Se hva du kan gjøre og oppleve i Vilnius

Over the centuries, Lithuanians have created a unique array of dishes, influenced by the culture of various nationalities. A distinctive trait of Lithuanian cuisine is the preponderance of potato dishes. The most impressive of these are the cepelinai ("zeppelins"), large boiled potato dumplings made from grated raw potato with fillings of minced meat or cottage cheese. Other traditional potato dishes are various types of kugelis (potato loaf) and potato salad, potato pancakes made from grated raw potato or boiled potato (sometimes with meat filling), and small potato dumplings with mushroom or berry filling. Perhaps the most exotic Lithuanian dish is vėdarai or potato sausages – pork intestines stuffed with grated raw potato, baked in a wood stove or electric oven. Soup is very popular in Lithuania. One of the most interesting Lithuanian soups is šaltibarščiai (cold beetroot soup), which is made from beets/beetroot, kefir (a fermented milk product), greens, and boiled eggs. This dish is most popular when served on a hot summer day. Vilnius has a staggering array of outstanding places to dine, offering the best in French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Mexican, Indian, Russian, German, and Kosher food, as well as many cutting-edge international restaurants. And of course, no visit to Vilnius could be complete without experiencing one of the city’s many welcoming Lithuanian restaurants.

Nightlife in Vilnius caters to every budget and taste. You can enjoy a beer at one of the many pubs here or hit one of the clubs. Make sure you dress well as face control is very much enforced.

Vilnius is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is not hard to see why with all the wonderful historic sights found here. The city’s extraordinary appearance of historic continuity is all the more amazing when you consider its turbulent history. Vilnius is now back where it rightly belongs, at the heart of Europe, and this most quintessentially European of cities has quickly gained a reputation as being a charming, delightful and, it has to be said, magical place. It is no wonder that Vilnius has become such a popular tourist destination in recent years for the simple reason that few people can resist its magical charms. The city is large enough to explore, but small enough not to get permanently lost in, Vilnius is an architectural dream come true, a city soaked in atmosphere, and alive with history. Despite its reputation as a Baroque city, Vilnius is rich in other architectural forms. There are some stunning examples of classicism, eclecticism, brick gothic and art nouveau in the city centre, especially along the showcase Gedimino Avenue. The city abounds with quirky architectural flourishes, from mysterious masks to mischievous gargoyles. Quite simply, you just cannot take your eyes off the place. Most of the buildings in Vilnius date from the periods immediately after the great fires of 1610, 1737, 1748 and 1749, when the city’s wooden buildings were done away with. Amazingly, however, the Old Town’s street structure is virtually unchanged since medieval times. The best way to see Vilnius is on foot (just follow the cobblestone road). The city is also a dream for cyclists with clearly-marked cycle lanes covering virtually the entire city centre, and bringing all the city’s sights within easy reach. There is, of course, much more to Vilnius than the Old Town. The city centre is filled with beautiful parks, and majestic buildings standing proudly atop steep, hilly streets. It is also a delight to walk along the banks of the river Neris as it serenely snakes its way through the city centre. The riverside path offers spectacular views of the Old Town on one side, and the imposing skyscrapers of the New District on the other.

No trip to Vilnius is complete without a visit to the self-declared Republic of Užupis, just across the sparkling river Vilnia, and behind the spectacular red Gothic façade of St. Anne’s Church. Just be sure not to miss the prominently displayed constitution (it is in Lithuanian, French and English) which states, among other things, that: “Every dog has the right to be a dog.” Other places of special interest include Vilnius University, the Hill of Three Crosses, the Gates of Dawn, the Presidential Palace, the Town Hall, Ponar Memorial, Kalvariijų market, not to mention countless other museums, galleries, churches and statues. Just one thing is certain when it comes to Vilnius: one visit is never enough.

The main shopping areas in Vilnius can be divided neatly into the two areas of the Old Town (pedestrian streets where you can find antiques, amber, linen, books old and new, some nice pieces of art, handcrafts) and parts of the city’s classiest retail street, Gedimino (designer clothes, fashion shops, more charming crafts). In the Old Town, the very heart of the city, you can find excellent shops, prestigious boutiques and street markets specialising in local art, crafts and souvenirs. The most well-known areas for shopping in the Old Town are Pilies and Didžioji streets. The city’s markets are also well worth a visit for an authentic, blast-from-the-past experience. Large shopping and leisure centres have been popping up increasingly around city fringes. There you will find clothing, footwear, food and other numerous shops. These are usually open from early morning until late at night. Wares guaranteed to please anyone are local linen and amber. According to a local legend, amber originates from the tears of the sea goddess Jūratė and the stones from her castle, which was destroyed by Perkūnas, the pagan god of thunder, when he discovered her passionate love affair with the mortal fisherman Kastytis. Ask most people and they will tell you amber is a dark honey colour. However, visit anywhere selling the stuff and you will soon see it come in such diverse colours as blue, black, white and yellow. White amber is called royal amber and is widely available in Lithuania. Meanwhile the other good linen is woven from the fibres of flax plant, a completely natural resource, perhaps the most ecologically sound fabric of all. This fabric that really breathes, is available for just about any part of the body or home.