October xx, 2023. While cities like Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and others are tackling issues like over-tourism, Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, which celebrates its 700th anniversary this year, is thriving in 2023. More and more visitors discover North Europe region in general and Vilnius with such extraordinary events as all-year-round birthday celebrations, NATO summit, Pink Soup Fest, etc. is becoming the main eye candy for hungry tourists.
At the beginning of 2023, major global news portals—CNN, the New York Times, and others—announced Vilnius as one of the top recommended destinations. Therefore, 2024 will continue the tendency, and here are the reasons why.
The city offers lots of special events
Vilnius is organizing a wide plethora of events that offer the best of Lithuania’s past and present.
Starting with a modern blend of architecture and light installations as part of the Vilnius Light Festival held on January 25-28th. It is almost a tradition for many to start the year while strolling through Vilnius streets and enjoying contemporary art installations incorporated in the ancient structures of the city. The festival turns Vilnius Old Town and the city center into a diverse outdoor show. Moreover, the festival is organized during the actual Vilnius birthday, therefore it is considered as a gift for locals and tourists.
Following the success, Lithuania’s capital will organize the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest on June 8th for the second time. The festival dedicated to local summer delicacy—cold beetroot soup—gained worldwide fame when the city radiated in pink and invited participants on a fascinating gourmet journey, therefore, even more pizzazz is expected in 2024. Locals and visitors dressed in various shades of pink, thousands of litters of the dish consumed, sliding into a giant bowl of soup and many more quirky activities will await the visitors.
To reminisce about the past, the 100th Lithuanian Song Festival will take place from June 29th till July 6th. A unique event in the Baltic region, where Lithuanians from all over the country and the Lithuanian diaspora come to Vilnius to sing folklore Lithuanian songs and dance together. This cultural phenomenon spans over a week, but the final „Day of the Songs” when more than 50 000 participants march into the purpose-built grandstand in Vilnius Vingis Park for a mass performance is undoubtedly the magical pinnacle of the event.
Also, a grandiose party led by world-famous music stars will take place on July 25th with the highly-awaited mid-summer urban festival As Young As Vilnius which will invite music lovers for the third time. Free of charge, a family-oriented and extraordinarily fun festival will be even bigger in 2024. Another music event, an indie music festival 8 Festival will be held in the most notorious space in the city, the century-old Lukiškės Prison 2.0 on June 16th-18th. In 2022 the festival was even nominated for several categories in awards shows—Best Overseas Festival in UK Festival Awards and Best New Festival in European Festival Awards.
New attractions are always on the horizon
Vilnius has a tendency to constantly offer something new to do no matter when the travelers are visiting it. Exploring such famous places as the notorious Lukiškės Prison which is currently the main cultural hub for locals or a modern art museum MO Museum will always excite any visitor. However, there are a few new gems to consider as well.
For example, the recently opened historical underground structure Liepkalnio Water Storage. Built in 1916, the hundred-year-old water storage facility located under the mountain belongs to the largest water supply company in Lithuania “Vilniaus vandenys” and stands out for its unique structure and acoustics—the echo here repeats itself five or six times. Now that it is open to the public, the Energy and Technology Museum organizes guided tours while the new space is available for concerts, cinematic experiences, and art.
Another popular attraction is Auto Museum, located on the other side of the old town, in the legendary Vilnius taxi park. The museum boasts the largest collection of unique and exclusive cars in Lithuania, with over 100 cars on display. Car enthusiasts come all over the world to explore the collection containing both the first motor vehicles and modern supercars.
A dish for every taste bud
The city’s thriving gastro scene features passionate chefs who respect seasonal ingredients and follow a farm-to-table approach to their ingredient sourcing, while multiple restaurants scattered within walkable distances all over the city offer an authentic food experience.
Some restaurants even coax the visitors to go for a historical Vilnius’ cuisine recreated specifically for the anniversary year and offering to taste the most characteristic historical dishes in Vilnius—like Nelson’s zrazy or Jerusalem kugel—and hear the stories surrounding them.
Pubs also tempt travelers with plenty of kinds of high-quality craft beer. For instance, Alaus biblioteka pub lures the enthusiasts of the drink to try 60 beer styles, and 15 beers on tap. Būsi trečias, a miniature beer factory and a restaurant, beckons to come and have a fresh beer brewed just beneath the facility, with the menu featuring 13 beer cocktails, multiple variations of light and dark beer, as well as other drinks and snacks.
Activities for daredevils
Travelers who prefer more adventurous endeavors can try out taking in the city’s panorama at 170 meters above the earth in Vilnius TV Tower. Aside from dining in a restaurant slowly rotating 360°, which works all year round, visitors will be offered a unique opportunity to walk its perimeter themselves from May. Scenic views of the city rolling under one’s feet, no guardrails, and the protection of the safety cord only will leave a lasting impression and a desire to come back for more.
Another must for every traveler coming to Vilnius is a ride with a hot-air balloon. Vilnius is the only European capital to officially allow these rides over the city, and the ballooning season begins now. Depending on where the wind will take the balloon, travelers can enjoy the breathtaking sweep over the capital or a slow glide over the lush fields and emerald forests toward Trakai, the medieval town.
All Inclusive
Luksusowy kwartalnik turystyczno-podróżniczy. Od 2004 roku opisujemy miejsca, do których warto lecieć dłużej niż na weekend, i ludzi, którzy je prowadzą.
