Vilnius Old Town and Užupis Republic - Private Walking Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. In Vilnius Cathedral Square, you will hear the history of Cathedral from the pagan temple in the sacred oak forest (the valley of the Hospitality, the church built on the site of the temple, as everywhere in the world, adapted and assimilated local beliefs into Christianity) to the most important Lithuanian church. Enter the cult and perform the ritual of Fulfillment of Dreams on the miraculous pavement title. Find the Freedom Brick - a sculpture that diminishes the beginning of The Way of Freedom. Lithuania was the first Soviet Republic to declare independence from USSR. Find out the bizarre story of Gediminas Avenue - the main street of the capital of Lithuania and to which point's of interest it leads to (KGB Museum, Parliament, wonderful wooden Zverynas district, etc.)

   15 min

2. After initial introduction to history of Vilnius, we move towards one of the corner of the Vilnius Cathedral square to hear another angle of city's story and enjoy magnificent views to Vilnius landmarks - Gediminas Tower and the Hill of Three Crosses.

   15 min

3. Enjoy the views to Presidential Palace and Vilnius University - the oldest university in the Baltic states, one of the oldest and most famous in Eastern Europe. Hear their stories and legends.

   15 min

4. Advancing towards other famous sites of Vilnius Old Town, enjoying authentic medieval streets and backyards.

   Passes by

5. Admire St. Annes Church, the pearl of Gothic architecture and visit Bernardine church, where you can observe fragments of the ruined interior from the Soviet era, as well as the oldest known and restored frescoes. The guide will tell you the story of the St. Anne's church, how it was built, the fate of the churches in Soviet times, and tell you why the the Academy of Fine Arts was established in the Bernardine Monastery.

   25 min

6. We stop at the entrance to the world famous Republic of Užupis. Here guide presents the idea and history of the Republic (celebrating annually Independence for the city of Vilnius and all the earthly worries on the 1st of April). Walk across the bridge, get your visa, and have a break in the cafe-parliament to hear the mesmerizing history of Užupis as a district of Vilnius Old Town more broadly, have a glass of beer/wine or coffee/tea, local snack, and get presented to the most important points of the Užupis Constitution, as well as the purpose and lifestyle of districts Community. After the break we walk deeper into the district to visit the Avenue of Constitutions and fall in love with Užupis forever.

   50 min

7. After return through narrow cobblestone streets back to the central part of Vilnius Old Town we will conclude our tour in Vilnius Town Hall square - to discover more about Vilnius and its current life as well as how to get to other points of interest to visit on your own. Here you will get all your extra questions answered, expert local advise for lunch/dinner given and part with your friendly guide.

   20 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 8 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Vilnius

• Its from-price is 43% below the median of the 223 experiences we list in Vilnius.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 46 of 223.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Vilnius

Vilnius is Lithuania's capital, a baroque old town of church towers and courtyards, with a hilltop castle tower and a university founded in 1579.

Vilnius has one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in eastern Europe, a World Heritage site of cobbled lanes, courtyards and dozens of churches, most in baroque style. Gediminas Tower, the remnant of the upper castle, looks over the roofs from a hill, and the neoclassical cathedral stands in the square below. Vilnius University, founded in 1579, has a cluster of courtyards, and the Gate of Dawn holds an icon revered by Catholics and Orthodox believers.

Top-ranked sights in Vilnius: Gate of Dawn (Ausros Vartai), Vilnius University (Vilniaus Universitetas), Vilnius Old Town (Vilniaus Senamiestis).

See all 223 experiences in Vilnius