Europe > Lithuania > Vilnius: Weather, Climate and Travel Guide

Capital of Lithuania, Vilnius has more than 500 000 inhabitants. Its historic center, very well preserved, has been declared a World Heritage by UNESCO, but this does not prevent the city to undertake projects of more modern buildings, and one can see skyscrapers with voisiner old trolleys that still ply the streets. The city is located southeast of the country and has a very diverse architectural styles, Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance. It is in the city center that we find the most remarkable monuments. Here are some must-see places: Gediminas castle ruins of the eponymous hill, 14th century; Cathedral of St. Stanislaus classical style; University, one of the oldest in Eastern Europe, with its courtyards, galleries and arcades; St. Anne's church, gothic masterpiece while bricks; the baroque church of St. Casimir; the Gates of Dawn, a place of pilgrimage very important for the country; the Museum of Art; the district of Uzupis, formerly dilapidated and abandoned, and now an artistic mecca for contemporary artists, and a true republic has its own constitution; the Museum of Genocide Victims, housed in the old buildings of the KGB, and exposing historical documents testifying repressions against Lithuanians. Enjoy also the many parks and gardens, lakes and rivers, which occupy almost half of the area of ​​Vilnius: Vingiu Parkas is the largest of them; Bernadinai in the garden, hold regular exhibitions and concerts; the botanical garden and its collections of plants with 886 different families is attached to the University; Kalnu the park covers the hills in the middle of Vilnius, including the Three Crosses, with its monument of the same name. To move around the capital, you have several effective solutions: buses and trolleys, many, form the largest network in Europe. Taxis are numerous but also a little more expensive, and bicycles are available for hire at stations scattered throughout the city.