Vilnius 3 Day Itinerary

Start at Cathedral Square (Katedros aikštė) — the symbolic heart of Vilnius. Visit Vilnius Cathedral and climb the Bell Tower for views. Hike up Gediminas Hill (a short but steep 10-minute climb) to reach Gediminas Tower, the last remaining part of Vilnius Upper Castle, for a panorama over the entire city and the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers.

Walk through the Old Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest surviving Baroque old towns in Northern Europe. Seek out St. Anne's Church (reportedly admired so much by Napoleon he wanted to carry it back to Paris), the Gates of Dawn (Aušros Vartai) containing the revered icon of the Madonna, and the Church of St. Casimir — the oldest Baroque church in Vilnius.

Cross the Vilnia River into Užupis — a bohemian neighbourhood that declared itself an independent republic on April Fool's Day 1997. It has its own constitution (displayed in 37 languages on a mirrored wall), its own flag and its own "president." Excellent restaurants and bars line the main street. The constitution is worth reading in full.

Take the bus or train from Vilnius to Trakai (30 minutes, buses run frequently from the bus station on Sodų g.). Visit Trakai Island Castle — a stunning red-brick Gothic fortress built on an island in Lake Galvė in the 14th century, connected to the shore by wooden bridges. It is the most visited sight in Lithuania and genuinely stunning in any season.

Hire a rowing boat or take a short boat tour on Lake Galvė for views of the castle from the water. Trakai is also home to the Karaite ethnic community — try kibinai, their traditional crescent-shaped pastries filled with lamb or beef, at one of the lakeside restaurants on Karaimų gatvė.

Return to Vilnius. Dinner in the Old Town or the trendy Šnipiškės district across the river, which has developed a strong restaurant and bar scene around Rinktinės Street. Halės Turgus, the covered market near the old town, has a great selection of local street food stalls in the evenings.

Visit the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights — also known locally as the KGB Museum, housed in the former KGB headquarters and prison on Aukų gatvė. One of the most sobering and important museums in Eastern Europe, covering Soviet repression of Lithuania from 1940 to 1991. Allow 2 hours.

Stroll through Bernardine Garden, a beautifully restored 19th-century park beside the Old Town walls, with views up to Gediminas Hill. Final walk along Pilies gatvė, the Old Town's main pedestrian street, for a last look at the amber and linen shops. The Lithuanian Art Gallery on Didžioji gatvė is a good last stop.

Vilnius Airport (VNO) is 7km from the centre. Bus 3G runs directly from the Old Town in around 20 minutes. A Bolt to the airport costs approximately €8–10. Allow at least 2.5 hours before international departure.