Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, pleasantly surprised us big time. It’s a quiet, green, and charming city that feels more like a magical small town than a typical European capital. There’s almost no traffic, the atmosphere is very relaxed, and you can walk to almost every place. Beyond the impressive architecture and rich history, the city offers plenty of museums, parks, markets, and attractions. But what really caught us off guard was the culinary scene: we ate at one of the best restaurants we’ve ever experienced anywhere in the world. You can read a detailed post about all the restaurants we visited in Vilnius.
Additionally, if you visit in the summer, be prepared for endless sunny days. The sunset happens only at 10:40 PM, and sunrise is already at 5:00 AM. We left a restaurant at 10 PM and it was still light outside. It was simply perfect.
We’re always excited to discover new destinations, and the Baltics were high on our list of places we hadn’t been before. When we received an invitation from the Vilnius Tourism Board to experience the city, we jumped at the chance. For us, it was not only a new experience but also a way to introduce our audience to a less touristy but very worthwhile destination. Next time, we want to rent a car and explore all of Lithuania. If Vilnius was this successful, we have no doubt the rest of the country will captivate us too. By the way, Kaunas, which is about an hour’s drive from Vilnius, I visited back in October and really enjoyed it as well.
We stayed at Hotel Vilnia, a new four-star hotel in a central and quiet location. We really loved the hotel, and our room was excellent, spacious, comfortable, and with a balcony overlooking a park. For more details about our hotel experience, check out my extended review. 
Vilnius Card
The city has many museums and things to do, and if you plan on doing a lot with discounted or free entry, the Vilnius Card is a great option. You can buy it for one, two, or three days. With the card, you get discounts and free entrance to many places. For example, the gondola ride cost us 1 euro instead of 8, and the Hop-on Hop-off bus was free for two routes, with an additional 3 euros for the third route. In short, it’s very worthwhile if you want to explore the city extensively. There is also a card version that includes free public transport. Gondola Rid
We checked the benefits of the Vilnius Card and discovered there is a gondola ride along the river that lasts about 50 minutes. We decided to buy some cherries at the supermarket on the way and enjoy them during the ride. The gondola departs from a central point in the city, and it’s good to know the ride costs 8 euros, but with the Vilnius Card it drops to only 1 euro (very important to bring both the coupon book that comes with the card and the card itself).
There were four of us in the gondola, and the ride was a wonderful experience — the weather was perfect and the views along the river were magical. We passed under old bridges, by historic buildings, and through green areas, which added to the relaxing atmosphere. The cherries made the experience even sweeter.
If you’re looking for a light and fun activity, especially on a sunny, pleasant day, the gondola ride is a recommended, refreshing option in Vilnius.
Trip to Trakai Town
We decided to take a day trip to the charming town of Trakai, choosing a tour we found included in the Vilnius Card. We went to the bus station where the tour departs to Trakai (there is a tour only with audio guide for 20 euros without the castle visit, and a tour with a guide including the castle visit for 35 euros. Both offer discounts with the Vilnius Card).
We took the guided tour. It’s a half-day tour to the former capital of Lithuania (about a 30-minute drive). Our tour included transportation with a guide who told us about the city in English along the way. Then we toured the castle itself with the guide for about an hour, followed by about an hour of free time in town. We quickly realized an hour was not enough, so we told the guide we wouldn’t take the return transfer and decided to come back independently.
You can also get there by rental car or public transport (there is a bus from Vilnius to Trakai but it stops 2 km from the town center, so you either walk or take a taxi).
Trakai is a picturesque town about 30 km west of Vilnius, famous mainly for the Trakai Castle located on an island in Lake Galvė, looking like it was taken right out of a fairy tale.
