VilniusCapital
Lithuania · Country profile
Vilnius is the elegant baroque capital of Lithuania, the city of the spires and the courtyards of the old town that spreads its painted churches, its palaces, its lanes and its cafe gardens across the banks of the winding rivers, beneath the wooded hills of the east of the Baltic. The capital of the grand duchy that once reached from the Baltic to the Black Sea, and later a provincial city of the empires, it emerged from the Soviet years as one of the liveliest small capitals of Europe, its listed old town one of the largest surviving baroque ensembles of the continent. The cathedral with its bell tower, the castle hill, the churches of the old town, the republic of the artists of the district and the towers of the modern skyline anchor the essential visits, while the beaches of the lakes, the forest trails and the castle towns of the region fill the wider days. Baroque, green and endlessly charming, Vilnius is the proud cultural capital of the Lithuanian nation.
About Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania. The city's documented population is around 610,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Euro (EUR) and Lithuanian is spoken; the dialling code is +370.
The Cathedral of the City and the Hill of the Gediminas
The city is a paradise for walkers, with the essential days moving between the cathedral square, the castle hill and the lanes of the old town, with the artists quarter, the markets and the cafe courtyards distributing the laid-back rhythm. The white cathedral with its great bell tower, the castle tower with its panorama, the baroque churches of the old town and the holy gates with their chapel anchor the classic stops, while the artist republic across the river with its constitution, its galleries and its river cafes, and the museums of the modern and the national art, carry the creative life. The lakes and the forests of the region, the former palaces and the castle of the lake town fill the excursions beyond the city.
The Gates of the Dawn and the Churches of the Baroque
The climate of the city is the continental Baltic, with the warm, light summer, the golden, misty autumn, the long, cold, snowy winter and the brilliant, flowering spring, each season bringing its own beauty to the city of the churches and the parks. The euro is the currency, the Lithuanian the language and the English, the Russian and the Polish widely understood in the old city. The centre, the castle and the churches make the core visits, and the lakes and the castles of the region lie a short train or a car ride from the capital. Comfortable shoes for the cobbled lanes and layered clothing for the changing seasons complete the simple kit.
The Republic of the Uzupis and the Castle of the Trakai
The cathedral of the city, the elegant neoclassical cathedral with its bell tower that anchors the great square, is the spiritual heart of the nation, where the symbols and the pilgrimages of the faithful have gathered for six centuries, while the castle tower on its hill, with its museums and its panoramic terraces over the baroque skyline, gives the emblematic view of the capital. The old town of the town, the enormous listed ensemble of the baroque painted churches, the palaces and the courtyards, includes the famous painters church with its lopsided tower and the holy gates with their chapel of the black Madonna, the holiest shrine of the country. The artist republic across the river with its declaration, its galleries and its makeshift river cafes, the great market hall with its produce, and the palaces and the parks of the region, with the island castle of the lake town and the forest lakes, complete the essential, baroque and endlessly welcoming circuit of the Lithuanian capital. Green, storied and full of life, Vilnius is the gateway to the Baltic soul.
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- Country
- Lithuania
- Population
- 610,000
- Capital
- Vilnius
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- Lithuanian
- Calling code
- +370
- Country code
- LT
Entry requirements for Lithuania
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Lithuania for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vilnius the capital of Lithuania?
Yes — Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania.
What currency do I need in Vilnius?
The local currency is the Euro (EUR). Languages spoken in Lithuania include Lithuanian.
What is the dialling code for Lithuania?
The international dialling code for Lithuania is +370.
Do I need a visa to visit Lithuania?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda and Argentina currently enter Lithuania visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Vilnius? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.