When Helen Mirren walks into her home as Catherine the Great in the new HBO mini series named after the famous Russian Empress, she’s not really in the actual rooms of the famed Tsarskoye Selo palace just south of Saint Petersburg. She’s actually in the historical Vilnius University Library in Vilnius, Lithuania. This and many more secrets are shared in …

With bagels making a delicious comeback in Lithuania’s capital and a number of traditional Jewish celebrations becoming part of city life again, there’s a sense that Jewish culture is experiencing somewhat of a rebirth in Vilnius, which has many looking back at the city’s historic ties with its Jewish, or Litvak, community. And though the time machine has yet to …

A pioneer in women’s voting rights; one of just a few European cities with female traffic light symbols; a past and present filled withstrong women, includingcurrent President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite–Vilnius deserves the attention of female travellers from aroundthe world. Today, the capital of Lithuania is gettingsomewell-deserved attentionat the Women’s Travel Fest Conference in New York and is appearing on …

It’s not with the first flowers, the returning of birds, or the warmer temperatures that spring starts in Vilnius – Kaziukas Fair marks its beginning on 1-3 March. Filled with songs, crafts, and scrumptious food, the city’s oldest and largest fair is an experience to remember. Taking over the streets of the Old Town, the fair cherishes some of Vilnius’ …

It was a weekend to remember in Lithuania’s capital as residents and visitors to the city gathered to celebrate Vilnius’ 696th anniversary. Despite the city’s relatively ancient age, the weekend-long celebration was filled with youthful exuberance. Among the activities planned for the birthday celebration was a spectacular Festival of Lights, which ran for the entire weekend. The spectacle was a …

A Christmas tree unveiled in Vilnius this week looks nothing like the shiny decorated trees usually associated with the holiday. Wrapped in a giant plastic bag, the tree at the Independent Christmas Town located at the Vilnius Railway Station serves as a reminder of the hyper-consumerism that tends to take over the holiday season, encouraging a more local and authentic …

Anticipation was high leading up to the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Vilnius’ Cathedral Square this evening. Lithuania’s capital has received a lot of global attention over the years for its unique and stunning Christmas Trees, and this year’s creation, which looks like a giant clock from above, certainly did not disappoint. Not a single tree was cut …

The prestigious White Guide Nordic has just awarded two restaurants in Vilnius the Global Master Level Award. Being home to two of the best restaurants in the Baltics really makes Vilnius an ideal destination for those looking for an exceptional gourmet experience. The second and third place winners, Nineteen 18 and Sweet Root respectively, both take locally sourced products and …

Traditionally, Vilnius has been regarded as a magical city straight out of a fairy tale: its UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town, quaint cobblestone streets, luscious parks, and a rich history definitely support this point of view. However, there’s so much more to Lithuania’s capital: the city is filled with creative talents, modern culture, unconventional art spaces, and bold ideas. …

Gender equality got the green light in Vilnius, quite literally this time. To celebrate the centenary of women’s voting rights in Lithuania, a number of the city’s pedestrian traffic lights received a makeover to include a female figure. The new traffic lights were installed along a busy street right next to Vilnius’ largest business centres, and serve as a great …

Last week, the new private MO Museum founded by Danguole and Viktoras Butkus opened its doors for the first time to the public. Designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, the museum stands on the site of the legendary former Lietuva Cinema and is home to some 5,000 works of contemporary Lithuanian artists from the 1960s to the present. As museum …

3D model will give access to one of Catholicism’s most important paintings to millions around the world The City of Vilnius, together with scientists from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, have developed a 3D model of the Shrine of Divine Mercy, where the image of Divine Mercy is found Vilnius is a major pilgrim destination for Catholics, attracting thousands every year …

In preparation for Pope Francis’ visit to Lithuania on 22-23 September, Vilnius is inviting visitors from all over the world to discover the city’s pilgrimage routes and the hidden gems of its sacral heritage. Pilgrimage is more than just something we read about in ancient books. Modern travellers have rediscovered pilgrimage as an opportunity to get in touch with themselves, …

As the world celebrates International Programmer’s Day, Lithuania’s capital city has hit upon a distinctly 21st Century way to commemorate the day – by introducing a dedicated phone lane for pedestrians who just can’t put their smartphones down. Created as a way to celebrate and honour programmers everywhere, and falling on the 256th day of the year after the number …

Coinciding with the European Heritage Days celebrations, UNESCO will launch the first-ever web platform dedicated to World Heritage and sustainable travel. Supported by the European Union, theplatform features 34 selected World Heritage sites spread across 19 European Union countries, and has been developed in collaboration with National Geographic. Vilnius has been working in collaboration with UNESCO and National Geographic for …

On Thursday August 9th Go Vilnius, the official tourism organisation for Lithuania’s capital city, will launch ‘Vilnius; the G-spot of Europe’, a multimedia advertising campaign directed at the UK and German markets. The campaign aims to increase the visibility of Vilnius, and to position the city as an exciting option for millennials seeking alternative tourism destinations. By capturing the imagination …

This July, Go Vilnius, the city’s official development agency, published Vilnius O’Clock, a magazine that tells the story of contemporary Vilnius through the eyes of its residents. It’s made up of 18 feature interviews with residents ranging from entrepreneurs and artists, to journalists and public figures. The idea behind the publication is that every city is best represented by the …

Lonely Planet today revealed that Vilnius have been selected by leading travel authority Lonely Planet as one of its top ten places to visit in Europe this year, ranked alongside Italy’s food heartland of Emilia-Romagna, and the Northern Spanish region of Cantabria. The selection is part of Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2018; the pick of the most exciting and …

Having regard to the fact that 2020 will mark 300 years since the birth of Rabbi Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, an outstanding Lithuanian rabbi and the Litvak Misnagdim religious leader, known as the Vilna Gaon, the Seimas has designated 2020 as the Year of the Vilna Gaon and the History of the Jews of Lithuania. The respective Resolution of the Seimas was …

Go Vilnius, the official development agency for the City of Vilnius, Lithuania, has today opened its application process for an all expenses paid trip for international businesses to boost employee productivity. ‘Workation Vilnius’ is a motivational programme designed to improve employee retention, boost productivity and positively transform company culture, by allowing employees the opportunity to spend a week out of …