Add museums, university courtyards and a walk south of the Old Town to the familiar Cathedral Square, Pilies Street and Užupis route. This guide helps you choose extra stops; it does not promise a city without other visitors.
The six route sections below cover eight named places. Subačius Viewpoint is paired with Missionary Gardens; Halės and Kalvarijų markets are two alternatives in different parts of the city. There is no single walking time from the Old Town: distance depends on your starting point and chosen stop.
House of Signatories: The Act of Independence just steps from the Pilies Street crowds
At Pilies g. 26, twenty members of the Council of Lithuania signed the Act of Independence on 16 February 1918.
House of Signatories. The permanent exhibition has been closed since 7 July 2026; the museum announces reopening on 18 November. The Gallery has a separate programme: the previous show ended on 27 September, Jan Bułhak photography opens on 7 October, and the Gothic Cellars reopen on 28 October. If no exhibition is open on your date, make this an exterior/history stop. Temporary exhibitions during this period are free; the regular museum tariff does not imply the permanent display is currently accessible. House of Signatories visitor information.
Money Museum: a free stop in the centre
At Totorių g. 2/8, a few minutes' walk from Gediminas Avenue, operates the Bank of Lithuania's Money Museum. Admission is free. The exhibition spans two floors and five halls, telling the history of money from bartering to the euro, and one of the most popular sections allows you to calculate how much you would weigh if you were made of gold.
In its current location, at the intersection of Gediminas Avenue and Totorių Street, the museum has been operating since 2010. From October 1 to June 30, it is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturdays from 10 AM to 5 PM. From July 1 to September 30, opening hours are longer: Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 7 PM, and Saturdays from 11 AM to 6 PM. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays in both seasons. A visit of 45 to 60 minutes is sufficient; with children or a guided tour, it's worth allocating an hour and a half.
Vilnius University courtyards: access and admission
Vilnius University. Individual visitors can enter the architectural ensemble free; separately ticketed attractions are excluded. Guided tourist groups must register and have separate fees. Courtyard visiting hours are Monday–Saturday, 09:00–18:00. During repairs from 7 July 2026, reach the Great and K. Sirvydas courtyards and bell tower from Universiteto Street through the Library and M. K. Sarbievijus courtyards, not the closed Pilies-side gate. Completion is scheduled for 31 December 2027. VU visitor information; changed entrance route.
The Observatory of Ideas is a separate destination at M. K. Čiurlionio g. 29, not a stop inside the Old Town courtyards. Its exhibition costs €4 for adults and €2 for seniors and students; hours are Monday–Saturday, 09:00–18:00. St John’s Bell Tower costs €7 for adults and €4 for students, seniors and POLA card holders. The family rate is €5 per adult and €3 per child aged 7 or over. The tower is open daily 10:00–19:00, with ticket sales until 18:30. Check the operator for current conditions and temporary closures. VU visitor information.
Rasos Cemetery: remembering Basanavičius and Čiurlionis
Southeast of the Old Town, near Rasų Street, lies Rasos Cemetery, established in 1801. It covers about 10.75 hectares and is divided into old and new sections by Sukilėlių Street. Buried here are Jonas Basanavičius, a signatory known as the patriarch of the Lithuanian nation, who died in 1927, and composer and painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, who died in 1911. Nearby also rest the remains of Józef Piłsudski's mother and the heart of the Marshal himself, buried here according to his last will.
This is a cemetery and place of remembrance. Keep to paths, avoid disturbing funerals and respect other visitors’ privacy. Choose it for an interest in the city’s history, not a guarantee of empty paths.
Subačius Viewpoint and Missionary Gardens
Subačius Viewpoint offers a free view over the Old Town. It is a different panorama from Gediminas Tower, not a promise of no queues or other visitors.
Below, between Maironio and Subačiaus Streets, lie the 6.8-hectare Missionary Gardens with three interconnected ponds and wooden bridges. Admission is free, and the walking paths are suitable for a quiet stroll after most of the Old Town has been explored.
Markets where Vilnius residents themselves shop
Halės Market, Pylimo g. 58, is a covered market on the edge of the Old Town. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 7 AM to 6 PM, Sundays from 7 AM to 3 PM, closed on Mondays. Here, fresh vegetables, cheese, smoked fish, and meat are sold, and the stalls belong not to a retail chain but to individual vendors.
Kalvarijos Market, Kalvarijų g. 61, across the Neris River, has been operating since 1903. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 7 AM to 5 PM, closed on Mondays.
How to fit it into one day
For a shorter central route, combine the House of Signatories building, Money Museum and university courtyards; plan any indoor gallery visit around the actual exhibition dates. Leave Rasos Cemetery and Subačius Viewpoint with Missionary Gardens for a separate, longer walk. Halės and Kalvarijų markets do not form one short circuit: choose according to your route and check individual traders’ hours. Allow for stops rather than relying on an unverified uniform walking time.
Before setting out, check museum and market hours and the current university entrance. Pay particular attention to Mondays, holidays and temporary repair restrictions. Find more places in list of attractions.
