Location: Vilnius
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What to do and see in Vilnius, Vilnius County: The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, contains one of the largest surviving medieval quarters in Europe. Included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Old Town contains almost two thousand medieval, gothic, renaissance, and baroque buildings, all centered on the neo-classical cathedral and town hall. Other popular attractions include the KGB Museum, located in a former Soviet prison, and the 13th century Higher Castle, which affords a glorious view of the city center.
Restaurants in Vilnius
1. KGB Museum (Genocido Auku Muziejus)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,294 reviews
Reviewed By Impavid574
A must-do visit if ever there was one. A tangible insight into the potential for man's inhumanity to man. The water torture cells were somehow the worst of it, but what jars is the fact that the building is in a city centre street which passers-by must have walked alongside while the unfortunates inside were enduring their nightmares. It helps give you an understanding of the very public way Lithuanians express their religious devotion - to get through the Soviet occupation and the Gestapo interlude must have required an extraordinary faith in the possibility of a better life. This is education in its rawest form and not to be missed
2. Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 151 reviews
The Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum is the only Jewish museum in Lithuania. Currently it has three open exposition sites: the Tolerance Center, the Holocaust Exposition and the Memorial Museum of Paneriai. Each of the sites is located in a venue of historical importance for the Jewish community. The indicated working hours are of the Tolerance Center, which hosts unique judaica and art exhibits, permanent and temporary exhibitions. For the working hours of the Holocaust Exposition and the Memorial Museum of Paneriai, please visit our website.
Reviewed By Hawk470 - Baltimore, United States
Named for the foremost non-Hasidic religious leader of his time, the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum includes several locations – the Tolerance Center, the Holocaust Exposition (nearby), and the Memorial at Paneriai. This review covers the Tolerance Center which includes Judaica, historical exhibits and art galleries. The museum has something for everyone. We particularly enjoyed the section on the history of Jewish life in Lithuania illustrated with paintings and photographs accompanying very informative and well-written text. The exhibit of Bartosz Fratczak’s photographs of the remaining traces of vanished Jewish communities in Lithuania’s more rural localities evokes these lost worlds with exquisite and tragic black and white photographs and captions. The most revelatory section was certainly the exhibit of the paintings of Samuel Bak, a Vilnius-born artist, who held is first exhibit as a nine-year-old in the Vilnius Ghetto. His paintings display very fine brush technique and a powerful eye for detail in horrific and beautiful scenes. A number of the paintings have a surreal, almost Dali-esque sensibility, but without the preciousness and lack of emotional resonance that those terms imply. Samuel Bak’s work is as deeply emotional and profoundly thought provoking as it is magnificently rendered. Take your time with his paintings. They draw you in and as you look, you see layers of detail reminiscent of the finest early Renaissance paintings with their subjects in the foreground and narrative details embedded in the background. Be sure to watch the video about his life and work and how his life, including how he survived the Holocaust, illuminates his work. If you like to walk, the route from the Choral Synagogue to the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum and then to the Holocaust Exhibition (The Green House), will give you an informative and moving introduction to Jewish life in Lithuania past and present. The total walking time, one-way at a relaxed pace, is under half an hour.
3. Gate of Dawn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,476 reviews
Reviewed By JudyB528 - Appleton, United States
We went into the entrance off the street and walked up the stairs, not realizing what we would see. We entered a small room where the picture is and quite a number of people were on their knees praying to the Blessed Virgin. It is something to see it from the street, but do go inside to get the full experience.
4. Bernardine Church (Bernardinu Baznycia)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 380 reviews
Reviewed By thekruns - Sandefjord, Norway
This church is known by many names in english. Here are the ones I know: The Church and Monastery of St.Francis of Assisi (Bernardine), The Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard, Bernardine Church, St. Francis of Assisi (Bernardine) Roman Catholic Church. In Lithuanian, it´s called BERNARDINŲ BAŽNYČIA. The interior can be described as old, beautiful and humble. The church is situated right behind St. Anne´s Church.
