The main museums of Vilnius. Sights of Vilnius - the most complete list, prices, photos, personal experience

Here we will talk about museums for children of different ages - from three years old and older.

Tower of Gediminas. Museum and observation deck

This is fun for the whole family. is a symbol of Vilnius, and at least once it is worth going up to the observation deck to appreciate the panorama of the city. When visiting the tower, you can
- walk along the cobblestone path or ride the funicular - the choice is yours,
– get acquainted with the exposition of the castle museum (three exhibition halls not overloaded with exhibits),
- climb the spiral staircase to the observation deck,
- Admire the panorama of the city. If you prepare single-lit coins, you can examine the objects you like through a telescope.

Museum in the tower on Mount Gediminas

Address:
Arsenalo g. 5

Museum opening hours:
from April to September - daily from 10:00 to 21:00
from October to March - daily from 10:00 to 18:00

Ticket price:
adults - 5 euros
students - 2.5 euros

If your child is a romantic nature, interested in skeletons and ghosts, take him to the dungeons of the Cathedral. On the tour you will see the royal tomb, in which the ashes of two Polish kings and Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Alexander Jagiellon and Vladislav Vasa, as well as two wives of Zhigimont Augustus, Elizabeth and Barbara Radziwill, are buried. Also there are pagan altars from the pre-Christian era, the floor of the very first Cathedral from the time of Jogaila and the oldest fresco in Lithuania from the late 14th - early 15th century.

You can visit the dungeons only with a guide.

If you have a baby in a stroller, keep in mind that it will have to be left upstairs.

Tours in Russian are held on Wednesdays and Fridays at 16:00, in English - Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 16:00.

The dungeons of the Cathedral belong to the Museum of Church Heritage. It also includes the bell tower of the Cathedral, which we also recommend visiting.

You can take one ticket for 10 euros (preferential - 5 euros) to visit all three sites, or a ticket for 7.50 euros (preferential - 4 euros) for any two objects, or for 4.50 euros (2.5o euros) visit one site.

The ticket is valid for a week.

Fresco of the 14th century in the dungeons of the Cathedral

Address:
Cathedral

Dungeon ticket price:
adult - 4.50 euros,
preferential - 2.50 euros.

Bell tower of the cathedral

This museum will be of interest to both adults and children of primary and secondary school age. You can wander around the building itself, see various expositions, a collection of retro cars. But the most interesting part of the museum is an interactive exposition that demonstrates physical laws and phenomena.

Since the museum is located in the building of a former power plant, there are many stairs and dangerous openings in it - a small child needs constant supervision. The stroller will have to be left at the checkout.

Demonstration of the laws of physics at the Museum of Energy and Technology

Museum address:
Rinktines g., 2.

Working hours:
Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat: from 10:00 to 17:00,
Thu – 10:00-19:00.

Ticket price:
Adults - 3 euros,
schoolchildren - 1.5 euros (on Saturdays, children under 16 without parents are admitted free of charge).

money museum

Walking along Gediminas Avenue, look at. Absolutely free of charge, firstly, you will have an interesting time, and secondly, enrich yourself and your child with new knowledge.

The concept of the museum is to provide information for different ages and at different levels, various methods are used for better perception: text and pictures, the form of a game or test, you can watch a movie, listen to the story of an audio guide (including in Russian). This museum will be of interest primarily to children of middle and senior school age.

With baby preschool age you can also go - it is unlikely that he will understand something, but the museum has a lot of interactive and bright exhibits, little child it will be interesting.

money museum

Museum address:
Totorių g. 2/8

The museum is open:
From April 1 to October 31: Tuesday-Friday 10:00–19:00; Saturday 11:00-18:00.
From November 1st to March 31st: Tuesday-Friday 9:00-18:00; Saturday 10:00-17:00.

Free admission.

Museum of Genocide Victims

Heading along Gediminas Avenue towards the Lithuanian Seimas, you will reach the former KGB building, where various government agencies are now located, and in the side annex is located. Some may find the idea of ​​visiting such a museum with a child strange, but for older children it can be a good history lesson. The museum occupies the premises that housed the inner prison of the KGB (as well as the Gestapo), so the building itself and its interiors are the most important exhibit.

Listening room in the Museum of Genocide Victims

Museum address:
Aukų g. 2A (side extension of the building located on Lukiskiu Square).

Working hours:
Mon, Tue - day off,
Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat – 10:00-18:00,
Sun - 10:00-17:00.

Ticket price:
adults - 4 euros
schoolchildren, students and pensioners - 1 euro,
children under 7 years old - free of charge.
The cost of the tour in a foreign language is 20 euros.

Toy Museum

Having descended from Mount Gediminas towards the park and passing through it, you will just come to the entrance to. It opened in Vilnius in 2012 and quickly became popular with parents with children of preschool and primary school age. This is not just a museum, but a large playground (as far as the area allows) - in the museum you can play with almost everything that catches your eye. Parents will be interested to see the exposition of Soviet-era toys.

The toy museum has something for both big and small.

Museum address:
street corner Šiltadaržio g.2 / B. Radvilaitės g.7.

Mon. - day off
Tue, Wed, Thu – 14:00–18:00 (tickets are sold until 17:00)
Fri. 14:00–20:00 (tickets are sold until 19:00)
Sat, Sun – 11:00–16:00 (tickets are sold until 15:00)

Sun, Mon. - day off
Tue, Wed 12:00–20:00 (tickets sold until 19:00)
Thu, Fri. 12:00–18:00 (tickets are sold until 17:00)
Sat. 11:00–16:00 (tickets sold until 15:00)

Ticket price- 4 euros,
children under 2 years old - free of charge,
children from 2 to 18 years old, students, peknsionery,
people with disabilities - 3 euros,
large families (from 5 people) - 2.5 euros each.

More about Vilnius for children

Museum of Adam Mickiewicz in Vilnius - memorial museum Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz, who belongs to Vilnius University. It is located in a building on Bernardino Street and is an architectural monument of the 17th-18th centuries, typical merchant's house with galleries in the yard. The museum is open in the apartment where the great Polish poet and Lithuanian patriot Adam Mickiewicz lived for some time.

