 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
General
Travel
Sightseeing
Entertainment
Printable Guide
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
City Guide > Europe > Lithuania > Vilnius | |
|
Mini Guide of Vilnius City Overview The least known and visited of the three Baltic State capitals, Vilnius has for decades reclined in the shadows. All that has started to change since May 2004 when Lithuania followed its newly acquired NATO membership by joining the European Union and opening up its capital’s charms to a whole new market of business people and tourists. Savvy travellers and pioneering members of the business community were already coming to Vilnius, but it is the EU ascension that has really kicked things off and there is plenty for the new arrivals to see and do. The city’s historic core is stunning, centred around a well-preserved and expansive baroque old town that is fringed by the Vilnia and Neris rivers. A riot of church spires reach for the heavens; just how many churches the city has can be appreciated by climbing up to the city’s castle or visiting one of the parks that dot this green metropolis. On the north bank of the Neris, a new Vilnius is taking shape, a 21st century collage of glass and steel skyscrapers geared towards the burgeoning business community, a world that offers a complete contrast to Vilnius and Lithuania before the break from the Soviet Union and the ditching of communism in 1991. The Lithuanian economy these days has overcome many of the structural and fiscal problems that were all too evident in the post-independence years and is now one of Europe’s fastest growing. Add in the buzz that the large local student population injects into the old streets, and Vilnius today is a thrilling, energetic and rewarding place to visit, whether on business or pleasure. Although Vilnius may no longer be the travel secret it once was, so far it has yet to become plagued by the crowds that have tainted other old Iron Curtain cities such as Prague and Krakow. Getting There By Air Vilnius Airport (VNO) Tel: (5) 230 6666. Website: www.vilnius-airport.lt The city’s increasingly modern and efficient airport is located 5km (3 miles) south of Vilnius. Facilities in arrivals include a currency exchange office, car rental, bar, toilets, telephones, shops and an ATM machine. In departures there is a currency exchange office, bar, toilets, telephones, shops and an ATM. Business facilities are available in departures at the lounge which has Internet and fax. Regular public buses no. 1 (to Gedimino) and no. 2 (to the main railway station) connect the airport to the city centre. Metered taxis are also available outside the terminal, ensure the meter is switched on or agree a fare in advance. Main airlines from the UK are British Airways (website: www.ba.com), Air Baltic (website: www.airbaltic.lv) and Lithuanian Airlines (website: www.lal.lt). Getting There By Water Getting There By Road Lithuania has the most developed motorway network in the Baltics with a motorway (the A1) linking Vilnius to the Lithuanian cities of Klaipeda and Kaunas. The A2 motorway heads north towards the Latvian border, while the less impressive M7 artery heads southeast to Belarus. The city’s bus station is centrally located by the main railway station on the edge of the old town at Sodu 22 (tel: (5) 216 2977; website: www.toks.lt). Services run to all major Lithuanian towns and cities as well as outside the country to Estonia, Riga, Belarus, Germany and as far as the UK. The main operators are Eurolines (tel: (5) 269 0000; website: www.eurolines.lt) and Ecolines (tel: (5) 262 0020; website: www.ecolines.lt). Emergency Breakdown number: 1810. Getting There By Rail Vilnius Railway Station is located at Gelezinkelio Stotis, Gelezinkelio 16 (tel: (5) 233 0086). This centrally located railway station offers domestic services to Lithuania’s second city of Kaunas and also to other domestic destinations such as Trakai and Klaipeda, as well as international destinations such as Minsk, Kaliningrad, Moscow and Warsaw. The national railway company is Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (tel: (01) 262 6947; website: www.litrail.lt), who in 2005 put in a large order for new rolling stock as part of a major investment programme. Beware that some international trains transit neighbouring Belarus, for which a transit visa is required. Getting Around Public Transport A large network of buses and trolleybuses is operated by the local authorities (website: www.vilniustransport.lt). Tickets can be purchased at many newspaper kiosks. Passengers can pay when boarding although it is cheaper to buy tickets beforehand. Private minibuses also operate, but routes (sometimes outlined by a placard in the front window) are erratic and subject to change mid-journey so are best avoided by most visitors. Taxis Taxis can be hailed on the street or at ranks at the railway and bus stations as well as in the old town. Pre-booked taxis can be ordered from a number of local companies such as Autvela (1409), Denvila (1423) and Vilniaus Taksi (1800). Ensure the meter is either switched on or agree a price in advance for all journeys. Car Hire International car hire companies have offices at the airport and also in the city