Bernardine Garden
Bernardine Garden is a landscaped park along the Vilnele River in the center of Vilnius, with a musical fountain, botanical expositions, a playground, and a riverside cafe. Free.
Castle in Vilnius
Trakai Island Castle
Trakai Castle is a 14th-century red-brick castle on an island in Lake Galve, 28 kilometers west of Vilnius. Entry to the castle museum is paid at a modest price. The castle was the residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and is the most photographed castle in the Baltic states. Budget travelers take the cheap train or bus from Vilnius (30 minutes), walk from the town along the lake to the castle, and see a fairy-tale island fortress reflected in the water. Eat kibinai (Karaite pastries, a Trakai specialty) at one of the cheap stalls near the castle for a few euros.
Practical
Before you go
- Address
- Trakai Castle Bridge, 21104 Trakai
- Good to know
Nearby
More in Vilnius
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
Gate of Dawn
The Gate of Dawn is the only surviving gate of the original city wall, with a chapel above it housing a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary venerated by both Catholics and Orthodox believers. Free to enter.
Gediminas Castle Tower
Gediminas Tower is the remaining keep of the Upper Castle on the hill above the Old Town, the symbol of Vilnius. The hilltop is free to climb.
Hales Market
Hales Market (Hales Turgas) is Vilnius's central market, a covered hall near the train station with stalls selling fresh produce, meat, cheese, and prepared Lithuanian food. Free to browse.
Hill of Three Crosses
The Hill of Three Crosses is a hilltop viewpoint across the Vilnele River from the Old Town, crowned by three white crosses that have become a symbol of Vilnius. Free.
Uzupis
Uzupis is a self-declared independent republic within Vilnius, a bohemian neighborhood of artists, cafes, and street art across the Vilnia River from the Old Town. Free to walk.
Working out what Vilnius costs?
The whole of Vilnius