5. Church of the Holy Spirit (Sventosios Dvasios Baznycia)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By acorna - Vilnius, Lithuania
Entrance to the church is just a door from the Domininkonu street. When entering, one has to pass dark, somewhat scary, cavern-like corridor with first welcoming picture that of death. Then you enter the stunningly rich Baroque interior of the church: as it was comparatively less damaged since its last restoration in the seventies of the 18th century, a lot of original interiors were preserved. Close to the church are the buildings of old Dominincan monastery which are in a very sad state of disrepair. The church itself holds very curious secrets: in its crypts there are well-preserved mummified remains of Vilnius citizens that lived 3-4 centuries ago. However, they are not accessible to the visitors. Note, however, that Church of the Holy Spirit is an object of some confusion. The Church is catholic (Dominincan) and is situated at the Donininkonų Street. There is an Orthodox church going under the same name, situated close the Gates of Dawn. So they are two different churches. Yes, I know – there are MANY churches in Vilnius…
6. Church Of St Peter And St Paul
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,204 reviews
Reviewed By VWriter - Los Gatos, United States
The exterior of this church stands out for its architecture. Reminiscent of Italianate design, Sts Peter and Paul has high towers, is sandy yellow and is trimmed in white; while maroon tile roofing completes the picture. As striking as its exterior is, it's the interior that grabbed my attention. This church is gleaming white inside; there is stucco and marble everywhere you look. Sculptures, paintings, and frescoes adorn the 13 chapels, high ceilings, nave and altar area. Pretty overwhelming.
7. Holy Spirit Orthodox Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 444 reviews
Reviewed By Luv2TravelFarNWide - Phoenix, United States
This is the major Russian Orthodox church in Lithuania and is affiliated with two Orthodox monasteries: The Monastery of the Holy Spirit and the Convent of Saint Mary Magdalen -- the only remaining Orthodox monasteries in Lithuania. Inside the unassuming Baroque-style entrance is a beautiful green and blue chancellery and sanctuary. The surprise when you open the door will take your breath away.
8. Holocaust Museum (The Green House)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 258 reviews
Reviewed By MikaelF413 - Vantaa, Finland
There are many Jewish museums in Vilnius. The Green House has the Holocaust Exposition which tells the history of the Lithuanian Jews and their tragic death during the Holocaust in 1941-44. In front of the museum, you can find the monument for Chiune Sugihara who was the Vice-Consul for Japan in Lithuania during World War II. He helped several thousand Jews to leave the country by issuing transit visas to them.
9. Energy and Technology Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 129 reviews
The museum of Energy and Technology was founded in the first Vilnius central power plant. Visit the expositions of Energetics, Vilnius industry, "Made in Vilnius", Interactive science, "Gas in Lithuania" and "Energy of sun and wind". Admission: adults - 4 Eur. Pupils, students - 2,00 Eur. Disabled people - 0,75 Eur. Children up to 6 year - free. Guided tours: Lithuanian language - 15,00 Eur. English and Russian languages - 22,00 Eur. Themed tour in Lithuanian language - 8,00 Eur. Themed tour in English and Russian language - 12,00 Eur. Education workshops in English 22,00 Eur. Additional services: audio guides in Lithuanian, English, Russian languages free of charge, video guides in Lithuanian and international sign languages.
Reviewed By P2547WFdanielm - Vilnius, Lithuania
This is the location of the first electric power plant in Vilnius. The interior, and all of its machinery, are very well preserved and presented. In addition, there is a wild sound and light room covered in rubber in the basement, a reconstructed societ-times apartment on the second floor, and on the top floor a bunch of all-ages kinetic games. (Including a slide from the top down for the more adventurous.) Check it out!
10. Church of St. Theresa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 288 reviews
Reviewed By MikaelF413 - Vantaa, Finland
If you want to see many beautiful churches, Vilnius is the place. This church is probably Vilnius’ best surviving example of Early Baroque churches, completed in 1650.