IN early XIX century, the building belonged to the merchant Zhitsky. Adam Mickiewicz lived on the ground floor in 1822 after returning from the city of Kovna. The poet finished his poem "Grazhina" here, preparing it for publication. In 1906, to commemorate this event, the Vilna Society of Friends of Science decided to establish a museum of the poet here. This plan was realized in 1911, when Jan Obst, a member of the society and his secretary, a Vilna journalist and publisher, bought this house.

In the three rooms of the museum you can see a table and an armchair that belonged to the poet and brought from Paris, a registration book of university students in 1815, documents, sculptures, portraits, medals related to the personality and work of the poet. The poet’s personal belongings, letters, first editions of his books and translations of works into other languages. The museum compiles such expositions as "A. Mickiewicz and Lithuania", "Philomatians and A. Mickiewicz", "Women in the life of A. Mickiewicz". The museum itself is small, but it’s good to go there on a summer day and feel a bit of the atmosphere of life in Vilnius in the 18th-19th centuries.

Museum of Energy and Technology in Vilnius

The Museum of Energy and Technology of the City of Vilnius is located in the city's central power plant. The exposition presents equipment that until recently operated and benefited the population. The presented turbines, generators, steam boilers, as well as wind and solar power plants installed on the roof, amaze with their industrial grandeur.

The spirit of the era captures the imagination, and the used modern technologies involved in the learning process. By the way, the electric generator of 1895 is considered to be the most unique exhibit. manufactured in Sweden, which was brought during the First World War. For children in the museum halls are presented alternative expositions.

Memorial Museum of V. Kreves-Mickevičius

V. Kreves-Mickevicius Memorial Museum is a museum in the city of Vilnius, located on Tauro Street. It was opened in 1992, in honor of the Lithuanian writer V. Kreves-Mickevicius. The museum is located in the house where the writer lived and the architect Ruta Rimas Grigio and the artist Julius Masalsky worked on the design of the house

V. Kreves-Mickyavich was known in Lithuania not only as an artist, but also as the founder of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, professor at the University of Vilnius, the University of Pennsylvania (USA), a cultural and statesman.

The museum contains 2889 exhibits, including furniture, archives, documentary materials, books, a typewriter, relics and photographs related to the personality of the writer, creative and cultural activities. The museum created the writer's study, where he worked, a bedroom, which is now equipped for seminars and conferences, and a miniature swimming pool has been built here.

Museum visitors are introduced to the biography of the writer, slides show moments of his life, voice recordings, as well as memories of prominent literary and cultural figures about him.

Theater Museum of Music and Cinema

The Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema is located in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. It was founded back in 1926, and in 1996 it was moved to the Small Palace of the Radziwills. The museum consists of several sections: theatrical, musical, cinematographic and visual arts.

The theater section presents programs and posters, photographs of performances, masks and puppets, stage costumes for various theatrical performances, as well as personal belongings of famous artists. Music section introduces rare instruments different eras, and also has a unique collection of Lithuanian folk musical instruments "kankle". The section of cinema is dedicated not only to Lithuanian, but also to the world development in the field of cinema. The section of fine arts presents the creation of scenery and theatrical characters, the history of art.

National Museum of Lithuania

The National Museum of Lithuania is a repository of the cultural and historical heritage of the Lithuanian people. It was opened in 1855 as the Museum of Antiquities, and only in 1992 did it get its current name.

The National Museum of Lithuania is located on the territory State Reserve, near the Neris River, in the center of the capital of Lithuania, the city of Vilnius. The museum contains information about all cultural trends in the development of the country over the centuries. There are more than a million exhibits here, the number of which is constantly increasing. The museum has several departments: numismatics, ethnic culture, iconography, archeology of the Middle Ages and Modern times, the history of modern times. It also periodically hosts virtual and temporary thematic exhibitions, for example, documentary photography "The Chronicle of the Renaissance in 1987-1991" or exhibitions dedicated to famous Lithuanians.

Works at the museum Restoration center. The National Museum hosts more than 250 thousand people every year. To better acquaint people with the history of the Lithuanian people, “Thursday evenings” are held here.

Money Museum of the Bank of Lithuania

The Bank of Lithuania Money Museum was opened in 1999. The acquaintance of visitors with the history of Lithuanian money takes place in five different halls. Here you can learn the history of banknotes and other states, as well as get acquainted with banking and its long history.

Museum visitors will have the opportunity not only to get acquainted with the exhibits, but also to take part in the process of making money, as the equipment for minting coins is exhibited in the museum. There is a room for interesting games, entertainment and equipment for viewing thematic films.

House-Museum Shlapyalis

The house-museum of Maria and Jurgis Shlapyalysov is a memorial museum located on Piles Street, in the city of Vilnius. A museum was opened in honor of the figures of Lithuanian culture, the spouses Maria Shlapyalene and Jurgis Shlapyalis, in the house - an architectural monument of the 17th century, where they lived and were engaged in creativity, and which they acquired in 1926.

Spouses Shlyapalisa are known primarily in Lithuania as public figures, who supported the Lithuanian language, literature, and kept a bookstore in Vilnius, during the period of 1864 and 1904, when a ban was imposed on the Lithuanian press, and the Lithuanian language.

The house-museum was founded by the city authorities in 1991, and in 1994 an exposition was opened that introduced the life and activities of the spouses, reflected the life of the Vilna region in the period from the second half of XIX century until 1940. In addition to exhibitions, the exposition hall and the living room of Shlapalis host evenings, concerts, lectures, book presentations and other events.

The collection of exhibits includes books, newspapers, documents and personal belongings of Shlyapyalis. Objects that are related to the cultural and scientific heritage of Eastern Lithuania from the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century are stored here.

Museum of Lithuanian Architecture

The Museum of Lithuanian Architecture is located in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. It was founded in 1968 as a branch of the National Museum of Lithuania. The first exhibition took place in 1972 Lithuanian architecture in the building of the Church of St. Michael, which is an outstanding architectural monument of the Renaissance. Since then, the museum has been located in the Bernardine monastery adjacent to the church and today it is included in the list of museums of the Center for Cultural Heritage of the country. In addition, the church houses the family mausoleum of the Lithuanian hetman Leonas Sapieha.

