{"id":121215,"date":"2019-09-03T13:58:07","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T13:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=121215"},"modified":"2019-09-03T13:58:07","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T13:58:07","slug":"things-to-do-in-vilnius","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/things-to-do-in-vilnius\/","title":{"rendered":"The best things to do in Vilnius, Lithuania: 9 reasons you must visit right now!"},"content":{"rendered":"

I could spend hours talking about amazing Lithuania, a small country of about three million. Its imposing architecture still bears the marks of the past and its beautiful churches and castles have an enchanting atmosphere. This Baltic country, close to Belarus, Poland, Estonia and Latvia, has a sweetness and charm I never expected, especially in its quirky capital. I want to show you my favourite things to do in Vilnius, so you can add this underrated city to your Eastern European itinerary!<\/p>\n

Lithuania\u2019s currency is the euro, which makes life much easier for us travellers (no boring conversions!) and getting there is easier than you might think, with budget-friendly Ryanair operating flights from many countries such as Ireland, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The charming historical centre of Vilnius, the curiously delicious cuisine and the enchanting island of Trakai will make you want to immerse yourself in this historic, magical country. And if you don\u2019t believe me, here are the top nine things to do in Vilnius which will make you realise you need to visit right away. Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

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    Explore Vilnius architecture and The Old Town<\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    A colourful, historic city that\u2019s packed full of character. Among the breathtaking buildings you\u2019ll discover winding alleyways that lead to beautiful gardens where you can hide away. The UNESCO-listed Old Town mixes medieval charm with high-end designer stores, its sidewalks lined with so many small cafes and local restaurants that it\u2019s impossible to choose which one to sit at! The city is one of the cleanest in Europe, and when I visited in spring it was brought to life by hundreds of colourful flowers in bloom.<\/p>\n

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      Take a free walking tour of the capital<\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      As any self-respecting backpacker<\/a> should do when planning a trip, I researched free things to do in Vilnius, and what better way to start the day than by listening to local stories and learning about the city? Arriving at the meeting point, I met my guide Milda, a friendly Lithuanian who loves my home county Brazil. Between sights we exchanged stories about our cultures. After the tour she took us to a local restaurant, but food is a topic for later!<\/p>\n

      You don\u2019t pay for the free tour service, but if you\u2019re happy with the experience you should leave an amount you can afford as a tip for the guide. In Milda’s case, I also went to Trip Advisor to recommend her personally \u2013 she was that great! This is one of my absolute favourite things to do in Vilnius.<\/p>\n

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        Visit the independent Republic of Uzupis<\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Right next to the historic centre of Vilnius is a district called \u201cUzupio Res Publika\u201d, which was declared independent in 1997 and is considered a country within Lithuania. The people living here have autonomy, as well as their own president and national anthem. The local constitution features bonkers laws like: “everyone has the right to die, but that is not an obligation”\u00a0\ud83d\ude32 Take a walk through here and you\u2019ll soon realise you\u2019re in a different environment when you see sculptures and artworks created by local artists scattered around the streets. It has a similar vibe to Copenhagen\u2019s Freetown Christiania or Ljubljana\u2019s Metelkova. Be sure to check out the statue of an angel in the centre of the district that\u2019s considered the guardian of the Republic.<\/p>\n

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          Stay in an awesome hostel<\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          A good hostel is key for travelling on a budget and meeting incredible people along the way. When choosing a hostel, I always think about the location, check the reviews from other guests and (obviously) the price. In Vilnius, I stayed in B&B&B&B&B<\/a> – yep, that\u2019s actually the name! The cleanliness was top notch, the rooms are big, with plug sockets on every bunk bed (very important!) and the hostel is central enough to be able to do everything on foot. If you\u2019re after a night out, the hostel has a bar with electronic music that goes into the late hours. It\u2019s also close to the station that takes you to the airport, bus terminals and nearby cities. Prices start from \u00a38 a night, so what are you waiting for?<\/p>\n

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