The town is surrounded by natural lakes and green landscapes, making it a popular day trip from Vilnius. You can boat on the lake, rent bicycles, hike nature trails, or simply enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
A small, beautiful, and unique place definitely worth adding to your itinerary. Castle Tour
After arriving in Trakai, we took a tour of the 15th-century castle, which has been restored several times. The castle is quite large and it’s recommended to join a guided tour because otherwise it’s hard to understand what you’re seeing in each room. If you’re visiting Trakai independently, try to call ahead and check if you can arrange a guided tour. Lunch in Trakai
After the castle tour, we wandered a bit around town and then sat down at Bona restaurant, right by the lake. We ordered a local starter called Kibinai — a kind of pastry filled with various fillings. I chose cheese and sun-dried tomato filling and it was delicious. For mains, I had fish and Roman had mussels. We enjoyed the meal, especially the view of the lake and castle. Pedal Boat in Trakai
After lunch, we decided to rent a pedal boat. The rental cost was 10 euros per hour and it was a really fun activity. The weather was warm and we regretted not bringing swimsuits because many people were in swimsuits, paddling in the boat and even swimming in shallow parts near the castle. It’s generally recommended to bring swimsuits because aside from pedal boats, you can also swim in the lake on hot summer days. 
Museum of Illusions
Before the trip, I researched the city and saw many recommendations for the Museum of Illusions. Admission costs 11 euros, but with the Vilnius Card, it drops to only 5 euros. We spent about two hours there and enjoyed it.
The museum is suitable for adults and children alike, offering a wide range of visual illusions, puzzles, and interactive games that challenge perception and thinking in surprising and fun ways. Attractions include mirror rooms, 3D painted rooms that make you part of the scene, light and space illusions, and more.
I highly recommend visiting this museum, especially if you’re looking for a different, enjoyable, and stimulating activity during your visit. In my opinion, it’s a must-see spot in Vilnius.
Bike Ride in the Park
We rented bikes from our hotel, Hotel Vilnia, for 3 euros an hour and went for a short, relaxing ride in Bernardine Park, right across from the hotel. The park is simply lovely, with green spaces, well-kept paths, colorful flower gardens, and many seating areas by the river. There are playgrounds for kids, fountains, sculptures, and even a small botanical garden. The atmosphere is calm and pleasant — a great way to start the morning.
If you’re not into biking, you can just walk around, stop for a coffee at one of the spots, or sit on the grass and relax. The park is perfect for families and couples alike, and it’s within walking distance of Vilnius Old Town, making it easy to combine with other nearby attractions. 
Open Kitchen Street Food Market
We went to the Open Kitchen street food market, which is only open on Fridays and Saturdays, so if you’re in Vilnius on those days, don’t miss it. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. There’s music, seating areas, and various food trucks offering Vietnamese, Turkish, burgers, and more. There’s also a beer stand and a juice bar. 
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
We saw that the Vilnius Card allows free access to the hop-on hop-off bus, and thought it was a great, easy way to see the city, especially since I was a bit tired (that’s what happens when you travel pregnant). We went to the bus stop, but unfortunately missed the bus we wanted.
The city has three routes: the Red Route — the main and most popular route; the Blue Route — which passes through the Old Town and less touristy areas; and the Green Route — which covers greener, more scenic areas outside the center. We wanted the Red Route, but since it had already left, we took the Green Route instead.
Luckily, the delay turned out to be a blessing in disguise because thanks to the Green Route we discovered a magical and unique place we probably wouldn’t have found otherwise 
Belmontas Area
We took a bus for about half an hour, and during the ride, we listened to an audio guide that told us about the places we saw along the way. When we arrived at Belmontas, from the audio description alone, we knew we wanted to stay there instead of continuing by bus. For those who want to continue, there is an option to stop for a 10-minute break to take pictures and then resume the tour. We decided to stay and return later by taxi; the distance to the city center is about a ten-minute drive.