Exterior architecture of the museum building miraculously harmoniously combines the features of the Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic. In 1976, the museum exposition was placed in the corridor of the Bernardine monastery adjacent to the church of St. Michael, and in 1986 the museum occupied the entire monastery. The museum's extensive collection consists of city plans, drawings and maps, drawings and models, architectural documents and the first photographs. Chronologically, the museum's exposition is divided into two parts: the architecture of 1918-1940 and the architecture of 1944-1990.

B. Grincevichyute Memorial Museum

The B. Grincevičiūtė Memorial Museum is a house-museum opened in honor of the famous Lithuanian singer who sang in the voice of a soprano - People's Artist Beatrice Grincevichiute. She lived in this house of the post-war period since 1970, and in 1991, by decree of the Vilnius City Administration, the Beatrice Grincevichiute Museum was opened here.

The popularity of the singer began in 1937, when she made her debut on the Kaunas radio. Grincevichyute's repertoire was very diverse, numbering about 1000 musical compositions. She performed both folk songs, and other musical works of Lithuanian, Polish, German composers. Some of these works performed by her can be heard in this museum.

The collection of the memorial museum includes about 2500 exhibits, this includes the personal belongings of the people's artist, art objects, a library, a music library, photographs of the singer, letters, records, and typewriter. Also, the museum always organizes various exhibitions, meetings with interesting people, educational lectures and other events related to the activities of Beatrice Grinceviciute and her work. Museum visitors can use materials and books from the museum's collection, listen to recordings of the singer's voice, and enjoy the creative atmosphere at home.

Literary Museum of A. S. Pushkin

Literary Museum of A.S. Pushkin Museum in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is one of the interesting and old literary museums in the city. It has existed since 1949 and is located in the former estate of the poet's son Grigory Pushkin and his wife Varvara Melnikova.

The estate was the property of Varvara's father, the engineer Melnikov, who later gave it to his daughter as a wedding present. According to Varvara's will, after her death, the estate was transferred to the Vilna Russian Society in order to create a museum of A.S. Pushkin.

The entire museum complex consists of a manor - a former residential building, an estate with ponds, a chapel, a small cemetery and a monument to the great poet. The exposition of the museum acquaints with the work of A.S. Pushkin, and especially with the influence of Lithuanian culture on his works. There is a stand here that tells about the history of translations of the poet's works into Lithuanian, with theatrical performances of his works in the theaters of Vilnius and Lithuania. married couple.

The founding year of the Lithuanian Art Museum is considered to be 1933. Currently, its collection includes more than 200,300 exhibits, which are located in the following museum divisions:

· Vilnius Art Gallery, located in the count's palace of Khodkevich on Didzhoyi (Bolshoy) street, in housing construction No. 4. The exposition of the gallery is located in the neoclassical interior of the palace and includes works by Lithuanian masters of the 16th-20th centuries. The tradition of the gallery is to hold exhibitions, poetry evenings, classical music concerts;

· Museum of Applied Arts located in the building of the Old Arsenal on Arsenalo (Arsenalnaya) Street, in house No. 3a. Its collection includes works by masters of Lithuanian and foreign art XII-XX centuries. The building constantly hosts thematic exhibitions, musical concerts;

· National Art Gallery, arranged in housing construction No. 22 on Konstistiyos (Constitution) Avenue. The gallery functions as a modern cultural center. Its collection contains paintings, sculptural, graphic, photographic masterpieces by masters of the 20th-21st centuries. Lecture events, temporary exhibitions are constantly held in the gallery;

· Palace of the Radziwills, located along Vilniaus (Vilniusskaya) street, in housing construction No. 24. The museum fund of the Palace presents masterpieces of European fine art, as well as a portrait collection of the Radziwills. The Palace often hosts thematic exhibitions;

· Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum arranged in housing construction No. 1 along A. Goshtauto street. IN museum collection includes over 950 paintings, as well as personal belongings of the famous Lithuanian artist.

2. National Museum of Lithuania

The museum was organized in 1952 at the foot of the Castle Hill. Museum expositions located in:

· Old Arsenale(Arsenalo street, housing construction No. 3) - an archaeological collection with objects dating back to the period from the 2nd millennium BC. until the thirteenth century;

· New Arsenale(Arsenalo street, housing construction No. 1) - exhibits, dedicated to history Lithuania and national ethnic culture;

5. Museums of Vilnius University

The museum collection of Vilnius University is recognized as one of the richest university collections in Europe. The collection includes thousands of exhibits located in:

· arranged in St. Anne's chapel on St. Jono street, house building No. 12;

· Museum of the History of Medicine, whose expositions are located on M. Ciurlenio Street, in house No. 21;

· Museum of A. Mickiewicz, located on Bernardino (Bernandintsev) street, in housing construction No. 11;

· Museum of the Faculty of Chemistry organized on Naugarduko (Novgorodskaya) street, in house No. 24;

· Zoological Museum, whose collections are located on M. Ciurlenio Street, in housing construction No. 21/27;

· Museum of Physics located on the alley Sauletyakyo (Sunrise), in the house number 9;

· Museum of Lithuanian mathematicians located at the address: Naugarduko (Novgorodskaya) street, house building No. 24;

· Museum of Mineralogy and Geology, whose collection is located on the street. M. Ciurlenio, in housing construction No. 21/27.

6.

The collections of this museum are located on St. Mikolo (St. Nicholas) street in building No. 8. Among the exhibits there is a sun stone of various types and sizes, including specimens with inclusions of shells, insects, and plants.

7. Užupe blacksmith art gallery

This museum, housed in building no. 26 on Užupe Street, exhibits collections of ancient blacksmith tools. In the gallery premises, craftsmen demonstrate their products, in addition, sales of this unique product are constantly held there.

8. Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewry

Reconstructed in 1990, this museum institution has three divisions in Vilnius:

· an exposition dedicated to the Holocaust, located on Pamenkalne Street, house building No. 12;

· a complex of tolerance on Naugarduko (Novgorodskaya) street, in house No. 10/2;

memorial objects on the street. Pilimo (Embankment), in housing construction No. 4.

