Subacius Hill
Subacius Hill Accessible by foot through the cobbled streets of photogenic, bohemian Užupis—which declared its independence from the rest of Vilnius in 1997 and even has its own tin-pot army—Subačius Hill provides panoramic views across to Vilnius’s Old Town and the suburban, purpose-built Soviet
St. Peter and St. Pauls Church
St. Peter and St. Pauls Church Legend says that St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church was built on the site of a former pagan temple, but it is known for certain that this masterpiece of Baroque architecture was built on the remains of a wooden church destroyed in the internecine struggles of the 17th c
Museum of Genocide Victims (KGB Museum)
Museum of Genocide Victims (KGB Museum) Situated in Vilnius’s former Gestapo and KGB headquarters, the memorial to the thousands imprisoned and murdered under Soviet occupation after WWII is vital to understanding the psyche of Lithuania. Following the demise of Germany, the Agreement of Yalt
Money Museum
Money Museum Taking a peek at the history of the Lithuanian litas as well as currencies across the world, Vilnius’s Money Museum is not some dusty old relic but a contemporary exhibition on two floors of the former Bank of Lithuania. Completely reworked and reopened in 2010, the collections featur
Lukiskiu Square
Lukiskiu Square The largest square in Vilnius has its origins in the 17th century, when it formed part of a separate suburb of the city and surrounded by countryside, wooden houses and the occasional mosque. Lukiškės Square has been the focus of much conflict in its history; in the 19th century it
Gediminas Tower
Gediminas Tower Gediminas Castle Tower is practically all that remains of Upper Castle, the medieval complex that was constructed in Vilnius in the early 14th century. The tower was once the reward that followed an arduous climb up Castle Hill through Vilnius Old Town, but these days a funicular m
Gediminas Avenue (Gedimino prospektas)
Gediminas Avenue (Gedimino prospektas) Vilnius’ main boulevard stretches from the River Neris in the west to the sweeping expanse of Cathedral Square in the southeast, and is named after the country’s greatest hero, the legendary Grand Duke Gediminas, who is credited with founding the fledgling co
Devils Museum
Devils Museum The Devil’s Museum in Kaunas, Lithuania features the Antanas Zmuidzinavicius collection of sculptures and carvings of devils from around the world, as well as witches and other mythological characters. It includes 3,000 articles of arts and crafts, fine arts and souvenirs made from m
Bernardine Church
Bernardine Church As happened so often in Vilnius over the centuries, the imposing Church of St Francis and St Bernadine was built on the site of an earlier wooden church and originally formed part of the city’s defensive walls. It was built in the early 16th century as the dedicated church of a D
Atomic Bunker Museum
Atomic Bunker Museum Since it opened its doors in 2014, the Atomic Bunker Museum has earned acclaim as one of Kaunas’ most unique visitor attractions, offering a fascinating insight into the city’s war history. Housed in an authentic nuclear bunker, located 6 meters beneath the ground and built du
Neringa
Neringa Wonderfully situated in the scenic Kuršių Nerija (Curonian Spit National Park) on the peninsula that runs between Lithuania and the little Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, Neringa is a modern spa town that stretches for miles in a landscape of dunes and windswept sandy beaches. It came into
Grutas Park
Grutas Park Grutas Parks is a fascinating cultural center that exhibits Soviet era relics and statues in its museum and sculpture garden. From 1989 to 1991, when Lithuania regained its independence, Soviet monuments were dismantled and dumped throughout the country. In an effort to preserve the mo
Uzupis
Uzupis Before World War II, the working-class district of Uzupis south of the River Neris and west of the River Vilnele formed one of the main Jewish communities in Vilnius. This was abandoned during the Holocaust and during the Soviet Occupation between 1944 and 1990, it filled up again with bohe
Pazaislis Monastery
Pazaislis Monastery The country’s finest example of Italian baroque architecture can be seen at the Pazaislis Monastery and church in Kaunas, the largest monastery complex in Lithuania. Built in 1662 by the order of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, four Italian architects designed the church and mona
Siauliai Hill of Crosses
Siauliai Hill of Crosses The Siauliai Hill of Crosses is a center of national pilgrimage just north of the small industrial city of Siauliai. Many thousands of crosses cover a small hill. Ranging from tiny crucifixes to enormous metal or wooden crosses, they represent the Lithuanian peoples spirit
Amber Museum-Gallery
Amber Museum-Gallery Every Baltic city has an amber museum to reflect on the days when it was regarded as Baltic gold and served as the cornerstone of maritime trade, helping to bring wealth into Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Vilnius’s miniscule museum was opened in 1988 and is housed in the 15th
Vilnius Cathedral (Arkikatedra Bazilika)
Vilnius Cathedral (Arkikatedra Bazilika) Vilnius Cathedral - or Arkikatedra Bazilika - can trace its history back to the 13th century when the Lithuanian King Mindaugas built the original cathedral in 1251. Having been burnt down and rebuilt several times over the years, the cathedral’s final reco
Rumsiskes Open-Air Museum
Rumsiskes Open-Air Museum Lithuania’s open-air museum celebrates rural life and pays homage to folk customs from the last 200 years with the country’s largest collection of national costumes, religious art, traditional toys, agricultural implements and historic housing. About 80 typical pre-Soviet
Aukstaitija National Park
Aukstaitija National Park At over 400 sq km (154 sq mi) and dense with pine, spruce and deciduous trees, Aukstaitija National Park is a real breath of fresh air. The park’s forests attract deer, elk and wild boar but its biggest appeal, is its large number of lakes and rivers that make up 30% of t
Kaunas
Kaunas Kaunas, Lithuanias second biggest city, sits at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers. Formerly serving time as the country’s temporary capital when Vilnius was annexed to Poland in the early 20th century, Kaunas grew to become Lithuania’s industrial powerhouse. Kaunas is also a cu
