How to Spend 2 Days in Vilnius
Two days in Vilnius is enough to hit all the highlights and still have time to sit in a courtyard café and watch the world go by. This itinerary is built for first-time visitors and optimised for walking — Vilnius's Old Town is compact and best explored on foot.
Day 1: Old Town, Cathedral & Užupis
Morning (9:00–12:00)
Start at Cathedral Square. Grab breakfast at one of the cafés on Pilies Street (try Cozy or Skonis ir Kvapas for local pastries). Find the magical tile in front of the Cathedral, spin, and make a wish. Then walk up to Gediminas Castle Tower — the climb takes 10 minutes and the views are worth every step. Allow 30–45 minutes at the top.
Back down, enter the National Museum of Lithuania for a 45-minute overview of the country's history — essential context for everything you'll see over the next two days.
Midday (12:00–14:00)
Walk south along Pilies Street into the heart of the Old Town. Explore the university courtyard (one of the most beautiful spaces in Vilnius, often overlooked). Lunch at Lokys (traditional Lithuanian cuisine in a medieval cellar) or Etno Dvaras for cepelinai (potato dumplings) — the national dish you must try.
Afternoon (14:00–18:00)
Cross the Vilnelė river into Užupis — the self-declared Republic of Artists. Read the constitution on the mirrored plaques along Paupio Street (available in 60 languages). Walk to the Angel statue at the district's centre. Browse galleries and coffee shops. Allow at least 90 minutes to explore properly.
Return to the Old Town via Bernardinų Street, stopping at St. Anne's Church and St. Peter and St. Paul's Church (the interior with 2,000 plaster sculptures is extraordinary).
Evening (18:00 onwards)
Aperitif at a rooftop bar — try Hotel Pacai or Stikliai for views over the baroque skyline. Dinner at Džiaugsmas or Gaspar's (modern Lithuanian cuisine). Evening drinks at Bambalynė (100+ Lithuanian craft beers) or Snekutis in Užupis.
Day 2: Museums, Markets & Modern Vilnius
Morning (9:00–12:00)
Start at Hales Market (Halės Turgus) — the beautiful iron-and-glass market hall on the edge of the Old Town. Grab coffee and a pastry from one of the artisan vendors. Open from 8am.
Walk to MO Museum for contemporary Lithuanian art — the building itself is architecturally striking. Allow 60–90 minutes. Then stroll through Naujamiestis (New Town) — the up-and-coming neighbourhood with independent coffee shops, galleries, and the best street art in the city.
Midday (12:00–14:00)
Lunch in Naujamiestis — try Ertlio Namas for Lithuanian farm-to-table, or Pilies Kepyklėlė for sourdough sandwiches. The neighbourhood around Pylimo and Gedimino Streets has the highest concentration of good lunch spots.
Afternoon (14:00–17:00)
Visit the Holocaust Museum (Green House) — a sobering but essential visit. Vilnius was one of the great centres of Jewish culture in Europe before 1941, and the museum documents both the community's history and its near-total destruction.
If weather permits, take the funicular up Gediminas Hill for a second visit (different light than morning). Otherwise, walk along the Neris riverside promenade toward the Glass Quarter (Šnipiškės) for a view of modern Vilnius from across the river.
Evening (17:00 onwards)
Traditional final evening: sundowner drinks at a terrace bar in the Old Town, dinner at one of the city's top restaurants (book in advance: Sweet Root, Amandus, or Gaspar's), and a post-dinner walk through the illuminated Old Town — the baroque architecture looks magical at night.
What to Skip on 2 Days
- Day trips — save Trakai and Kaunas for a 3rd or 4th day
- Every museum — choose 2-3 maximum; the city has 30+ but quality varies
- TV Tower — interesting for Soviet history buffs, but not worth it on a short visit
Practical Info
- Getting around: The Old Town is entirely walkable; Uber/Bolt for Naujamiestis (€3–5)
- Best transport from airport: Bus 1 to the Old Town (€1) or taxi (€15–20)
- Restaurant bookings: Essential on Friday/Saturday evenings at top spots