Vilnius Old Town on Foot: From the City Gate to Castle Hill

This tour takes you on foot through the Old Town of Vilnius in a single day. It is one of the largest surviving old towns in Eastern Europe. All the stops are close together, so you won't need a bus or a taxi. The focus is on the cityscape itself: lanes, courtyards, church towers and viewpoints, complemented by a few short interior visits.

You start in the south at the remains of the city wall near the Gate of Dawn and then head north. Along the way, you'll peek into the vaults beneath the Town Hall quarter, pause at the site of the former Great Synagogue and discover a quiet arcaded courtyard in the university quarter. From the bell tower of St. John's Church you'll take in the rooftops before heading to lunch. In the afternoon you cross the Vilnia River into the artists' quarter of Užupis, then climb Castle Hill and end the walk at Cathedral Square. To finish, a cocktail awaits at a bar on the western edge of the Old Town.

The tour suits anyone visiting Vilnius for the first time who wants to experience the city as a whole first, without spending the day in museums. The pace is balanced, with time to look around and short walks between stops. Only the climb up Castle Hill is somewhat steeper. If you like, you can linger longer at individual places and adjust the rest flexibly.