9. Memorial Museums

Vilnius is characterized by a significant number of memorial objects dedicated to the memory of prominent personalities. Similar cultural institutions are represented by:

· Literary Museum A. Pushkin, located on Subachiaus Street, in house building No. 124 (the former villa of the son of the greatest poet);

· Museum of the writer V. Kreve-Mickevičius located on Tauro Street, house number 10;

· The office of the writer A. Venclova located in building No. 34 on Pamenkalne Street;

· Museum of the writer V. Mykolaitis-Putinas arranged in house No. 10/3 on Tauro Street;

· Museum of Y. and M. Shlapyalisov organized on Piles (Castle) Street, in housing construction No. 40;

· The apartment of the singer B. Grincevichiute located on Venuole (Monasheska) Street, in house No. 12/1;

· Museum of the artist M. Čiurlionis located on Savičaus street, building No. 11.

10. Exposition of church heritage

A rare collection of church utensils and art objects of a religious nature is located in housing construction No. 9 on the street. Mikolo (Saint Nicholas).

There are about 60 museums in Vilnius, from traditional art and history museums to memorial and highly specialized ones (the museum of money, energy, amber).

If you are a fan of visiting museums, be sure to purchase the Vilnius City Card, which entitles you to free admission most city museums. The day off in Vilnius museums is Monday.

- the main museum of the country, representing the history and culture of the Lithuanian people. It has 6 branches in Vilnius.

- the largest national collection of fine and applied arts. There are 4 of its subdivisions in Vilnius.

The name of the Vilna Gaon tells about the history and culture of the Lithuanian Jews (Litvaks).

He talks about the Sovietization of Lithuania, about the activities of the KGB in the country, about the resistance of the Lithuanian people.

- meeting vintage paintings, books, tapestries from the Catholic churches of the country.

Contemporary Art Center ( offsite ) - organizes exhibitions that present to society latest trends contemporary art and disseminates information about contemporary art: publishes catalogues, artist publications and the monthly magazine "ŠMC/CAC Interviu » organizes lectures and seminars on contemporary art, meetings with artists. The gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 20:00. Address - Vokechu 2.

Literary Museum of A.S. Pushkin (offsite) is located on the outskirts of Markučiai, in the former estate of the poet's youngest son. Visitors can get acquainted with the atmosphere of the noble nest of the end of the 19th century, with several personal belongings of A.S. Pushkin, with books published during the life of the poet. The exposition also introduces translations of his work into Lithuanian, performancesPushkin's plays on the stages of Lithuanian theaters.

The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. Address - Subachiaus 124.

Adam Mickiewicz Museum- a small memorial museum of the famous romantic and rebel. Three countries at once (Poland, Lithuania and Belarus) consider him their Poet. Mickiewicz was born in Novogrudok, Belarus, his family belonged to the ancient Lithuanian family of Mickiewicz-Rimvids. He wrote beautiful poems, and devoted his whole life to the struggle for the freedom of Poland, the struggle against the Russians. The exposition of the museum consists of personal belongings of the poet, letters, documents, translations of his work into Lithuanian and Russian. Address - Bernardino 11, open Tuesday-Friday from 10-00 to 17-00, on Saturdays and Sundays from 10-00 to 14-00.

money museum- a small modern museum on Gediminas Avenue, near the Central Bank. In addition to an extensive numismatic collection, there are expositions that tell about the history of money, about the methods of their manufacture, about treasures, about the history of banking. Address - Totoryu 2/8, open Tuesday-Friday from 9-00 to 15-00.

– a large modern museum that tells about the history of technology, transport, energy, etc. Recommended for visiting persons of primary and secondary school age.

Amber Museum-Gallery- a small private museum, which presents jewelry from amber and unique samples of raw stone with inclusions. Visitors can get acquainted with the technology of amber processing. The museum is located near the church of St. Anne (Shvento Mykolo street 8) and is open all week from 10-00 to 19-00, you can visit it for free.

Museum of Amber Figures- also a small private museum-gallery, which presents a variety of amber jewelry, numerous figurines, chess pieces, etc. The museum is located near the Holy Gates (9 Aushros Vartu Street) and is open Monday-Friday from 10-00 to 19-00, Saturday-Sunday from 10-00 to 14-00, you can visit it for free.

I think many will agree with me that when going to any European city, it makes sense to find out in advance which places in the city you must visit, and Vilnius, in this case, is no exception!

We spent 2 weeks in the Lithuanian capital, visited many interesting places and I already showed you Vilnius a little and told you about what historical squares and atmospheric streets we looked at, what design and other districts of the city we walked through, what museums and what exhibitions we spent a couple of hours on, when it was raining, where in the city offers stunning views of the Old Town and its rooftops from a bird's eye view, and where it is best to meet the sunset.

In this article, I have collected all the sights of Vilnius, both paid and free, that you can see in 2-3 days, in addition to a detailed description, for convenience, I give the work schedule and ticket prices.

I want to warn you right away that in Vilnius everywhere (in museums, restaurants, cafes, shops) there is a system generally accepted for them, but a little unusual for us, for designating the days of the week by numbers, using Roman numerals “I-VII” (respectively, from Monday to Sunday ) and I will designate the mode of operation as well.

The Old Town of Vilnius is included in the UNESCO heritage list, and is the largest historical center, in other European cities the Old Town areas are smaller.

Cathedral Square and Cathedral

Cathedral Square (old name: Gediminas Square) is the main square of Vilnius, the central place for everyone holiday events cities, fairs, demonstrations, concerts, and other mass holidays are held here. This is the liveliest place in Vilnius, many sightseeing tours of Vilnius start from here, it is also a meeting place for tourists and residents of the city.

In the center of the square is the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus (CATHEDRAL BASILICA), in style it is similar to the temples of Ancient Greece, once there was a pagan temple in its place, where on the altar all day long fire burned. Now inside, it certainly looks different.

• Opening hours: I–VII, 7:00–19:30
• Ticket price: for free

There is a monument to Gediminas and a bell tower on the square.

There is also a tile with the inscription Stebuklas (“miracle”), finding which, you can consider yourself lucky, because your wish will come true! To do this, you need to stand on it and make a wish, then turn around three times in a circle. And the tile was installed in honor of the Baltic Way - a “living human chain”, which was made up by the inhabitants of the three Baltic countries in protest against the Soviet occupation in 1989, they joined hands and connected the 3 capitals of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius (in total, about 2 participated in the action million people).

