Vilnius: the perfect place for a weekend trip from Riga. 

If you’re in the mood for good food, great architecture and even better bars, Vilnius, Lithuania is the perfect place for a short weekend trip from Riga!

A four-hour coach journey from Riga Coach Station, tickets go from around €7 with Flixbus, perfect for students on a budget. If you’re looking to stay the night, there are plenty of hotels available in the city centre, but I would recommend using AirBnb, with overnight stays from around €30 a night. 

So, where are the best places to go when in Vilnius? 

Museums and attractions

Lithuania has a complex history of occupation fundamental to its national identity. If you want to understand the significance of Lithuanian independence, as well as the experience of the Jewish community in the past century, I would strongly recommend visiting the KGB Museum and the Green House, otherwise known as Holocaust Museum. The exhibitions displayed there are stark and poignant, reflective of the suffering and atrocities that took place in this period. 

If architecture is more your interest, the Old Town is the perfect place to visit, littered with independent shops and cafés, as well as magnificent churches such as the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church. If, like me,  you have a weakness for jewellery, I would also recommend a visit to the Jewish Ghetto, a treasure trove of handcrafted amber jewellery. 

Food

A town for foodies, Vilnius boasts some of the best bakeries and cafés in Europe, such as Crustum and Mint Vinetu, an independent café and second-hand bookshop, (see right). As a cat-lover, my personal favourite is the Cat Cafe Kačių Kavinė. 

If you’re looking for something more substantial, the Old Town is full of affordable restaurants such as Cafe Montmartre, a traditional French-style bistro, and Maurizio’s Italian Food. 

Nightlife 

An incredibly underrated place for nightlife, Vilnius is a great place for a night out. There are bars throughout the city, but for a short-stay, I would recommend a trip to the cocktail bar Distilerija, as well as Flow bar, known for its incredible vodka cocktails and Speakeasy aesthetic.

Darcie Peters is a student at Liden and Denz.