Why visit
Vilnius is a baroque Baltic capital with courtyards, churches, hill viewpoints, creative districts, and a layered Jewish, Polish, Lithuanian, and Soviet history. It rewards slow walking.
How to use this result
Use it as a capital-city prompt
Vilnius is useful when you want a city-level starting point in Lithuania. Check whether the capital is the best arrival city, a practical transfer point, or mainly a geography and planning reference.
Check practical trip fit
Before planning around Vilnius, compare airport access, local transport, time zone, neighborhood choices, weather, safety guidance, and whether another city in Lithuania better matches the trip style.
Vilnius at a glance
City population
580k
Metro: 810k
Elevation
112 m
367 ft
Time zone
UTC+2 (UTC+3 DST)
Europe/Vilnius
Airport
VNO
Vilnius International
Founded
1323
Getting around
Buses + trolleybuses; walkable historic core
Signature dish
Cepelinai, kugelis, šaltibarščiai (cold beetroot soup), kepta duona
Neighborhoods for travelers
Old Town (largest in Eastern Europe)Užupis (self-declared republic)Naujamiestis
Lithuania at a glance
Country center
56.0°, 24.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
65,300 km²
25,212 mi²
Country population
2.7 million
42/km²
Subregion
Northern Europe
Currency
Euro (€)
EUR
Dial
+370
Language
Lithuanian
Demonym
Lithuanian
Internet
.lt
UN
Member state
ISO code
LT / LTU
Where in the world
56.0° - 24.0°
Lithuania
Open in Google Maps
Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world - CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Vilnius has the largest Old Town in Eastern Europe, covering 3.59 square kilometers (UNESCO-listed).
- The self-declared "Republic of Užupis" is a bohemian neighborhood with its own constitution, president, and 12 ambassadors.
- Lithuania was the last pagan state in Europe: it adopted Christianity only in 1387.
- Lithuania was once the largest country in Europe: the Grand Duchy spanned from the Baltic to the Black Sea in the 15th century.
- The Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai contains over 200,000 crosses planted over two centuries as a symbol of resistance.
Bordering Lithuania
Traveler notes
- Vilnius old town is UNESCO-listed
- Gediminas Tower gives the classic city view
- Užupis adds a playful self-declared republic district
Plan checks
- Choose a neighborhood first: many capitals have tourist centers that are not the best places to stay.
- Public transport passes usually beat taxis and rideshares for multi-day visits.
Explore more
Facts last reviewed June 2026 against GeoNames and national statistics sources. See the editorial policy for how destination data is maintained.
Frequently asked about Vilnius
What currency is used in Vilnius?
Vilnius uses the Euro (€), ISO code EUR.
What languages are spoken in Lithuania?
The primary language is Lithuanian.
What is the international calling code for Lithuania?
The calling code is +370.
When is the best time to visit Vilnius?
May–Sep. Check current weather and local events before booking.
What airport serves Vilnius?
Vilnius International (IATA: VNO).
Other Europe destinations
Porto
Porto is port wine at Vila Nova de Gaia, the Ribeira riverfront (UNESCO), Livraria Lello's staircase, and francesinha sandwiches that should probably be illegal.
Krakow
Kraków is Poland's medieval capital. Main Square (Europe's largest), Wawel Castle, Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, and Auschwitz-Birkenau 90 minutes out.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a walled medieval city on the Adriatic. Stradun's polished limestone, city walls you can walk, and ferries to Lokrum and the Elaphiti islands.
Split
Split's Old Town is inside Diocletian's Palace. The Roman emperor's retirement home still occupied 1,700 years later. Ferry hub for the Dalmatian islands.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is Greece's second city. Byzantine walls, Rotunda (Roman mausoleum), Ano Poli's old town, and the country's most celebrated food scene.
Santorini
Santorini is the caldera island. Oia's whitewashed church domes, Fira's cliff-edge restaurants, red and black volcanic beaches, and Akrotiri's Bronze Age ruins.