1. The Gediminas’ Tower
  2. The Hill of Three Crosses
  3. Trakai Castle
  4. More Places You’ll Want to See

"Vilnius Through My Lens: A Local’s Love List"

Vilnius — More Than Just a Capital.

Vilnius is the capital of and largest city in Lithuania and the most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population was 607,404, and the Vilnius urban area (which extends beyond the city limits) has an estimated population of 747,864.

Vilnius is notable for the architecture of its Old Town, considered one of Europe's largest and best-preserved old towns. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The architectural style known as Vilnian Baroque is named after the city, which is farthest to the east among Baroque cities and the largest such city north of the Alps.

The city was noted for its multicultural population during the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, with contemporary sources comparing it to Babylon. Before World War II and the Holocaust, Vilnius was one of Europe's most important Jewish centers. Its Jewish influence has led to its being called "the Jerusalem of Lithuania", and Napoleon called it "the Jerusalem of the North" when he passed through in 1812.

Vilnius was a 2009 European Capital of Culture with Linz in Austria. In 2021, the city was named one of fDi's 25 Global Cities of the Future. Vilnius is considered a global financial centre, ranked 76th globally and 29th in Europe on the Global Financial Centres Index. The city is an important center for the global fintech industry. It hosted the 2023 NATO Summit. In 2025 Vilnius was the European Green Capital. Vilnius is a member of Eurocities and the Union of Capitals of the European Union (UCEU).

Most Loved Places

The Gediminas’ Tower

Gediminas' Tower with the Lithuanian flag on it.

The symbol of Vilnius is visible from many spots in the Old Town and is portrayed in numerous works of art. It is one of the best places to see the magnificent panoramas of Vilnius. Climb Gediminas’ Hill and admire the sunset or go up even higher to the top of the Gediminas Tower for more spectacular views. The red roofs of Vilnius, the church towers, and the narrow streets of the Medieval Old Town are a stunning sight. The tower houses a historic exhibition displaying reconstruction models of the castles of Vilnius, an armament, and iconographic material of old Vilnius.

Brief History:
Gediminas’ Castle Tower is the remaining fortification tower of the Upper Castle. Legend has it that the Grand Duke Gediminas dreamt of an Iron Wolf howling at the top of this hill, which he took as a prophecy of the great city that would one day stand in this place. The hill is where he eventually built a wooden castle.

Grand Duke Vytautas completed the city’s first brick castle in 1409. Gediminas’ Tower has changed purposes since then, including being used as the city’s first telegraph building in 1838. The Lithuanian flag was first flown at the top of the tower a century ago. The Vilnius Castle Museum was opened in 1960, and in 1968 it became a subdivision of the Lithuanian National Museum.

The Hill of Three Crosses

The Three Crosses memorial from a bird's eye view with a city panorama in the background.

Standing atop the hill that bears its name, the Three Crosses memorial consists of three white reinforced concrete crosses that are visible from afar. Climb the hill and you’ll see vast panoramas of Vilnius Old Town. Plus, the Bernardine Garden and Vilnele River are right at the foot of the hill. This 12-metre tall monument has become a symbol of national identity, but the crosses themselves are often illuminated in different colours to commemorate special events for Lithuania and the world. So whenever you can see the monument while walking around the city after dark, take a look to see if it’s lit up in special colours.

Brief History:
A wooden castle was built on the hill in the 12th and 13th centuries, and a settlement was later established in its place. The hill got its name after Franciscans died as martyrs when pagans tied them to crosses and threw them down the hill. The three crosses were erected to commemorate this event. The current monument was created by architect and sculptor A. Vivulskis in 1916 and rebuilt in 1988.

Trakai Castle

A bird's-eye view of a castle in the middle of a lake.

The castle is famous for its gothic architecture and its special location – it stands on an island on Lake Galve, one of the deepest lakes in Lithuania. The view of the historic structure is s traight out of a fairy tale. You can reach the castle by crossing the long wooden bridge. In the winter the lake freezes over and becomes a natural skating rink. You can also take in a special view of the castle from a yacht.

Visit the museum inside the castle to explore the exhibitions of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, various archaeological findings and artefacts, as well as a collection of art. In the summer there are medieval festivals as well as various events and concerts in the castle’s courtyard.

Brief History:
The castle was built in the 14th century and served as a residence for the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. However, the structure fell into disarray in the 17th century and was only rebuilt in 1951. In 1962, the castle became a part of the Trakai History Museum.

More Places You’ll Want to See

If you're curious to learn more, check out these sources:

  1. Go Vilnius
  2. Wikipedia
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