Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, set where the Neris and Vilnia rivers meet in the country's southeast. Its remarkably intact Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest medieval historic centres in Northern Europe, mixing Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical architecture.

Centuries of Lithuanian, Polish, Russian and Jewish history remain visible across the city. Key landmarks include Vilnius Cathedral and its bell tower, Gediminas' Tower on the hill above Cathedral Square, the Gate of Dawn, St. Anne's Church and the historic Vilnius University complex founded in 1579.

Neighbourhoods range from the winding lanes of the Old Town and the bohemian self-declared Republic of Užupis to the elegant 19th-century streets of Naujamiestis and the glass towers of the modern business district. Museum visitors can explore the National Museum, MO Museum, Palace of the Grand Dukes and the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights in the former KGB building.

Vilnius is also a fast-growing fintech and startup hub, with conferences, festivals and a lively café and restaurant scene. Lithuanian food, from cepelinai potato dumplings and cold beet soup to craft beer and mead, is easy to find in markets and family-run eateries.

For both leisure and business travellers, Vilnius offers a compact, green and walkable city with strong infrastructure, short airport access and a blend of heritage, creative energy and modern amenities.