centre. Companies at the airport include Avis (tel: (5) 232 9316; website: www.avis.lt) and Budget (tel: (5) 230 6708; website: www.budget.lt). In the city centre there are offices of Hertz (tel: (5) 272 6940; website: www.hertz.lt) and Sixt (tel: (5) 239 5636; website: www.sixt.lt). Driving in the city centre can be chaotic and intimidating with heavy traffic and local drivers bent on speed and dangerous overtaking manoeuvres. Note that headlights must be used at all times. Bicycle Hire There are cycle lanes in Vilnius but cycling remains hazardous due to the often inconsiderate and erratic local drivers. Baltic Cycle (tel: 6995 6009; website: www.bicycle.lt) rent out bikes to those brave or foolish enough to take on the local drivers. They also offer one-way hires around Lithuania and on to Latvia and Estonia, as well as organised tours. Business Sightseeing Sightseeing Overview The old core of Vilnius is easy to explore on foot, with buses, trolleybuses and taxis on hand to get to the other out of town sights. In effect the key sight is the UNESCO World Heritage listed old town itself, the largest baroque quarter in Europe outside Prague, with mile upon mile of cobbled streets that are flanked by an orgy of (increasingly) revamped baroque beauties. Central attractions include a flurry of churches, the highlight of which is the striking Cathedral, which lies below Vilnius Castle, itself a good place to take in views of the city and get orientated. On the edge of the old town are the Gates of Dawn, a key site for religious pilgrims. Interesting museums include the poignant KGB Museum, the large National Museum and the tourist-orientated Amber Museum. Outside the centre, the vaulting TV Tower boasts great views of the city and out across swathes of the Lithuanian countryside. Tourist Information Vilnius Tourist Office Vilniaus 22 Tel: (5) 262 9660. Website: www.turizmas.vilnius.lt The city’s main tourist office (above) is located in the city centre. The helpful staff dispense information, as well as hand out maps and brochures. They can also arrange tours and accommodation. There are other tourist information offices at Didzioji 31 (tel: (5) 262 6470) and the train station (tel: (5) 269 2091). Key Attractions Old Town The sprawling old town was in a sorry state just a few years ago with crumbling facades and an air of general decay. The picture now is completely different with the buildings around central Didzioji positively gleaming. Aimless wandering is usually rewarded and those wanting to get a feel for how raffish the old town used to be should pop over the Vilnia to the Uzupis district, which has still largely to undergo gentrification. Cathedral Recently refurbished after being handed back to the church (under the Soviets it was used as an art gallery), the cathedral is now back to its stunningly white best. There has been a religious building on the site since the 13th century, with today’s incarnation largely the result of 18th century work. You cannot miss the freestanding belltower that lies between the main structure and Gedimino. Katedros 1 Tel: (5) 261 1127. Vilnius Castle A short walk (or an even quicker ride up the new funicular) brings you up to the small mound where the city’s modest castle nestles. The original 13th century fortifications have been modified throughout the centuries and now the castle also houses a museum. Good views. Castle Hill Tel: (5) 261 7453. KGB Museum The dark days of the Soviet occupation come alive at this chilling museum. The exhibits are housed in the actual building where anyone who had rankled the authorities was held, tortured and then either executed or condemned to the gulags. Auku 2a Tel: (5) 249 6264/2. Website: www.genocid.lt TV Tower The TV Tower boasts the most comprehensive views of the city, but is not for vertigo sufferers. There is a small café, although it is the views that people come to see. Look out also for the touching exhibition commemorating the sacrifice of 14 civilians who were murdered by Soviet tanks in 1991 during the independence struggle. Sausio 13-Osios 10 Tel: (5) 204 0300. Website: www.lrtc.lt Further Distractions Frank Zappa Statue This unusual statue of the oddball American musician and alternative thinker is surely the only one of its kind in the world, revealing Vilnius’ playful side. Sculpted by a local artist, Konstantinas Bogdanas, in brass and unveiled in 1995. Kalinausko 1 Hill of Three Crosses The trio of crosses, which originally were placed here in the 17th century, marked the crucifixion of a group of monks. The crosses, both symbolic of faith and Lithuanian national identity, were destroyed by Stalin’s regime, but they were rebuilt in 1989 as the country approached independence. The views of the city are excellent and the walks back down the wooded slopes enjoyable. Kalnu Parkas Tours of the City The Vilnius Tourist Office (tel: (5) 262 9660; website: www.turizmas.vilnius.lt) can organise guided group tours and guides for individuals, though booking ahead is recommended. Astrida, Gedimino 31 (tel: (5) 212 2790; website: www.astrida.lt) and Vilnius City Tour, Ausros Vartu 7 (tel: (5) 261 5558; website: www.vilniuscitytour.com) are two local companies offering guides and tours. Vilniaus Autobusai (tel: (5) 273 8625; website: