pinterest pin The Christmas Markets of Vilnius

Prologue

During the Christmas of 2019, we decided to set off for a marathon road run, A Baltic and Scandinavian Christmas | A 7000 km Cruise and Road Trip across Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden from the Netherlands | Travel Itinerary, Tips, and Tricks, that turned out to be one of the most memorable trips of our lifetime. So based on our experience, today I’m going to take you along with me on a ride across the top 7 things to see and do during Christmas in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Let the journey begin!

About Lithuania

Lithuania, the southernmost and biggest of the 3 Baltic states (a term given to the countries in northeastern Europe situated on the Baltic Sea namely Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia), was an influential empire that controlled much of eastern Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries before entering the Polish-Lithuanian confederation for the next 2 centuries.

Lithuania was under Russia from 1795, ruled by Germany for a short duration throughout World War II, and annexed into the U.S.S.R. in 1944 as one of its constituent republics. On March 11, 1990, Lithuania announced its independence by a consentaneous vote of its freshly chosen parliament. Lithuania joined the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2004. Its capital is Vilnius.

Welcome to Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital and biggest city of Lithuania. Vilnius is categorized as a Gamma international city according to GaWC research studies. Prior To World War II, Vilnius was among the biggest Jewish centers in Europe, so much so that Napoleon called it "the Jerusalem of the North" as he was traveling through in 1812. In 1994, the old town of Vilnius was enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2009, Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture, together with Linz, Austria. In 2021, Vilnius ranked amongst the top-25 fDi's Global Cities of the Future.

Top 7 Things to See and Do during Christmas in Vilnius

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1. Visit the Christmas Markets at the Cathedral Square and Town Hall Square

December in Vilnius is a unique time as Christmas and New Year draw closer and bring the associated festivities. Vilnius got extremely popular when ‘The Guardian’ listed Vilnius’ Christmas Tree amongst the most gorgeous ones globally in 2015. Its appeal increased with the Christmas Trees of 2016 and 2017. In 2019 when we visited, Vilnius set up a 27 meters (around 90 feet) high metal Christmas Tree made with 600+ branches and over 5 km of lighting themed on the Queen of Chess (ranked as finest Christmas Tree in Europe that year), surrounded by stalls offering well-crafted distinct handmade products, a wide variety of dining establishments open till midnight and youth choirs shouting Christmas carols all around. Certainly, Vilnius is a must-visit Christmas location.

Christmas Market at the Cathedral Square

There are a couple of small and idyllic Christmas Markets in the old town of Vilnius. The primary one is at the Cathedral Square where the main Christmas Tree is put up with the Vilnius Cathedral at the backdrop.

Christmas Market at the Town Hall Square

The second one is located in the Town Hall Square, about 1 km from the Cathedral Square. In the images below you can see another Christmas Tree put up in the Town Hall Square with the Town Hall in the backdrop. The most unique thing about this Christmas Market is the igloo-shaped stalls.

Christmas Markets at the Town Hall Square vilnius lithuania

2. Enjoy the Christmas Decors

Across the Old Town you can find Christmas decors - Lifesize statues depicting the Nativity of Christ, Christmas street lightings, and wall decorations.

Jesus Christ Nativity Scenes Vilnius Lithuania

3. Walk through the Gates of Dawn at dawn

Constructed as a part of the city walls, the Old Town's southern border is marked by the last standing 16th-century gate out of the five that stood once. A grand way to get in Old Town, the centerpiece of the Gates of Dawn is the Chapel of Mary the Mother of Mercy, housing the ‘Vilnius Madonna.’ Framed in silver, this 17th-century painting of the Virgin Mary brings in pilgrims from throughout Europe.

4. Marvel at St. Anne’s Church and Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard of Assisi

St. Anne's Church is a Roman Catholic church built on the bank of the Vilnia River, between 1495 and 1500. It is a popular example of both Flamboyant Gothic and Brick Gothic designs. St. Anne's is a popular landmark in the Old Town of Vilnius that got the district into the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites and is among the most intriguing examples of Gothic architecture in Lithuania. As the most well-known church in Vilnius, St. Anne is surrounded by legends. According to one, while traveling through Vilnius in 1812, Napoleon revealed a wish to bring it back home ‘in the palm of his hand.’ Another legend mentions that St. Anne's church was constructed by 2 designers - a senior master Vaitiekus and his young apprentice, Jonas. The master and apprentice disagreed on the design, so Vaitiekus left the building of the church for Jonas to finish. And the young apprentice stood out at his task - upon the flat bottom part, he developed a lighter top with 3 classy towers. After seeing the result, the old master was taken by envy and he pushed the apprentice off the roof of the freshly built St. Anne's church. That's why the church is said to be red.

The Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard (also called Bernardine Church) is a Roman Catholic church in the Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania. It lies beside St. Anne's Church. Devoted to Saints Francis of Assisi and Bernardino of Siena, it is a crucial Gothic architecture in Lithuania.

