Vilnius attractions

As the main vertical landmark in the Old Town of Vilnius, the Bell Tower is a real symbol of this stunning Lithuanian city. A trip to the top will also give you the best views and a close-up look at the bells! Once part of a defensive wall, the belfry at the 13th-century Vilnius Cathedral has suffered massively over the years. It’s even gone up in flames more than once! Admire the blackened stones and Baroque architecture and listen out for the bells chiming out across the city every day at 17:00.

Step inside the mausoleum of the wealthy Sapieha family, and see some masterpieces crafted by the country’s top goldsmiths and textile artists. The Church Heritage Museum is the only place in the world to see the Treasury of Vilnius Cathedral, which was hidden in the walls of the religious building for almost half a century! Witness special items donated by rulers, magnates, and bishops - from crosses to chalices to reliquaries and other valuable objects hidden for protection on the eve of WWII, right up until 1985.

Vilnius has gone all out on the craft beer bandwagon with a thriving scene that keeps locals and tourists feeling merry year-round! Check out brew-pub Craft & Draft, always popular with students. For a real Lithuanian experience, head to Alaus Namai. Their strange but tasty Širvenos ale is brewed using peas, and their beer tasting sessions are great value! Šnekutis is another popular hangout, famed for its murky amber Jovaru Alus. Vegan or booze-free and proud? No problem. Švyturys serves some surprisingly delicious non-alcoholic wheat beers and stouts.

Don't fight, don't win and don't surrender. These are the three mottos of Uzupis, an independent republic that has separated itself from the rest of Vilnius’s more ‘conventional’ rules since 1997. Check out the incredible street art around the Vilnia River - you might recognize a certain U.S. president just calling for a new Instagram post from you. Count the flags on Tibet Square (Uzupis has its own flag!) and check out the republic’s constitution engraved in plaques on Paupio gatvė. Don’t miss the atmospheric Bernardine Cemetery, one of the city’s oldest graveyards.