Lithuania Vilnius Tours

Vilnius rewards slow exploration. Its baroque old town, one of the largest in Europe and listed by UNESCO, folds churches, courtyards and university cloisters into a knot of lanes below Gediminas Tower.

What Tours in Vilnius Usually Cover

Guided walks take in the Gate of Dawn with its revered icon, Cathedral Square, the flamboyant Gothic facade of St. Anne's and the self-declared artists' republic of Uzupis across the Vilnia river. The Museum of Occupations, set in a former KGB headquarters, adds a sobering chapter on the Soviet years.

Trakai and Other Short Excursions

The island castle of Trakai, 30 kilometers west, is the classic half-day trip; arrive early to beat the coach groups and stay for kibinai, the stuffed pastries of the local Karaite community. Kernave's hill forts and the spa town of Druskininkai fill longer add-ons.