This stunning Gothic church with its intricate red brick façade is one of the most photographed buildings in Vilnius. Built on the site of an earlier wooden church at the end of the 15th Century, it is part of a larger religious complex alongside the neighbouring Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard (also known as the Bernardine Church) and monastery. In contrast to the larger Bernardine Church, Saint Anne's is relatively small and narrow, which actually enhances its delicate, vertical elegance. The facade has three slender towers of different heights, creating a dynamic, asymmetrical composition. Every surface is adorned with decorative brickwork such as hexagons, crosses, pointed arches, and geometric patterns.
According to legend, when Napoleon Bonaparte passed through Vilnius in 1812 during his campaign against Russia, he was so captivated by the beauty of St. Anne's that he wanted to take it back to Paris "in the palm of his hand." These days, the church remains an active place of worship and a popular site for weddings and baptisms, and it is possible for tourists to visit during opening hours when services are not taking place.
The Lithuanian capital Vilnius is now the largest city in the Baltics and certainly among the most captivating. Its beautiful medieval Old Town is a remarkably well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts a wide array of historic landmarks within walking distance. Our private introductory tour of Vilnius lets you explore its quaint cobblestone streets with a local expert who will share stories of a majestic city that served as the epicentre of a vast, multicultural empire that shaped the development of Eastern Europe for centuries.
On your 2-hour private walking tour, you will:
Get to know your way around Vilnius on this private two-hour walking tour designed as the perfect introduction to the city’s Old Town. Starting in Cathedral Square, the historic heart of Lithuania’s capital, you’ll explore Vilnius through the eyes of a knowledgeable local guide who brings centuries of history, architecture, and culture to life. This thoughtfully paced route is ideal for first-time visitors who want to understand the city’s story while enjoying an easy and engaging walk.
From the elegant Neoclassical Vilnius Cathedral and its freestanding bell tower, your guide will set the scene for Lithuania’s fascinating past, from pagan roots to Christian traditions and turbulent periods of foreign rule. You’ll pass Gediminas Tower, dramatically perched on its hill, and hear the legend of the city’s founding as well as the story of the castle that once dominated the skyline. Nearby, the Palace of the Grand Dukes provides an opportune moment to discuss how the Grand Duchy of Lithuania grew into one of the largest and most influential states in medieval Europe, shaping the region’s political and cultural landscape.
Continuing along Pilies Street, the oldest street in Vilnius, you’ll stroll past beautifully preserved historic buildings, inviting cafés, and small shops that reflect the city’s distinct character. The tour then pauses at the exquisite St. Anne’s Church, a Gothic masterpiece celebrated for its delicate brickwork and timeless elegance. Crossing into the Užupis district, you’ll discover a more unconventional side of Vilnius and hear the curious story of how this artistic neighbourhood proclaimed itself an independent republic in 1997. A short, pleasant walk along the Vilnia River offers a moment to take in the city from a quieter perspective before the tour concludes in Town Hall Square, a grand space that has served as Vilnius’s social hub for centuries.
By the end of the walk, you’ll be left with a clear sense of the city’s layout, its layered history, and the cultural influences that continue to define Vilnius today. Before parting, your guide will be happy to share personalised recommendations for restaurants, cafés, and further discoveries, ensuring you leave not only well-oriented but inspired to continue exploring Vilnius on your own.
Vilnius, Lithuania's colourful capital and the largest city in the Baltics, is a palimpsest shaped by many empires and cultures over more than 700 years. Much of its history comes to life in its remarkably well-preserved Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is home to many of the city’s most iconic landmarks and is characterised by its cobblestone streets and beautiful buildings, a mix of Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical styles that clearly illustrate the evolution of Vilnius and of Lithuania as a nation. Our full-day private tour of Vilnius lets you make the most of your time in the city, visiting the major sites and lesser-known local favourites in the company of an expert guide whose insightful stories will ensure you’ll become well-acquainted with its distinct personality and charm.
On this full-day private tour, you will:
Spend a full day uncovering Vilnius in the company of a private local guide, an experience designed for travellers who want to make the most of their time in Lithuania’s capital while enjoying a deeper, more personal connection to the city. Beginning in Cathedral Square, the symbolic heart of Vilnius, your guide will introduce the city’s story from its medieval origins to its modern identity, setting the tone with insights into the Neoclassical Cathedral and the events that have shaped this important gathering place.
From here, you’ll turn your attention to Gediminas Hill and the iconic Gediminas Tower, perched majestically above the city’s rooftops, church spires, and river valleys. It is the perfect setting to hear the legend of Grand Duke Gediminas and the founding of Vilnius, as well as to understand why this hill played such a strategic role in the city’s early development. After getting acquainted with the early days of the city, the tour continues to the Palace of the Grand Dukes, where a guided interior visit brings the past vividly to life. Walking through reconstructed state rooms and exhibitions, you’ll learn how the Grand Duchy of Lithuania rose to become one of the largest and most influential powers in medieval Europe, and how its legacy still resonates today.
A leisurely walk along Pilies Street follows, allowing time to take in the city’s oldest thoroughfare, lined with historic buildings, inviting courtyards, and long-established institutions. Around this area, you’ll pause for a relaxed lunch break at a local restaurant (lunch not included), chosen to suit your tastes based on your guide’s recommendations, before continuing the afternoon’s exploration. After lunch, the route leads past the Presidential Palace, where you’ll hear how Lithuania’s political life has evolved and how the country has reshaped itself since regaining independence in 1990.
The tour then delves into the academic and cultural life of Vilnius with a visit to the courtyards of Vilnius University, offering a glimpse into centuries of scholarship and intellectual exchange. Depending on the time of year, we will have the chance to ascend to the top of St. John's Church bell tower to take in the views over the city from here, or ascend another spectacular viewpoint (such as Gediminas Hill) earlier in the tour to experience the Old Town from above. Nearby, the walk continues through what remains of the historic Jewish quarter around Žydų Street, an important area for understanding the city’s multicultural past and the once-flourishing Jewish community that earned Vilnius its reputation as a centre of learning. From here, you’ll stroll along Literatų Street, where small art installations celebrate the writers, poets, and thinkers who helped define Lithuanian cultural identity, before stopping to admire the refined Gothic beauty of St. Anne’s Church.
Crossing the river, the atmosphere shifts as you enter Užupis, the city’s most unconventional neighbourhood. Your guide will explain how this former overlooked district reinvented itself and declared independence as an “independent republic,” complete with its own idealistic constitution and creative spirit. A gentle walk through this area provides a fitting contrast to the grandeur of the Old Town before the day concludes in Town Hall Square, a space that has served as Vilnius’s civic and commercial hub for centuries. By the end of the tour, you'll have experienced what Vilnius has to offer, enriched by the expertise of your passionate local guide.
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