Translated from Lithuanian, the Gates of Aushros (GATES OF DAWN) are the Guardians of the Dawn or the Gates of Dawn, and the second name is the Medina Gate. This is the only one of the 10 gates of the stone fortress wall that has survived to this day. Now this Renaissance building is a symbol and one of the main attractions of Vilnius.

First of all, Votota attract tourists with their chapel, which houses the world-famous miraculous icon Mother of God Ostrobramskoy is an important shrine for Catholics and Orthodox.

• Opening hours: I–VII 6:00–19:00
• Ticket price: for free

Town Hall Square and City Hall

Triangular Town Hall Square is one of the most ancient squares of the Old Town, once executions were performed here, and in general it was the central place in the city, there was also the main city market.

Now it is a calm and pleasant place, the square has been ennobled - 500 bushes were brought from Holland, and 12 maples from Germany were planted, benches and 55 lamps were installed.

We liked the fountain most of all in this square 🙂

The City Hall building (VILNIUS TOWN HALL) has been repeatedly restored and served as a meeting place, an art museum and even a theater.

Nearby there is a tourist information center where you can get free city maps and any information on the sights of Vilnius.

Many walking tours of the Old Town begin on the steps at the Town Hall.

Literatu Street

The sights of Vilnius include Literatu Street, this narrow and short street is one of the oldest in the city. It is called so because once there were many printing houses, and then bookstores, the Polish and Belarusian poet Adam Mickiewicz also lived here.

But we, and most tourists, are attracted to this street by something else, namely the project of 2008, when more than 200 unusual exhibits / plates made of ceramics, metal, wood, etc. were installed on the walls of the street.

Each of which is dedicated to various Lithuanian and foreign poets, writers from ancient times to the present day.

In general, there are more than 65 churches in Vilnius, and each one is a real work of art. The most famous, who became calling card of the city, this is the Church of St. Anne (CHURCH OF ST. ANNE) - this is a stunning example of brick Gothic, the greatest masterpiece of architecture.

There is a legend that when Napoleon saw this church, he certainly wanted to transport the church to Paris! As you can see, the idea failed 🙂 The name of the architect is still unknown, there are only assumptions.

For the construction of the church, 33 types of bricks were used. The church of St. Anne is connected with the Bernardine church through the gallery,

together they create a magnificent ensemble, it is this composition that is most often found on magnets.

Not a single excursion to the sights of Vilnius is complete without visiting these churches, you can look inside.

• Opening hours: May 1–September 30 I–VII 09:00–18:00 and October 1–April 30 only during Mass I–VI 17:30; VII 9:00 and 11:00
• Ticket price: for free

The Big and Small Ghetto (THE BIG AND LITTLE GHETTO) is not so much a landmark of Vilnius, but rather a place of memory. These are areas near the Town Hall Square, they were part of the medieval Jewish quarter (from Didžioji street to Dominikonų and Vokiečių streets), the first historically restored quarter - between Ašmenos, Dysnos and Mėsinių streets. During World War II, 11-12 thousand Jews lived in the Small Ghetto, and about 29,000 Jews lived in the Large Ghetto, most of whom were shot in Paneriai.

Rūdninkų Street 18 is the place of the main gate to the Great Ghetto, there is a memorial plaque with a plan of the ghetto hanging there, there is also an information and cultural Jewish center, there is a synagogue. The day of the liquidation of the Great Vilnius Ghetto September 23 is declared the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the genocide of the Jews of Lithuania. It is more interesting, of course, to walk around this quarter with a guide, you can learn a lot of details.

Towers and lookouts

The Gediminas Castle is located in the historical center on the Castle Hill, rises at a height of 48 m from the base of the hill,

you can go upstairs both by funicular for 2 EUR, or on foot along a cobblestone path.

This is one of the most popular attractions in Vilnius, which all tourists certainly want to see.

The ruins of the Upper Castle have been preserved nearby - the foundation from the southern tower

and a small fragment of the defensive wall.

Already from the hill, the view is quite good,

but climbing to the top of the tower is definitely worth it!

The tower-museum contains models of Viljus castles, as well as various ancient exhibits, including weapons. There is a hall dedicated to the struggle for the independence of Lithuania, it was he who attracted our attention, there are collected photographs of a "human chain", people holding hands, stretching over 3 countries, with a total length of 600 km.

First of all, people come to the Gediminas Tower for a panoramic view from the observation deck at the very top,

and it is best to come half an hour before sunset to look at the city and in the light of day,

and then, looking at the exhibition, have time to go upstairs again,

meet the sunset and see the city already in the evening lights.

The view of the Old Town from here is without a doubt the best!

The Hill of Three Crosses is also visible from the Tower.

• Website: www.lnm.lt
• Address: Arsenalo g. 5
• Opening hours: May 1–September 30 I–VII 10:00–19:00 and October 1–April 30 I–VII 10:00–17:00
• Ticket price: 4 EUR

Inside the Bastion (The Bastion of the Vilnius Defensive Wall) there is a museum, and at the top there is an observation deck

with a panoramic view of the city, though the view, alas, is not superb,

so here - more precisely for museum exhibits. The exhibition is modern, with various multimedia descriptions, hints and legends, in one place you can learn about almost all the significant sights of Vilnius.

Yes, and it's just interesting to walk along the fortress wall here,

see guns.

• Website: www.lnm.lt
• Address: Boksto g. 20/18
• Opening hours: III–VII 10:00–18:00
• Ticket price: 2 EUR

The bell tower in the Cathedral Square (Cathedral Belfry) is one of the oldest and tallest towers in the Old City,

inside there is an exposition of bells and an old city clock,

well, the main goal to come here is to climb to the very top under the bell,

to see the city!

The view opens on the streets of the Old Town,

which means to many sights of Vilnius - to the roof of the Cathedral, to the statue of "3 Crosses" on the hill and to the castle of Gediminas.

