Vilnius in a Day: What to Do in Lithuania’s Beautiful Capital City 

While planning our trip to the Baltics, we had to choose between spending more time in Latvia or heading down to Lithuania for only one night. Although we would’ve love to have more time in each country, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore yet another new culture. And we’re so glad we chose to keep exploring. We were super impressed by the beautiful Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, which sees less tourists than its neighboring Baltic capitals of Tallinn and Riga. Here are the highlights of our day in Vilnius, a charming city that’s not to be missed. 

Morning: Coffee and Culture in Užupis

Start your day in Užupis, an artsy neighborhood that calls itself a republic and even has passport stamps, a president, and an entertaining constitution exhibited on its charming streets. (Just a note: we don’t recommend getting unofficial passports stamps even if they are a tempting souvenir.)

Grab your morning coffee and pastry at one of the lovely cafes. We went to this adorably pink spot, Lui Patty, and when I found out they color their pink latte with beet juice (of course they do!) I couldn’t resist.

After breakfast, stroll across the bridges of Užupis, admire the art, and explore the local craft shops.

Midday: Trakai Castle and Lakeside Lunch

You cannot miss Trakai Castle while you’re in Vilnius, even if it’s a bit further afield. We had a rental car, but you can also take a 30-minute bus, train, or ride share to get to this lovely island, which offers more than just a castle (even though the castle is the coolest part). Note: If you’re using a ride-hailing company, we recommend Bolt over Uber in the Baltics because it’s an Estonian company and therefore tends to have more availability. 

Enjoy lunch with a View: We decided to dine at Markizas on the front porch with an excellent view of the lake. Apvalaus Stalo Klubas also comes recommended for its castle views, lakeside ambience, and traditional fare. You may want to try kibinai, a traditional pastry that’s filled with meat or vegetables. We had a few varieties, along with some mushroom soup and a caprese salad. It was all delicious and came with such a relaxing vibe. 

Explore the Castle: After lunch, visit the Trakai Castle and learn about the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Optional Lake Activities: If the weather is nice, consider renting a boat or kayak to paddle around the lake. You can also opt for a short boat tour.

Late Afternoon: Discover Vilnius Old Town

Head back to Vilnius and spend the afternoon exploring the Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site full of interesting architecture, cobblestone streets, and hidden gems.

There was actually a lively street market and lots of activities filling up the streets of Vilnius on our full day in the city, so that added to its charm.

Evening: Dine at Ertlio Namas for an upscale local experience 

Ertlio Namas was really special. It’s a restaurant that features historic Lithuanian cuisine with a modern and elegant twist. We found this gem in the Michelin guide and were intrigued by its inspiration from centuries-old recipes. Just be ready for some menu items that might be a little unusual: venison, sturgeon, pheasant, beer soup, and locally sourced cheeses were among our tastings, and sometimes the menu includes moose or bear. You can also opt for vegan! The restaurant’s setting in a historic townhouse in old town makes it even more perfect.

This meal was all about the journey, and our lovely server explained the Lithuanian roots of each dish as it was served. 

Where to Stay: Hilton Garden Inn Vilnius

We decided to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Vilnius, which was well-located, spacious, and comfortable — and had easy convenient parking. It was about a 15-20 minute walk to the heart of Old Town and a bit quieter than some other areas of town. The staff were really friendly, and we even had a sampling of chocolates waiting for us in our beautiful room, which still had that new hotel smell. Overall, it felt really upscale for a HGI and they even offered robes and slippers in the room. We would definitely stay here again next time.

I know we say this a lot, but we wanted a little more time in Vilnius and all of the Baltic region, really. We only spent nine nights on the ground for this trip and visited 5 countries, including Germany on an 8-hour layover. That’s a lot, but it was well worth it to get a nice sampling of the region. We hope we make it back for a deeper dive someday. 

Would you add anything else to your perfect day in Vilnius? Let us know in the comments!

Check Out More on Lithuania and the Baltics

• Vilnius Lithuania: Best Fine-Dining Spot For Local Cuisine
• Which Baltic Capital Should You Visit? Tallinn, Riga, or Vilnius?
• How to Get Around the Baltics
• Baltic Travel Itinerary: A Week in Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius + Helsinki