Vilnius in one day: Gates of Dawn, Cathedral, Užupis and the Hill of Three Crosses

Why Vilnius Old Town works for one day

Vilnius Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and despite its size it is easy to cover on foot. The places on this walk are close together, so you need neither a bus nor a taxi. The route starts in the south at the Gates of Dawn, not far from the railway station, and ends in the northeast on the Hill of Three Crosses. Along the way you pass Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classicist churches, a lively Town Hall Square and the small district of Užupis. Wear comfortable shoes, because many lanes are cobbled and there is a climb at the end. In autumn and winter it gets dark early, so an early start pays off.

Start at the Gates of Dawn

According to Go Vilnius, the city wall once had ten gates, and the Gates of Dawn are the only one still standing. On the outer side you can still see the firing openings that recall its defensive role. The gate was first mentioned in 1514 and was originally called the Medininkai Gate because the road to Medininkai passed through it. Today it is above all a place of prayer: the chapel above the passage holds the painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, painted for this chapel in the 17th century. Entry is free. The chapel is open daily from 6:00 to 19:00 from May to October and from 7:00 to 19:00 from November to April. Services are frequent, so please keep quiet.

Through the Old Town to Town Hall Square

From the Gates of Dawn, Aušros Vartų Street leads north straight to Town Hall Square. Go Vilnius says the Town Hall was first mentioned in 1432 and was last rebuilt at the end of the 18th century by the architect Laurynas Gucevičius in the neoclassical style. At one point it served as the city theatre and staged the first opera ever performed in Vilnius. Today it hosts events, exhibitions and concerts, and there are tours of its catacombs. Entry is free; it is open Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 18:00 and Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, and closed at weekends. Look out for the city coat of arms showing Saint Christopher.

Cathedral Square and the bell tower

Pilies Street takes you on to Cathedral Square. According to Go Vilnius, the Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus stands on the site of a former pagan temple next to the old defensive castle and is a symbol of Lithuania's baptism. Fires, wars and unstable soil meant it was rebuilt several times. Its present Classicist look is the work of Laurynas Stuoka-Gucevičius, but the walls still carry traces of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Lithuania's patron saint, St Casimir, rests inside. The Cathedral is open daily from 7:30 to 19:00 and entry is free. Beside it stands the 57-metre bell tower, with an exhibition and a view over the Old Town.

St Anne's Church and the Bernardine ensemble

A few minutes east of the Cathedral stands St Anne's Church, for many the best-known building in Vilnius. Go Vilnius describes it as a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture that has barely changed in five centuries. One legend says Napoleon wanted to carry the church back to Paris in the palm of his hand. Next to it are the Bernardine Church and the Bernardine Monastery, both from the 15th century, whose Gothic layout survives to this day. A street laid through the ensemble in 1869 and 1870, however, permanently broke it apart. St Anne's is open Tuesday to Friday from 16:30, Saturday from 10:30 and Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00; entry is free.

Užupis: the republic across the Vilnelė

Behind St Anne's you cross the Vilnelė River and arrive in Užupis. At 0.6 square kilometres, it is the smallest district of Vilnius, according to Go Vilnius. In the early 1990s the area was considered run-down; today artists and intellectuals live here. On 1 April 1997 Užupis declared its independence with a wink, complete with its own currency, government, anthem and constitution. The constitution hangs on a wall in many languages and is one of the most popular photo stops. Also look for the Angel of Užupis, St Bartholomew's Church and the Bernardine Cemetery. Užupis is a residential neighbourhood, so please be considerate towards the people who live here.

To finish: the Hill of Three Crosses

From Užupis it is not far to Kalnų Park, where the Hill of Three Crosses rises. At the top stand three white reinforced-concrete crosses, twelve metres tall and visible from afar. Go Vilnius notes that a wooden castle stood on the hill in the 12th and 13th centuries. The name comes from a tradition that Franciscans died here as martyrs. The current monument was created by Antanas Vivulskis in 1916 and rebuilt in 1988. From the top you look across the Old Town, with the Bernardine Garden and the Vilnelė at the foot of the hill. On special occasions the crosses are lit in colours at night. The path up is steep, so allow some time and energy.

Practical tips for your day in Vilnius

If you start early, you can see the Gates of Dawn in peace, as the chapel opens in the morning. Plan St Anne's Church for the afternoon, since it opens only at 16:30 on weekdays, and visit the Town Hall on a weekday, because it is closed at weekends. Churches are places of worship: cover your shoulders, speak quietly and do not take photos during Mass. Opening times can change on public holidays, so check Go Vilnius or the official websites of each place before you go. The Cathedral catacombs can only be visited through the Church Heritage Museum. For the way back, follow the Vilnelė into the Old Town.

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