country has some of the best beers I’ve ever tasted and there are countless options to choose from. Keep in mind that Lithuania, despite its people’s reputation as the heaviest drinkers in Europe, has some of the strictest alcohol laws, where selling any alcoholic beverage in public is prohibited from eight p.m to ten a.m! Drinking in public is also prohibited, the only place where you can enjoy a beer without the fear of a fine, is in the pubs and restaurants. But keep also in mind that the legal drinking age in Lithuania is 20 years old.
For those who do not like alcohol, however, you should definitely try kvass (also known as Gira), a fermented drink from cereals, which tastes like if you dipped some bread in coca-cola. Do not worry, it tastes way better than it sounds!
Bonus Tip: Vilnius’ Hidden Gem
For the closure, I would like to share with you my greatest secret, and reveal Vilnius’ most precious hidden gem:
Its people!
I’m from a country in southern Europe, meaning I’m used to a lot of openness back home, where even strangers will happily chat with you while on the bus. When compared, Lithuanians seem “colder”, preferring to say an awkward “hey” and then listen silently yet carefully to what you may want from them. But as soon as you open to them, all the laconism fades away and you see their faces smiling with joy! They are incredible people, always kind and cheerful. Once passing the point of simple chit-chat, Lithuanians are incredibly caring, friendly, and ready to help you in any way possible. From a simple waiter in a restaurant at Uzupis, who — after some time of friendly chatting — did not hesitate to greet me from afar every time he show me passing the same street, to a loving man who came to me seeking help because a neighbor of his forgot to lock his car, Lithuanians are welcoming, caring, and Vilnius’ top heart-warming sight.
So, if you too happen to spend some time in Vilnius and visit a pub, a restaurant, or even a simple supermarket, do not hesitate to chat with the loving people who you will definitely meet.
It was an honor meeting them and I truly hope to visit this beautiful country again and share once again with its people some good, cold beer.
