Location: Vilnius
Top Things to do in Vilnius
Top 10 Sacred & Religious Sites in Vilnius, Vilnius County
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, contains one of the largest surviving medieval quarters in Europe. Included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Old Town contains almost two thousand medieval, gothic, renaissance, and baroque buildings, all centered on the neo-classical cathedral and town hall. Other popular attractions include the KGB Museum, located in a former Soviet prison, and the 13th century Higher Castle, which affords a glorious view of the city center.
Restaurants in Vilnius
1. Gate of Dawn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,476 reviews
Reviewed By JudyB528 - Appleton, United States
We went into the entrance off the street and walked up the stairs, not realizing what we would see. We entered a small room where the picture is and quite a number of people were on their knees praying to the Blessed Virgin. It is something to see it from the street, but do go inside to get the full experience.
2. Bernardine Church (Bernardinu Baznycia)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 380 reviews
Reviewed By thekruns - Sandefjord, Norway
This church is known by many names in english. Here are the ones I know: The Church and Monastery of St.Francis of Assisi (Bernardine), The Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard, Bernardine Church, St. Francis of Assisi (Bernardine) Roman Catholic Church. In Lithuanian, it´s called BERNARDINŲ BAŽNYČIA. The interior can be described as old, beautiful and humble. The church is situated right behind St. Anne´s Church.
3. Church of the Holy Spirit (Sventosios Dvasios Baznycia)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By acorna - Vilnius, Lithuania
Entrance to the church is just a door from the Domininkonu street. When entering, one has to pass dark, somewhat scary, cavern-like corridor with first welcoming picture that of death. Then you enter the stunningly rich Baroque interior of the church: as it was comparatively less damaged since its last restoration in the seventies of the 18th century, a lot of original interiors were preserved. Close to the church are the buildings of old Dominincan monastery which are in a very sad state of disrepair. The church itself holds very curious secrets: in its crypts there are well-preserved mummified remains of Vilnius citizens that lived 3-4 centuries ago. However, they are not accessible to the visitors. Note, however, that Church of the Holy Spirit is an object of some confusion. The Church is catholic (Dominincan) and is situated at the Donininkonų Street. There is an Orthodox church going under the same name, situated close the Gates of Dawn. So they are two different churches. Yes, I know – there are MANY churches in Vilnius…
4. Evangelical Lutheran Church (Evangeliku Liuteronu Baznycia)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By dianea673 - Kingston, Caribbean
If Vilnius is on your bucket list, start packing! This Baltic capital is one of the most serene places you'll ever have the pleasure of seeing. The Old Town is a heritage haven with several Unesco protected sites and a plurality of churches. They don't call it the City of Angels for nothing! But if you feel devilish, just know that Vilnius boasts some of the most exquisite pastries ever created. The craftsmanship and sheer artistry of Baltic chefs generally, those I have seen here, in Riga and Tallinn are phenomenal. The care and skill put into everything they do is flattering to the heart and mind. The one drawback to my visit is not having the time to do and see more. The economy is so friendly to your budget, you literally will wonder why you waited so long to come see Vilnius. Love to all at the Downtown Forest Hostel, you guys are the best hostesses ever! Viva Vilnius♥️you are now one of my (G)reatest spots.
5. Church Of St Peter And St Paul
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,204 reviews
Reviewed By VWriter - Los Gatos, United States
The exterior of this church stands out for its architecture. Reminiscent of Italianate design, Sts Peter and Paul has high towers, is sandy yellow and is trimmed in white; while maroon tile roofing completes the picture. As striking as its exterior is, it's the interior that grabbed my attention. This church is gleaming white inside; there is stucco and marble everywhere you look. Sculptures, paintings, and frescoes adorn the 13 chapels, high ceilings, nave and altar area. Pretty overwhelming.
6. Holy Spirit Orthodox Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 444 reviews
Reviewed By Luv2TravelFarNWide - Phoenix, United States
This is the major Russian Orthodox church in Lithuania and is affiliated with two Orthodox monasteries: The Monastery of the Holy Spirit and the Convent of Saint Mary Magdalen -- the only remaining Orthodox monasteries in Lithuania. Inside the unassuming Baroque-style entrance is a beautiful green and blue chancellery and sanctuary. The surprise when you open the door will take your breath away.
7. Orthodox Church of St. Michael and St. Constantine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By UriusT - Vilnius, Lithuania
In the mornings the way the sun shines off the golden domes is truly pleasurable. The church is landmark of Naujamiestis and we treasure it's simple curved beauty.
8. St. Michael's Church (Sv. Mykolo Baznycia)
9. Holy Trinity Church and Basilian Gate
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 98 reviews
Reviewed By sumantra_travel - New Delhi, India
06/08 July, 2017. Unless one is on a guided tour of the place, I must say that a casual tourist (like me) could have easily overlooked this place. This is a small church in a reasonably large complex, undergoing restoration. I had missed this place on my first round of the Old Town, and had only seen the impressive Basilian Gates, around which a large number of tourists had congregated. This complex lies on the main road from the Gates of Dawn. On my second round two days later, I just decided to explore the place inside. The robust and stocky gate structure must have some deeper secrets hidden inside, I thought! And boy, was I correct! There was some unkempt part, which added to the beauty and intrigue of the place. Indeed, there was a lot of construction going on. The place has a narrow road from the entrance, but leads one to a huge complex. The lack of tourists inside added to the charm of the place. The beauty of the church (The Church of the Holy Trinity) possibly lies in its history, of having gone through different schools of thought. The metal plaque outside highlights this in detail. This place started as a Gothic Church with elements of the Byzantine style, then went into the hands of the Greek Catholics for two centuries, two Rococo towers were constructed in the eighteenth century, followed by a period with the Russian Orthodox Church, and finally, back to the Unlates (the Greek Catholics). The towers are strikingly beautiful, and cannot be seen easily unless one goes close to the church inside. The main entrance itself us under renovation, with a broken stone staircase leading to it. The main facade has been partially done. The other tower with the green protective mesh and the scaffolding, itself looks beautiful. The Iron structure which will adore the spire, lies on the ground: what an exquisite creation!
10. St. Nicholas' Church (Sv. Mikalojaus Baznycia)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By acorna - Vilnius, Lithuania
This small red-brick church may look nothing special from the outside even if one knows its long history. But inside, apart from old architecture, damaged figures of the tomstones of Lithuanian nobility, there is also a very special atmosphere which can be found only in such very old churches – touch the stone pillars and you will feel time and history pulsing through them. In the churchyard, see also a figure of St. Christophorus - a patron saint of Vilnius city.
TAGS