• Website: www.bpmuziejus.lt
• Address: Katedros a.
• Opening hours: May 1–September 30 I–VI 10:00–19:00 and October 1–April 30 I–VI 10:00–18:00
• Ticket price: EUR 4.50

The monument "Three Crosses" (THE HILL OF THREE CROSSES) is located on the right bank of the Vilnia River (Nerys),

on top of a mountain in Kalnu Park.

Once upon a time there was a Crooked Castle on this place, now there is no castle, and the hill is a viewing platform.

In our opinion, this is one of the best places in the city to meet the sunset,

it also belongs to the free attractions of Vilnius!

Crosses, according to legend, were installed as a memory of the Franciscan monks who died at this place at the hands of pagans. Initially, the crosses were wooden, after some time they collapsed and were replaced with concrete ones. Then, 35 years later, by order of the authorities, the monument was blown up, the hill stood without crosses for almost 40 years, and only in 1989 the monument was revived.

If you go along the White Bridge from the old city to the opposite side of the river, you can get to the promenade terrace.

It overlooks the embankment.

and the opposite side of the river.

Neat flower beds are planted on the terrace, as well as ottoman chairs and even catches wi-fi. During lunch, we met here "white collars" taking sunbaths 🙂

The TV Tower (Vilnius TV Tower) was built in 1981, its height is 326.5 m, the tower is one of the tallest buildings in all of Eastern Europe, so its spire can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. We love observation decks, especially such high ones, so we did not miss the opportunity, and of course, we went there!

At the upper level (165 m), which can be reached by an elevator in 45 seconds (917 steps), there is a panoramic restaurant "Milky Way" rotating at a speed of 4 m / s. They say that from such a height in clear weather not only the city and all the sights of Vilnius are visible, but also the surroundings within a radius of 50 km.

We were on an overcast day, so we were content with the views of the area and the semi-clear outline of the Old City in the haze. The restaurant makes one full rotation around the axis in 55 minutes, so you can come for lunch or dinner and take a look at everything.

There is a small museum on the ground floor of the TV tower, and at the foot of the tower on the street there is an obelisk with the names of the rebels (12 people) who died under tank fire in 1991 while trying to liberate the tower from Soviet troops.

Also, 5 years ago, a historical antenna park was opened next to the tower.

• Website: www.lrtc.lt
• Address: Sausio 13-osios g. 10
• Opening hours: II-VI 10:00–23:00; VII-I 10–21:00
• Tower/restaurant ticket price: 6 EUR

Republic of Užupis

Užupis district is Vilnius Montmartre, the whole district is one big attraction! Once Užupis was an abandoned quarter, but unexpectedly in 1997 it turned into the Republic of Zarechye, its own president appeared here, its own constitution (printed on the wall of one of the houses on different languages, including in Russian), currency, customs and Independence Day, which is celebrated on April 1.

The symbol of Užupis is a column with an angel.

Almost the same angel we noticed on one of the houses in Užupis.

Now this bohemian area is inhabited by creative people- artists,

sculptors, poets, which is why there are many workshops here, you can walk and look into the windows 🙂

There is an old cemetery

and several churches

in general, this is a pleasant area for walking, within walking distance of the Old Town.

Museums

If you are not a fan of museums, then you can safely scroll through this section, although in our opinion, a couple of museums in Vilnius can definitely be visited, at least the Genocide Museum and the Center-Museum of Modern Art are worth paying attention to.

National Museum of Lithuania, New Arsenal

If you are interested in the history of Lithuania and its culture, then of course, you should look into the National Museum of Lithuania, New Arsenal, the collection here is impressive.

• Website: www.lnm.lt
• Address: Arsenalo g. 1
• Opening hours: II–VII 10:00–18:00
• Ticket price: 2 EUR

National Museum of Lithuania, Old Arsenal

The Old Arsenal Museum (National Museum of Lithuania, Old Arsenal) presents archaeological excavations and unique exhibits of the first inhabitants - the Balts, even before the formation of the State of Lithuania.

• Website: www.lnm.lt
• Address: Arsenalo g. 3
• Opening hours: II–VII 10:00–18:00
• Ticket price: 2 EUR

House of the Signators

In the House of Signators (National Museum of Lithuania, House of Signatories) there is an exposition with exhibits related to the proclamation of independence of Lithuania.

• Website: www.lnm.lt
• Address: Pilies g. 26
• Opening hours: II–VI 10:00–17:00
• Ticket price: EUR 0.60

This is the National Museum Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania - a historical residence with the cultural heritage of the Lithuanian rulers, the exposition presents unique collections archaeological exhibits and fine arts different styles from Gothic to Baroque.

• Website: www.valdovurumai.lt
• Address: Katedros a. 4
• Opening hours: II, III, V, VI 10:00-18:00; IV 10:00-20:00, VII 10:00-16:00
• Ticket price: EUR 2.90

Vilnius Art Gallery

The Picture Gallery (Lithuanian Art Museum, Vilnius Picture Gallery) presents the largest and most valuable collection of ancient Lithuanian paintings in the country, the gallery is located in one of the most beautiful ensembles of Vilnius - the restored Chodkiewicz Palace.

• Website: www.ldm.lt
• Address: Didzioji g. 4
• Opening hours:
• Ticket price: EUR 1.80

Museum of Applied Arts

The Museum of Applied Art stores works of applied art from Lithuania and foreign countries, as well as a collection of historical costumes from the collection of the famous fashion historian A.Vasiliev.

• Address: Arsenalo g. 3a
• Website: www.ldm.lt
• Opening hours: II–VI 11:00–18:00; VII 11:00–16:00
• Ticket price: EUR 1.80

At the National Art Gallery(Lithuanian Art Museum, National Gallery) houses a unique exposition of Lithuanian art of the XX-XXI centuries. We looked here primarily because exhibitions of contemporary art are also organized here. The building itself belongs to the sights of Vilnius of the Soviet period.

• Website: www.ndg.lt
• Address: Konstitucijos pr. 22
• Opening hours: II, III, V, VI 11:00–19:00; IV 12:00–20:00; VII 11:00–17:00
• Ticket price: EUR 1.80

Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum

The Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum (Lithuanian Art Museum, Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum) houses a collection of works by the world-famous Parisian artist Vytautas Kasiulis, about 200 paintings and drawings, as well as documentary material from the family archive, including the unique restored Parisian workshop of the author.

