Vilnius Old Town is famous for its church spires and cobblestone streets, but the city's contemporary art scene takes place elsewhere: in a former printing house, in the premises of a former railway museum, and in Užupis studios along the river. Four institutions best reflect what Vilnius is creating now: Arts Printing House, Contemporary Art Centre (CAC), Užupis Art Incubator, and Rupert. Each operates at its own pace, so before you go, it's worth knowing the exact address, opening days, and whether a ticket is required.
Arts Printing House: performances in a former printing house from 1585
Arts Printing House is located at Šiltadaržio g. 6, right on the edge of the Old Town, in a building where a printing house operated since 1585. Here there are two stages (for about 60 and 200 spectators), rehearsal studios, a library, and a courtyard cafe where the city's creative community gathers before or after a performance.
For contemporary dance, circus and experimental theatre, choose a specific performance from the Arts Printing House programme. The September 2026 HELIUM dates are past events, not an upcoming festival. Check the current show’s date, venue, language, age guidance and ticket conditions rather than plan around last season’s listings.
Practical tip: visit for an advertised performance or activity, not an assumed daily museum opening. Times and prices depend on the event. Use the operator’s site for tickets and contacts: +370 5 204 0832, info@menuspaustuve.lt.
Contemporary Art Centre (CAC): the largest such space in Vilnius
CAC is at Vokiečių g. 2. Its visitor information lists normal exhibition hours Tuesday–Sunday 11:00–19:00, with Monday closed and ticket sales ending 30 minutes before closing. At our check on 5 October 2026, the operator announced a temporary closure while exhibitions change. Confirm reopening before planning an indoor visit. Sapieha Palace at L. Sapiegos g. 13 has a separate programme; do not assume the same exhibition or schedule applies there.
On 5 October 2026, the operator’s live Lithuanian and English pages listed CAC admission at €12, concession €6 and family €18. Concession admission applies to all visitors on Wednesdays; check eligibility and family conditions on the operator’s page and the price for your chosen date on the official ticket platform or with the ticket office (+370 673 67042). The separate Sculpture Yard is free and lists Monday–Friday 08:00–20:00, Saturday–Sunday 09:00–18:00. Its hours are not those of the exhibition halls; the former summer exhibition is not presented here as current.
Užupis Art Incubator: studios and gallery along the Vilnelė
The Užupis Art Incubator contact page distinguishes administration at Krivių g. 12 (Monday–Friday 09:00–18:00) from the gallery at Užupio g. 2A (Wednesday–Saturday 13:00–18:00). It does not confirm a general admission fee. Ask about the particular exhibition and entry conditions at +370 677 88 218 or galerija@umi.lt; office hours do not mean every studio is open to visitors.
Combine a gallery visit with a walk along the river and through Užupis. Individual studios and garden areas may have their own access conditions; a closed gallery does not guarantee access to every workshop. Arrange a studio visit with its artist rather than assume you can walk in.
Rupert: since 2025 in Naujamiestis, not by the Neris
If you read an older Vilnius guide describing Rupert as an art center in Valakampiai by the Neris, that information is no longer current. From 2012-2024, the center operated there, in a distinctive wooden building designed by architect Audrius Ambrasas near a pine forest. In 2025, Rupert moved to Mindaugo g. 15, in Naujamiestis, to the former premises of the Railway Museum and the legendary "Jaunasis technikas" store, which were donated to the center by a group of entrepreneurs.
Rupert’s current contact page gives Mindaugo g. 15 and visits by appointment or during events, not a permanent Wednesday–Thursday timetable. Choose a date from the current programme and check whether registration or a ticket is required; not every activity can be assumed free. For an arranged visit, call +370 682 54 930.
How to plan a visit in one day
For a Wednesday–Saturday afternoon, start with the CAC Sculpture Yard, then the UMI gallery during its published 13:00–18:00 hours. Add the CAC indoor exhibition only once reopening is confirmed, and Rupert only for a confirmed event or appointment. This is a flexible walking plan, not a guarantee that all four venues are open simultaneously.
On Sunday, the CAC Sculpture Yard lists 09:00–18:00; on Monday it lists 08:00–20:00, although the indoor CAC galleries normally close on Mondays. The UMI gallery does not list Sunday or Monday hours. Check Rupert appointments and Arts Printing House performances individually; neither follows one general museum timetable.
Find more travel ideas in the Vilnius attractions guide, and see the current exhibition and performance calendar on the events page.