St. Anne’s Church and Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard of Assisi vilnius lithuania

interiors of St. Anne’s Church and Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard of Assisi vilnius lithuania

5. Stroll on the Vilnia riverside beside the Orthodox Cathedral of Theotokos

The Cathedral of the Theotokos is the primary Orthodox Christian church of Lithuania. The cathedral was constructed prior to the Christianization of Lithuania during the reign of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Algirdas for his second Orthodox wife Uliana of Tver in 1346, when the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was the last pagan state in Europe. It ended up being an important spiritual center for the growing Christian population of the duchy. The cathedral of the Theotokos was harmed during the Second World War and was rebuilt by 1957. After the remodeling in 1998, today, the cathedral belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church. Mainly the ethnic Russian and Belarusian citizens of Vilnius participate in its services.

man walking in front of Orthodox Cathedral of Theotokos

6. Cross the Vilnia River to enter ‘The Republic of Užupis’

Found within the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, Užupis is among the tiniest republics on the planet, covering less than 1 sq km. Do not be tricked by its size - it boasts its own president, currency, constitution, and federal government, and even has a navy consisting of 3 or 4 little boats (used generally for ritualistic functions). Until recently, it had an army of around 10 men; however, provided the republic's peace-loving mindset, it has actually been retired.

Užupis is a diverse juxtaposition of Soviet Bloc architecture and creative style. After the fall of the USSR in the early 90s, lots of plinths that had actually held statues of Soviet icons stood empty throughout Vilnius. In 1995, a group of regional artists utilized them to erect a statue of US rock icon Frank Zappa (despite the fact he had actually never visited Vilnius) as a sign of flexibility and a call to democracy. 2 years later on, on 1 April 1997, they went even further, declaring the independence of Užupis from the rest of Lithuania. Užupis is not identified by foreign, federal governments as an official country, the micro-nation has actually ended up being a source of pride in Vilnius and throughout Lithuania.

Suggesting ‘beyond the river’ in Lithuanian, Užupis is separated from the remainder of the city by the Vilnia River. The republic commemorates its independence yearly on 1 April, known in the area as Užupis Day. On this day, visitors can get their passports stamped as they cross the bridge into the republic (all other days, the border is not protected), use the regional (informal) currency, and treat themselves to the beer that streams from the water spout in the main square (yes, honestly).

What basically started as a tongue-in-cheek April Fools’ Day joke for a little group of creatives is now a major endeavor. Today, the Republic of Užupis has a constitution that has actually been translated into several languages.

graffiti street art mural in The Republic of Užupis vilnius lithuania

man standing near graffiti street art mural in The Republic of Užupis vilnius lithuania

boy standing near graffiti street art mural in The Republic of Užupis vilnius lithuania

7. Take a Day Trip to ‘The Hill of Crosses’ in Jurgaiciai

The Hill of Crosses is a collection of over 200,000 wood crosses set up on a little hill, among the most incredible sights in the Baltic nations. All these crosses inform us about public and individual disasters and miseries (e.g., one cross was put after the wreck of the ferryboat "Estonia"). It is thought about as an expression of the spontaneous religiousness of the people and is not a sign of sorrow and death but of sacrifice, faith, and love. From here, the Pope blessed all individuals of Lithuania and all of Christian Europe.

The Hill of Crosses in Jurgaiciai near vilnius lithuania

Visiting Vilnius

Best Time to Visit: Normally, the tour brochures say that the best seasons to visit Vilnius are late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October), when the city is less crowded with tourists and the weather is moderate or while summer (July to August) when it is warmer and the days are longer. But we think the best time to visit Vilnius is during Christmas when quaint Christmas Markets and decorations adorn the city. The downside could be that the days are quite short but the Christmas Market lights bring the city to life even after sunset. So nothing to worry about! We visited Vilnius during Christmas.

Number of Days to Stay: Three to four days is a good amount of time to spend touring Vilnius. During this time, you can explore the city's history and culture, see the major sights, and maybe take a day excursion to some of the surrounding areas, such as the Hill of Crosses.

Best Place to Stay: If you choose to stay in Vilnius's historic Old Town, then the Cathedral Square and a plethora of restaurants, shops, and museums will be just a short distance away. If you want a tranquil getaway, you can stay in Žvėrynas, a residential area located close to the city center with lots of greenery, quaint eateries, and the Neris River nearby. For a bohemian ambiance, you can also choose to stay in Užupis. We stayed in the Old Town.

Best Way to Arrive: The Vilnius airport is situated roughly 6 km south of the city center. There are connections from the airport to places throughout Europe and beyond. Vilnius is connected by train to other Lithuanian cities and to Poland, Belarus, Latvia, and other nearby nations. For those arriving by train, Vilnius Railway Station is conveniently situated close to the city center. Numerous bus companies run trips from major European cities to Vilnius. Vilniaus Autobusų Stotis, the city's main bus station, offers links to a number of locations both domestically and internationally. You can also choose to drive to Vilnius, particularly if you're visiting the Baltic region or coming from a nearby nation. We drove into Vilnius from Germany driving over Poland.

Best Local Mode of Conveyance: Vilniaus Viešasis Transportas (Vilnius Public Transport) runs a dependable and reasonably priced public transportation system in Vilnius that includes buses and trolleybuses. Taxis are easily accessible, and ridesharing services such as Bolt function within the city limits that you can use for short excursions or traveling late at night when public transportation is less frequent. In Vilnius, bicycles are a common means of transportation, and there are a lot of bike rental companies and designated bike lanes. Alternatively, you can take your time discovering the city's squares, winding streets, and secret spots by walking, particularly in the Old Town neighborhood, where most of the attractions are located in close vicinity to each other.

Epilogue

So that brings us to the end of our journey across the top 7 things to see and do in Vilnius during Christmas. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article.

And if you wish to read the day-by-day account of our complete 7000 km road run across the Baltics and Scandinavia during Christmas 2019, please visit our article A Baltic and Scandinavian Christmas | A 7000 km Cruise and Road Trip across Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden from the Netherlands | Travel Itinerary, Tips, and Tricks. Until then, merry traveling and happy shooting!