• Website: www.ldm.lt
• Address: A. Gostauto g. 1
• Opening hours: II–VI 11:00–18:00; VII 12:00–17:00
• Ticket price: EUR 1.80

We looked into the Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema (Lithuanian Theatre, Music and Cinema Museum), but it seemed boring to me, except that the collection of old decorations for puppet shows. Fans of theater and music will probably like to look at old musical instruments, and in one of the halls I found a collection of old cameras 🙂

In this museum, for some reason, it is forbidden to take pictures.

• Website: www.ltmkm.lt
• Address: Vilniaus g. 41
• Opening hours: II, IV, V 11:00–18:00 III 11:00–19:00 VI 11:00–16:00
• Ticket price: 2 EUR

Modern Art Museum

This largest Center Museum of Contemporary Art (Contemporary Art Center) in the Baltic countries, exhibitions are constantly changing, about 60 thousand people visit this museum a year. In addition to exhibitions, lectures and seminars on contemporary art are held here.

• Website: www.cac.lt
• Address: Vokieciu 2
• Opening hours: II–VI 12:00–20:00
• Ticket price: 2.30 EUR, free on Wednesdays

Museum of the Radziwill Palace

If you like foreign art, then you will like the Radvila Palace Museum (Lithuanian Art Museum, Radvila Palace Museum), in addition to the permanent exposition, exhibitions are regularly organized here famous artists– both Lithuanian and foreign.

• Website: www.ldm.lt
• Address: Vilniaus g.
• Opening hours: II–VI 11:00–18:00 VII 12:00–17:00
• Ticket price: EUR 1.80

Museum of Church Heritage in the Church of the Archangel Michael

We did not look inside, but from the side of the Church of the Archangel Michael (Church Heritage Museum) it looks beautiful and solid, sacred values ​​​​are stored inside cultural heritage Lithuania.

• Website: www.bpmuziejus.lt
• Address:Šv. Mykolog g. 9
• Opening hours: II–VI 11:00–18:00
• Ticket price: EUR 4.50

The Museum of Genocide Victims is located in the building where the KGB functioned for 50 years and this place is one of the significant sights of Vilnius. We have been to this museum twice - on our very first visit to Vilnius a few years ago and now.

Many things in the museum can shock especially impressionable people, for example, there are prison cells of that time, a yard for walking prisoners, as well as an extensive exhibition of personal belongings of prisoners, which tells about the struggle of the Lithuanian people.

But the most terrible place is the very room in which several people were shot a day. There is blood on the walls, and the fact that they play a video about executions, washing off blood, new victims, and so on an infinite number of times adds to the horror.

Also in the continuation of the story, it is worth looking into Memorial Complex in Tuskulėnai Manor, which is discussed below.

• Website: www.genocid.lt/muziejus
• Address: Aukų g. 2a
• Opening hours:
• Ticket price: 4 EUR

The Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park is where evidence of abuse with Lithuanians. In 1944-1947, people who were shot in the inner prison of the NKVD (MGB) were secretly buried here. Their remains rest in the chapel-columbarium - a rather disturbing place.

There is also a museum on the territory of the complex, the collection contains preserved documents, including execution orders, as well as personal belongings of the victims of the genocide.

• Website: www.genocid.lt/tuskulenai and www.tuskulenumemorialas.lt
• Address:Žirmūnų g. 1f, 1n
• Opening hours: III–VI 10:00–18:00; VII 10:00–17:00
• Ticket price: 2 EUR (with a ticket from the Genocide Museum you can enter for free, but on the same day)

Literary Museum of A.S. Pushkin

If you are a fan of Russian literature, especially the work of Alexander Sergeevich, be sure to check out the A.S. Pushkin (Literary Museum of A. Pushkin), there is a collection of household items of the Russian nobility in Vilnius.

• Website: www.vilniausmuziejai.lt/a_puskinas/index.htm
• Address: Subaciaus g. 124
• Opening hours: III–VII 10:00–17:00
• Ticket price: EUR 1.16

The Museum of Energy and Technology (Energy and Technology Museum) presents various industrial boilers and other energy systems, but we liked the atypical temporary exhibition of vintage cars and the interactive science and technology center on the very top floor, where you can test some of the laws of physics with your own hands.

The building is decorated with a statue of Electra, in the evening she even lights up a lantern in her hands 🙂

• Website: www.emuziejus.lt
• Address: Rinktinės g. 2
• Opening hours: II, III, V, VI 10:00–17:00; IV 10:00–19:00
• Ticket price: 3 EUR

Toy Museum

If you are traveling with children, then the Toy Museum is the place to go 🙂 The museum has 3 interactive exhibitions dedicated to toys different century from the Middle Ages to the present day.

• Website: www.zaislumuziejus.lt
• Address: Siltadaržio g. 2
• Opening hours: June 1–August 31 II–III 12:00–20:00; IV–V 12:00–18:00; VI 11:00–16:00 and 1 September–31 May II–III 14:00–18:00; IV–V 14:00–20:00; VI–VII 11:00–16:00
• Ticket price: 4 EUR

The Railway Museum is located right in the passenger hall of the Vilnius railway station, the building of which is already a landmark of Vilnius in itself. The museum houses authentic models and models of locomotives.

If you go to Trakai by train, then come half an hour early, there will be time to look into the museum. Well, the main exhibit can also be seen on the street - this is a huge old steam locomotive. Just don’t climb under it for spectacular photos, otherwise, like us last time, you will have to talk with the local police 🙂

• Website: www.litrail.lt
• Address: Gelezinkelio g. 16
• Opening hours: II–V 9:00–17:00 VI 9:00–16:00
• Ticket price: EUR 1.16

Butterfly Museum

In the Butterfly house you can see real live butterflies that are born every two weeks, so the residents of the city have the advantage of coming here every 2 weeks, they can see a new composition, but for the guests of the city the very opportunity to see in Vilnius colorful butterflies from all over the world 🙂

• Website: www.drugeliuparoda.lt
• Address: Barboros Radvilaites g. 7
• Opening hours: II–VII 13:00–19:00
• Ticket price: 4 EUR

Amber Museum

All exhibits in the museum were created by local jewelers, there are not only sculptures, but also various amber jewelry, by the way, everything can be purchased at the museum store (Amber Sculpture Museum& Store AMBERGIFT).