www.vap.lt) run one and two hour bus tours of Vilnius as well as hiring out whole buses for an hour tour. Vilnius City Tour also run bus tours out to Gruto Parkas and to the nearby historic town of Trakai. Excursions Gruto Parkas: A bizarre communist ‘theme park’ laden with the sort of old Soviet-era statues that have disappeared from the rest of the old Eastern bloc. Lenin and Stalin live just a one hour 30 minute bus ride from Vilnius. Kitsch but fascinating. Grutas (tel: (8) 3135 5511; website: www.grutoparkas.lt). Europos Parkas: This large sculpture park is located at the supposed exact centre of Europe, though the French geographers who originally ‘located’ it have now come out and said the real centre may actually lie a few kilometres away. Ten kilometres north by bus from Vilnius. Joneikiskiu (tel: (5) 237 7077; website: www.europosparkas.lt). Sport Shopping Whilst Vilnius is not exactly Milan or London, it does offer infinitely more opportunities for retail therapy than it did during the Soviet years. The most popular souvenir item is Baltic amber, available in outlets such as Amber, Ausros Vartu 9 and the Amber Museum-Gallery, Mykolo 8. Although Vilnius has followed the trend for big shopping malls such as Europa, Konstitucijos 7a, the old town is also home to a pleasing myriad of small-scale niche shops. Some of the most interesting include the newly opened Cognac Boutique, Etmonu 4, with its world class treasure trove of fine cognacs, Antikvaras, Pilies 32-4, with its array of bric-a-brac and antiques, and Yzzy Fashion House, Gaono 10, with its interesting and offbeat attire. Shops in general open quite late around 1000 or 1100 and don’t close their doors until 1800 or 1900, though at weekends opening hours can be more limited. Culture Throughout the year, Vilnius bustles with the arts, ranging from small-scale street theatre right through to grand opera performances and classical music recitals. Many performances are only in Lithuanian as the country celebrates the return and dominance of the local language after decades of Soviet-era suppression. Check out Vilnius in Your Pocket (available free in hotels, can also be bought in newsagents and tourist offices) a bi-monthly guide to the city, for details of major events. The tourist office can also often help with information and even bookings. Main cultural venues include the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Vienuolio 1 (tel: (5) 262 0727; website: www.opera.lt), the National Philharmonic Hall, Ausros Vartu 4 (tel: (5) 266 5233; website: www.filharmonija.lt) and the National Drama Theater, Gedimino 4 (tel: (5) 262 9771; website: www.teatras.lt). Russian culture makes it own bid for attention at the Russian Drama Theatre, Basanaviciaus 13 (tel: (5) 262 7133). Big concerts often take place at the Siemens Arena, Ozo 14 (tel: 1653). The Vilnius Festival in June is fast becoming the highlight of the cultural calendar. Nightlife Vilnius’ large student population help fuel an eclectic and buzzing nightlife scene when they are in town. In summer, tables burst out everywhere as the scene becomes positively Mediterranean, while in winter the bitter cold and snow drive people inside to the cosy pubs. The SkyBar at the Reval Hotel, Konstitucijos 20, offers the best views of any bar in town on the 22nd floor of the hotel. Old ex-pat favourite The Pub, Dominikonu 9, is still going strong as the city’s nightlife multiplies. Fun newcomers include Paparazzi, Totoriu 3, with its great cocktails and Prospekto, Gedimino 2, a big and popular spot. Nearby Avilys, Gedimino 5, brews its own excellent beer; their honey beer is divine. Brodvejus, Mesiniu 4, is a sweatily enjoyable nightclub/live music venue in the old town, while the huge Galaxy, Konstitucijos 26, can hold over a 1,000 techno devotees. Bang in the centre of the old town, the Helios complex, Didzioji 28, now has a nightclub to join its host of other attractions such as a steak house and sushi bar; a firm favourite of the local ‘beautiful people’. City Statistics Location: South-eastern Lithuania, near the border with Belarus. Country dialling code: 370. Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Electricity: 220V, European two prong plug. Average January temp: -2ºC (28ºF). Average July temp: 18ºC (64ºF). Annual rainfall: 800mm (31.5 inches). Special Events International Theatre Festival, May, two week long festival that showcases the work of local writers and producers and also brings in an array of talent from abroad Vilnius Festival, Jun, cultural extravaganza that focuses mainly on music with domestic and international performers (website: www.festivalis.lt) Medieval Festival, mid-Jun, historic festival held just outside of Vilnius in the charming town of Trakai St Christopher Summer Festival, Jun-Jul, popular annual summer arts event in Vilnius (website: www.kristupofestivaliai.lt) Blues Nights, Jul, weekend long orgy of rhythm and blues (website: www.bliuzas.fun.lt) All Souls Day, Nov 2, locals congregate at cemeteries around the country to light candles to honour the dead New Year’s Eve, Dec 31, celebrations in the city to welcome in the New Year in style Cost of Living 1 Lithuanian Litai (1Lt) = £0.20; US$0.35; C$0.40; A$0.45; ¬0.29 Currency conversion rates as of October 2005 |