Vilnius Sights

  1. Angel of Užupis statue

    This statue of an angel blowing a trumpet and standing on an egg is the oddball symbol of Vilnius' strangest district.

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  2. Basilian Gates

    Basilian Gates are a late baroque archway that lead to the dilapidated Holy Trinity Church.

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  3. Bust of Gaon Elijahu

    For a more casual glimpse of Jewish life, walk down Žydų gatvė to the memorial Bust of Gaon Elijahu, imagining how life once was. There's a map of the two main Jewish ghettos during WWII at Rūdninkų gatvė 18, which used to be the single gate to the largest ghetto.

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  4. Centre for Stateless Cultures

    Vilnius University houses the world's first Centre for Stateless Cultures, established for those cultures that lack statehood, such as Jewish, Roma and Karaimic (Karaite) cultures, in its history faculty.

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  5. Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary

    The Gates of Dawn houses the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the black-and-gold 'miracle-working' Virgin Mary icon. A gift from the Crimea by Grand Duke Algirdas in 1363, it is one of the holiest icons in Polish Catholicism, and the faithful arrive in droves to offer it whispered prayer.

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  7. Church of All Saints

    To the south of St Catherine's Church lies the unsung and similarly peach-hued Church of All Saints.

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  8. Church of the Assumption

    The recently reconsecrated Church of the Assumption is symbolic of the incredible renovation sweeping through the Old Town.

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  9. Egg Statue

    This oversized egg on a nest of real twigs resided on Užupis' main square until it 'hatched' the Angel of Užupis in 2002 and moved to a grim square west of Old Town.

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  10. Frank Zappa Memorial

    The world's first Zappa statue is oddly situated in a grim, graffiti-splashed courtyard west of Old Town. It was erected in 1995 by the local Zappa fan club.

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  11. Gates of Dawn

    The 16th-century Gates of Dawn is the only one of the town wall's original nine gates still intact. The gate houses the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the black-and-gold 'miracle-working' Virgin Mary icon. A gift from the Crimea by Grand Duke Algirdas in 1363, it is one of the holiest icons in Polish Catholicism, and the faithful arrive in droves to offer it whispered prayer.

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  13. Gediminas Hill

    Vilnius was founded on 48m-high Gediminas Hill, topped since the 13th century by Gedimino Tower. Its walls were ruined during the Russian occupation (1655-61), but it was restored in 1930 to house the Upper Castle Museum.

    The Renaissance ushered in the Royal Palace (Valdovūrumai), where the first Lithuanian operas were performed.

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  14. Holy Spirit Church

    The Holy Spirit Church is Vilnius' primary Polish church (1679) and has one of the most elaborate baroque interiors you'll find anywhere.

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  15. Museum of Applied Arts

    Exhibitions on the ambitious Royal Palace reconstruction project fill the must-see Museum of Applied Arts, in the old arsenal at the foot of Gediminas Hill. The museum also has many items from the original palace on display.

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  16. Museum of Genocide Victims

    The building facing Lukiškių Aikštė was the notorious KGB headquarters and prison, but is now the Museum of Genocide Victims. Called the 'KGB Museum' by locals, it is Vilnius' most important and most popular museum. It is best taken in with an English-speaking guide (reserve in advance) or headphone audio tour.

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  17. National Museum

    The National Museum has ethnographic exhibits, art and other displays looking at Lithuanian life up to WWII. Exhibits are in Lithuanian and Russian.

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  19. Orthodox Church of the Apparition

    Vilnius' 19th-century New Town boasts a true European boulevard after its premier street, Gedimino prospektas, was given a face-lift between 2002 and 2003. It's a grand road with Vilnius Cathedral at one end and the silver-domed Orthodox Church of the Apparition at the other. Much of Gedimino becomes a pedestrian street outside working hours, when fashionable types flock here to see, be seen and peruse the sundry Western brands on display in the shop fronts.

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  20. Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit

    Roughly behind St Teresa's is the big, pink, domed 17th-century Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit, Lithuania's chief Russian Orthodox church and another fine baroque specimen.

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  21. Presidential Palace

    Formerly the Bishops' Palace, the Presidential Palace was rebuilt in classical Russian Empire style early in the 19th century. It was used by Napoleon during his advance on Moscow, and by his Russian adversary General Kutuzov when he was chasing Napoleon back to Paris. Book guided tours (in Lithuanian) in advance and bring your passport to get in.

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  22. St Casimir's Church

    The ravishing St Casimir's Church is the oldest of Vilnius' baroque masterpieces. It was built by Jesuits (1604-15) and under Soviet rule was a museum of atheism.

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  23. St Catherine's Church

    Peering north from Vokiečių you'll spot St Catherine's Church displaying Vilnius' trademark peach baroque style.

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  25. St John's Church

    You need to go through the university entrance on Universiteto to access St John's Church, a baroque gem. Founded in 1387 - well before the university arrived - its 17th-century bell tower is the highest structure in Old Town.

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  26. St Teresa's Church

    Catholic St Teresa's Church is early baroque (1635-50) outside and more elaborate late baroque inside.

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  27. Synagogue

    The main Synagogue is near the Tolerance Centre.

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  28. The ¿ Building

    This dilapidated building with an upside-down question mark dangling from its façade undoubtedly hides secrets behind its boarded-up windows.

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  29. Upper Castle Museum

    Vilnius was founded on 48m-high Gediminas Hill, topped since the 13th century by the oft-rebuilt tower of ruined Gediminas Castle. There are spectacular views of Old Town from the top of the tower, which houses the Upper Castle Museum. From here you'll also see the white Three Crosses on a hill to the east, erected in memory of three crucified monks.

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