The park itself is charming and located on the grounds of an old flour mill that was renovated and turned into a recreational and cultural area. Along the Vilnia River, calm waters flow, with small waterfalls, cute bridges, walking and biking paths. The place is surrounded by a green forest with many trees and plants, creating a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere. At first, we took pictures and explored the area. Walking Trail in Belmontas
Afterwards, we went on about an hour-long walking trail. Along the way, we saw families having picnics on the shaded grass and people entering the shallow, refreshing river with small children. There is also an option for a longer hike for those who want to deepen their nature experience. Grill Restaurant in Belmontas
When the walk ended, we decided to stop for lunch. There are several restaurants in the area, and we chose one facing the river and waterfalls. The restaurant, Belmontas Waterfalls, specializes in grilled dishes and local cuisine. Roman ordered excellent ribs, and we also had a Greek salad and sausages. Everything was very tasty, and the amazing atmosphere made the meal a special experience. 
Red Bus Tour Hop On Hop Off
After lunch at Belmontas Waterfalls, we ordered a taxi via the Yango app and returned to the hotel (the cost was about 4 euros). After resting at the hotel, we decided to go on another bus tour, this time taking the red route. We did about a one-hour tour where we stayed on the bus, just listening to the audio guide and learning about the points of interest we passed by. City Tour
We went on a city tour, our first time doing a Hebrew tour abroad since we usually join free tours based on tips. But this time we went on a private two-hour tour with the guide Danny. Danny took us to several landmarks in the city and told us about their history and about Vilnius in general. Then we went to the Jewish quarter, which the tour focused on. The tour was fascinating, and we learned a lot about Judaism in Vilnius and the darker sides of Lithuania during World War II. If you want a Hebrew tour in the city, you can book a private tour through Danny’s company Jerulita. If you want to join a group tour, there are free tour companies in the city such as FreeTour. 
Restaurants and Cafes in Vilnius
You can read detailed information about all the restaurants in the post about recommended restaurants in Vilnius. Chef Restaurants
During our trip, we visited two amazing chef restaurants. The first was Amandus, and the second Sweet Root. In both, we had tasting menus. If you’re looking for a very high-level restaurant to celebrate a special occasion or just to indulge yourself, I highly recommend going to one or both of these restaurants (if possible), as they are considered among the best in the city and offer a unique culinary experience. 
Georgian Restaurant
We got the recommendation for this restaurant from our private tour guide Danny, who told us Georgian House is the best Georgian restaurant in the city, so of course, we followed his advice. The restaurant was excellent, and I especially loved the khinkali with mushrooms. 
Portuguese Restaurant with Indian Touches
Before the trip, I saw several recommendations for a restaurant called Gaspars, so we decided to give it a chance, and it turned out to be one of the best restaurants of the trip. Seafood lovers will enjoy it a lot, and even those who don’t, will find very good dishes. 
Local Restaurant
A local restaurant called Leiciai. Roman made a mistake eating ribs that day because we already had a full tasting menu with a lot of hearty local food, so he was full. The restaurant is decorated in a medieval style and had a band playing Lithuanian music. The atmosphere was great, and if you come for the tasting menu, which costs 25 euros per person, come hungry. The meal also includes tastings of 5 different local beers. 
Legendary Cafe
That morning, we decided to skip breakfast at the hotel and go to a cafe called Augustas ir Barbora, which I got recommended on Instagram. It’s a perfect cafe for photos and also tasty food. I had a healthy breakfast of muesli, fresh juice, and coffee, and Roman just took juice because he was still full from the day before. 
To sum up, this trip was a huge pleasure! We discovered a calm and beautiful city with lots to do. Before the trip, people asked if five nights was too long, but honestly, I felt we didn’t get to do many things. We wanted to visit several impressive churches, go to another big park, visit more museums, and check out some markets we didn’t get to, plus there are two great viewpoints in the city with stair climbs, but because of the pregnancy, I decided to skip those. In short, I recommend staying in the city at least four days, and if possible, even longer is better.
I hope my post helped you. If so, I would love for you to comment here, and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask them in the comments or message me on the blog’s social media: Facebook and Instagram.
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