Vilnius Attractions

Gediminas Castle

Standing sentinel over Vilnius since the 13th century, the landmark Gediminas Castle was built by the founder of the city, and has served as defence bastion, prison, and now major tourist attraction. Originally the castle was made of wood, later clad in 10ft (3m)...  see full details

Vilnius Cathedral

The resplendent Vilnius Cathedral, which stands proudly on the central square of the Old City, has a chequered history that left it decaying and abandoned through the Soviet era. The Cathedral, which resembles a classical Greek temple more than it does a Christian church,...  see full details

European Park

A few miles north of Vilnius town centre Lithuanian sculptor Gintaras Karosas founded the Europos Parkas (European Park) on a 55-hectare site that encompasses the geographic centre of Europe, as determined by the French National Geographic Institute in 1989. The Park attracts hundreds of...  see full details

Jewish Memorials

In the early 20th century about half of the population of Vilnius were Yiddish-speaking Jews and the city was dubbed the 'Jerusalem of the North'. The Nazis in World War II effectively obliterated this community, encircling the Jewish quarter in barbed wire and eventually...  see full details

Museum of Genocide Victims

The dark days of the Soviet occupation of Lithuania are preserved in this disturbing collection of exhibits, which is contained in the former KGB headquarters building. Those who drew the antagonism of the authorities were detained, tortured and often executed in this building. Some...  see full details

Hill of the Three Crosses

Near the Gediminas Castle in the Old City stands a hill topped with a trio of crosses, originally erected in the 17th century in memory of seven Franciscan monks who were crucified and thrown into the Vilnia River. The crosses were destroyed by...  see full details