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.
The program features not classical theater, but contemporary dance, circus, puppet shows for adults, and experimental theater. On September 12, 18, and 19, 2026, HELIUM, a contemporary circus festival, takes place here, and from September 23 to October 8, Arts Printing House is one of the venues for the international theater festival "Sirenos".
Practical tip: this is not a museum with fixed visiting hours, here you come for a specific evening performance. Check tickets by event on the website menuspaustuve.lt or via Bilietai.lt, the price depends on the performance. Contacts: tel. +370 5 204 0832, email info@menuspaustuve.lt.
Contemporary Art Centre (CAC): the largest such space in Vilnius
CAC, at Vokiečių g. 2, is the largest contemporary art exhibition space in Vilnius. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, closed on Mondays, the ticket office stops selling tickets 30 minutes before closing. Since July 2024, CAC also administers a second space, Sapieha Palace (L. Sapiegos g. 13), where a separate, heritage-related program is shown.
Ticket: standard 8 Eur, concession from 4 Eur (on Wednesdays, all visitors receive the concession price, not just schoolchildren or students), family ticket from 15 Eur (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18), with Vilnius Pass card from 3 Eur. Free admission for preschoolers, families with a Family Card, people with disabilities, visitors over 80 years old, art studies students, and teachers bringing a group of 5 or more students. In the summer of 2026, until September 6, the exhibition "Superglue, or Inventing the Friend" is shown, but the program changes several times a year, so check the exact schedule on the website cac.lt before your visit.
Užupis Art Incubator: studios and gallery along the Vilnelė
The administration of Užupis Art Incubator works at Krivių g. 12, from Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The gallery, where residents' works are displayed, is right by the river, Užupio g. 2A, and is open to visitors from Wednesday to Saturday, 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Entrance to the gallery costs a small fee (different sources state differently, so check the exact amount before your visit by phone +370 677 88 218 or email galerija@umi.lt).
The most valuable part is often not the gallery hall itself, but a walk along the river embankment: resident artists work here, and the garden is adorned with installations and sculptures, which can be viewed freely, even if the gallery is closed at the time.
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.
The new location is much more convenient for tourists: Mindaugo Street is in Naujamiestis, near the bus and train stations, so it takes about 20 minutes to walk from the Old Town, whereas previously one had to take a bus or taxi to Valakampiai. All Rupert programs, exhibitions, lectures, and open days remain free. Visiting hours: from Wednesday to Saturday, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, or by prior arrangement and during exhibition openings. For a visit, it is worth calling tel. +370 682 54 930.
How to plan a visit in one day
Three of the four spaces operate on the same days, from Wednesday to Saturday, in the afternoon: CAC from 11 AM, Užupis Art Incubator gallery from 1 PM, Rupert from 2 PM, all closing between 6 PM and 8 PM. During such an afternoon, it is realistic to visit a CAC exhibition, walk to the Užupis gallery and studios, and finish the route at Rupert, if an exhibition is taking place there at that time. CAC and Arts Printing House are within a 10-15 minute walk from the Old Town, and Užupis Art Incubator naturally connects with a walk through the Užupis quarter.
On Sunday, only CAC is open (closes at 8 PM), on Monday everything is closed, except Rupert, if you arrange a visit in advance. Arts Printing House does not fit into this itinerary, as it is for a specific evening performance, not a daytime visit, so plan it separately, according to the repertoire.
Find more travel ideas in the Vilnius attractions guide, and see the current exhibition and performance calendar on the events page.