• Website: www.ambergift.lt
• Address: Aušros Vartų g. 9
• Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00; VI 10:00–15:00
• Ticket price: for free

Cultural entertainment

Like any major city, in Vilnius, of course, there are cultural events, there is an opera, a theater, concert hall, cinemas. In general - who likes what!

This 5-meter sculpture "Three Muses" is the symbol of the Lithuanian National Drama Theater on Gediminas Avenue. The sculpture depicts ancient Greek muses: in the center is Melpomene - the muse of tragedy, the main patroness of the theater, on the sides: Thalia - the muse of comedy and Calliope - the muse of poetry and philosophy. The singularity of the sculpture lies in the fact that from different angles it looks different each time, the figures of the girls can be seen suffering, triumphant or looking to the sky.

Other entertainment

Balloons

In Vilnius you can ride hot-air balloon, this is one of the few European capitals where such flights are allowed!

And it is here that this is not just an attraction, as, for example, in Tallinn or Paris, where the ball is tied to the ground, and you can climb it only up to a certain height, and the whole action, along with landing and being in the air, takes about 20 minutes. Here you can make a real flight-journey, see the sights of Vilnius from the air, and even get a certificate!

For several days in a row we watched these giant balloons soaring over the city and secretly envied the lucky ones who ended up in the basket 🙂

Flight cost: 109 EUR (with Vilnius City Card - 99 EUR).

Segways

Segways are great way see the sights of Vilnius, both the Old Town and its new districts in a short time. Segways can be rented for independent riding, or join a guided tour!

Bicycles

A bicycle is a more conservative way to explore the city, but not without its advantages and even romance 🙂 There are both rental points and companies organizing bike tours in the city.

Bicycle rental from 3 EUR / hour, 9 EUR / day, the cost of a guided tour - from 15 EUR.

Walking tours

From May 15 to September 15, Vilnius City Card holders can join a tour of the Old Town, the main thing is to choose a day with the language you need, in Russian excursions 3 times a week, otherwise you will have to practice German or English 🙂

Alas, we were a bit late as we were in Vilnius in the second half of September.

Well, there is a way out - for the same holders of "guest of the city" cards, you can use the free audio guide and go on an independent fascinating route around the city.

We did not use it, because we have long fallen in love with the application with walks in any European city Izi.Travel, you can download any routes, there are both paid and free ones, the application works offline, and it detects your location and talks about a specific object as soon as you approach him. Read more about this service here:

If you, however, prefer live tours with a local guide, then there are also plenty of them, all information can be found in the booklets at the hotel or at the information center.

City bus tours

1. It’s hard not to notice these red buses with the inscription “VILNIUS CITY TOUR”, these are familiar to all of Europe, and even St. Petersburg and Moscow, Hop On – Hop Off sightseeing tours. Start at 10:00; 11:15; 12:30; 13:45; 15:05.
2. There are also other excursions around Vilnius and Trakai - buses with daisies and the inscription "CITY TOUR". For Vilnius City Card holders, these excursions are subject to a 50% discount. Start at 10:00; 10:35 a.m.; 12:00; 12:35; 14:00; 14:35; 15:30.

In both cases, the starting points are from the Cathedral and Town Hall squares at the times indicated above.

The cost of tickets for each of the tours in Vilnius is 15 EUR per person, in Trakai - 20 EUR.

Vicinities of Vilnius

In addition to the sights of Vilnius, you can also visit its surroundings, and there really is something to see, and we were convinced of this on our last trip, when we traveled all this on bicycles!

Botanical Garden of Vilnius University

The Botanical Garden of Vilnius University is the largest garden in Lithuania, its size is 199 hectares, about 10,000 plant names from 886 families grow in the garden, including collections of rhododendrons, dahlias and lilacs. Such an extensive collection undoubtedly makes this garden the best in Lithuania.

The garden is located a little outside the city, but you can get there by public transport, the journey takes about an hour.

• Website: www.botanikos-sodas.vu.lt
• Address: Kairėnų g. 43
• Opening hours: May 1–October 31 I–VII 10:00–20:00; November 2–April 30 I–IV 9:00-17:00; V 9:00-16:00
• Ticket price: 3 EUR

Europe Park (EUROPOS PARKAS, Open-Air Museum) is a huge original museum of Modern Art under open sky on an area of ​​55 hectares, and even in unusual place. It took us almost half a day to see all the exhibits, more than 100 sculptures (and you can still climb or touch them).

• Website: www.europosparkas.lt
• Address: Joneikiškių Village, Vilnius District
• Opening hours: I–VII 10:00 a.m. to sunset
• Ticket price: 8 EUR/6 EUR/4 EUR/

If you have more time and you have already seen all the sights of Vilnius, then you should definitely go to Trakai and Kaunas! In principle, with a strong desire, both cities can be superficially seen in one day, but it is better to leave as early as possible! You can get a general idea about these cities by looking at our cycling article (link above).

Vilnius attractions on the map

Finally

Now, I think you have a rough idea of ​​what sights of Vilnius are worth visiting, so now the choice is yours =)

If you love art, are interested in the history of the city and plan to visit almost all the museums of the city, and also actively travel by public transport, then it makes sense to purchase a Vilnius City Card, you can do this at the Vilnius Tourist Information Center (location is indicated on the map), or on the official website.

Cost of Vilnius City Card:

• 24 hours without transport = 15 EUR
• 24 hours with public transport = 20 EUR
• 72 hours with public transport = 30 EUR

Helpful information:

• If you have not bought tickets to Viljus yet, then you can choose the best flight for the price and time here .
• For accommodation, we can recommend the stylish and modern Comfort Hotel, where we stayed ourselves. See also all Vilnius hotels.
• Do not forget that insurance is required for a Schengen visa, and in any case, taking into account European prices, it is better to travel around Lithuania and Vilnius having it on hand. You can choose the most profitable option and apply for insurance online here. .

That's all, have a great holiday!

I hope my article about the sights of Vilnius will be useful to you in planning your trip, and you will see all the most interesting things!