Lithuania’s capital Vilnius is the most populous city in the Baltic states.

It is one of the few capitals in the world that allows hot air balloons to fly over it making it a popular activity in the city.

Vilnius is one European greenest capitals and one of the best for air quality.

Known for its architecture in the old town, Vilnius had one of the largest Jewish populations in the world prior to World War II.

The name Vilnius derived from the Vilnia River. In Lithuanian Vilnia means ripple.

Town Hall Square

The Town Hall Square had been Vilnius’s main marketplace until the 19th century and the city’s commercial centre.

Going back as far as the 1400s, it was last rebuilt at the end of the 18th century in a neoclassical style.

The Town Hall and the neighbouring buildings served as warehouses for merchants. At some point it served as Vilnius’s theatre and staged the city’s first ever opera.

The square use to be a place for public punishments and a place for entertainment including bear performances.

You can take a tour of the building’s catacombs and attend various fairs, events and concerts in the town square, although no bear performances are included.

Gate of Dawn

The Gate of Dawn is the last of Vilnius’s 16th century gates to have survived, and one of the most important cultural monuments.

The gate was one of the nine original city gates that guarded the city. The remaining eight gates were destroyed by the Russians in the 18th century.

It was built as part of Vilnius’s defensive fortification. The gate was the tallest in Vilnius and it was located in the weakest point of the fortification to prevent attacks.

Today it continues to stand as the entrance to the old town. It houses a chapel directly above the gate’s arches and continues to operate as a place of worship. You can climb the staircase to visit it before finishing off in the church at the bottom.

Cathedral Square

Cathedral Square is the main square in Vilnius Old Town.

The square was founded in the late 19th century after the reconstruction and refurbishment of the cathedral.

You’ll find events such as fairs and military parades, and other public events, attractions and concerts.

Apart from the Cathedral, another attraction you have in the square is the Bell Tower. Bell Towers aren’t a common thing outside of Italy.

It’s not only an important location in Vilnius, but one of the most significant in Lithuania.

Downtown Food Hall & Kino Deli

You would be forgiven for thinking the food hall was an understated place when you walk in.

Located a stone’s throw away from the old town, it’s a popular place in Vilnius amongst foodies.

There’s a lot to like about the place. Options, variety and it’s reasonably priced. Options range from Middle Eastern to South East Asian, South American, Mediterranean and more.

And luckily one of those options helped feed my bao bun craving.

It comes with its own unique dine in boutique cinema.

Trakai Castle

Trakai Castle is the only island castle in the world on Lake Galve. You reach the castle by crossing over a long wooden bridge.

Trakai (pronounced Tra-key) is a small unassuming place that’s nice to walk through. There’s a few photo opportunities on the way to the castle.

The castle was built in the 14th century and served as the residence for the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.

By the 17th century the structure had become neglected and deemed unfit for purpose. In 1951 the castle was rebuilt and in 1962 the castle became part of the Trakai history museum, dedicating to showcasing Trakai’s history.

Trakai is a 30 minute bus journey from Vilnius train station and a 10-15 minute walk to get to the castle from Trakai bus station.

Saint Anne’s Church

The Roman Catholic St. Anne’s Church is in Vilnius old town on the bank of the Vilnia river which was originally build for Anna, the Grand Duchess of Lithuania.

It was built between 1495 – 1500 in a Gothic style despite other nations looking at renaissance style during this period of time.

Legend has it that Napoleon liked the church so much, he once said he would like to put it in the palm of his hand and take it to Paris.

The church has remained unchanged over the last five centuries and is one of the most famous buildings in Vilnius.

Gediminas Hill

At 48m high, Gediminas Hill is one of the highest viewing points in Vilnius Old Town making it an ideal spot to get a 360 degree view of the city.

On the one side you can see the buildings of the old town. Apparently they’re red rooftops but we couldn’t see with snow covering the roofs. On the other side you can see skyscrapers and the Neris River.

Once you’re done admiring the views of Vilnius, you have Gediminas Tower at the top of the hill. The tower is one of the most popular places to visit from the branch of the national museum.

The tower has a historic exhibition displaying the reconstruction models of the castles of Vilnius. After visiting the exhibition, you can go to the top of the tower for more views of Vilnius.

There is a cable car so we don’t risk trying to make it up and down in the snow on foot. The idea of doing that on a nice spring day isn’t appealing never mind in a snow filled winter in the Baltics.

Three Crosses Monument

The Three Crosses monument is on the Hill of The Three Crosses. The hill is also known as Bald Hill or Crooked Hill.

The monument was erected during the second world war. Legend has it the origin of the monument is a tribute to a group of monks who died in torture during the 14th century.

Over the years, the monument has undergone many changes. The current one was built by architect and sculptor K. Silgalis in 1989 during the beginning of the Soviet Union collapse.

The crosses are often illuminated if different colours to commemorate special events in Lithuania and around the world, similarly to the Wembley Stadium Arches.

It isn’t the easiest walk to get to the monument, but by no means is it the most difficult either although the weather conditions did make it for an interesting journey. It takes around 20 – 30 minutes from the bottom to the top of the hill.

Or if you don’t fancy the walk, you can catch a glimpse of the monument from the top of Gediminas Hill.

Vilnius is a fun place. In terms of personal preference I would choose it over Tallinn.

It’s a good spot for a weekend city break and you have day trip options such as Trakai Castle or if you want something different, a ghost tour. There’s a culture for trips to haunted places making these popular trip options.

With it being a 90 minute train journey from Kaunas it’s a good excuse to add an extra place and explore more of the country.

One thing I won’t miss in a hurry is the freezing temperatures. I knew it would be cold but I didn’t appreciate how cold. What started out in the Baltics trip as 0 – 2°C turned into -19 °C degrees on my last day.

It was good to push out of my comfort zone and try something I hadn’t before. I’ll do it again down the line but I’m not in a hurry.

Now that I’ve experienced the Baltics in the winter, I need to go back in the summer.