Pointers for solo trip to Vilnius (plus a tale of discovering my Lithuanian roots)

Embark on a solo trip to Vilnius, a town that embraces unmarried vacationers with its wealthy historical past, colourful arts scene, and heat hospitality.

Monica wrote this solo trip to Vilnius information. She has crossed six continents and is understood for touring throughout the Center East and for her outside adventures, from mountaineering to bungee leaping to paragliding.

It didn’t appear ‘proper’ to understand subsequent to not anything about the place I got here from.

As best the 3rd era born within the United States, my ties to Lithuania must had been more potent.

However they weren’t; they have been non-existent. The language was once misplaced, familial ties have been misplaced, and – save for a couple of circle of relatives tales passed right down to me from my aunt – even the precise position the place my circle of relatives had lived was once a thriller.

So, what’s a woman to do when she has not anything however overflowing interest about her heritage? And at that, a heritage that isn’t taught about in our American historical past categories and books?

A heritage rooted in a tiny Baltic nation in Jap Europe that many can be hard-pressed to find on a map?

Smartly, I will let you know what I did. I flew there to research. I fell so deeply in love with my nation and grew such a lot in my figuring out of myself that I now trip again each and every likelihood I am getting.

As a now common customer, I nonetheless in finding such a lot of issues to do in Vilnius and past.

Let me percentage with you why I like to trip in Lithuania, and why I wholeheartedly suggest this nation for solo trip. Most likely, after studying, you’re going to believe visiting, too.

Sign up for my workforce journeys for unmarried vacationers!

Shuttle the sector by myself (in combination) with like-minded people and triumph over your concern of touring by myself.

Fast information: solo trip to Vilnius, Lithuania

Is solo trip to Vilnius secure?

You could be stunned to be told that I’d suggest solo trip in Lithuania to any person – now not simply the ones people who’ve Lithuanian blood in our veins!

A part of the beauty of trip, a minimum of for me, is finding unknown puts, points of interest, flavors, and sounds.

Lithuania has all of that during spades since maximum people don’t develop up finding out the rest concerning the Baltics.

Lithuania and its neighbors have skilled many struggles, equivalent to back-to-back occupations, and feature fought difficult for his or her freedom.

Those struggles are a part of what makes Lithuania so non violent. The area people appear to are living quiet, satisfied lives.

The streets are secure – I’ve walked by myself in any respect hours without a problems. I’ve taken public transportation throughout.

I’ve rented a automotive and road-tripped the rustic. And I’ve explored many alternative cities and villages totally by myself.

As with every vacation spot, solo vacationers must take note of their atmosphere, and also you must all the time agree with your intestine.

However total, the dangers of touring listed below are low. Violent crime is rare and there are not any explicit towns or spaces that vacationers must make sure you keep away from.

To the contrary, all vacationers, even solo ladies, must discover better towns and small rural cities. You’ll in finding heaps of historical past, never-ending inexperienced landscapes, or even quirky spots that deserve a glance.

Is Vilnius just right for solo trip?

After I deliberate my first-ever go back and forth, it took so much of study.

This was once each because of my want-to-see-it-all perspective and the truth that it wasn’t (and nonetheless isn’t) one of the crucial closely visited Ecu towns.

I had a lengthy checklist of points of interest that I simply couldn’t are living with out seeing, and it took a large number of effort to find easy methods to get from right here to there.

Fortuitously, issues have modified rather somewhat since then. Public transportation is far more straightforward to navigate at the present time, difficult to understand spots are rather less difficult to understand, and mapping out your itinerary can be beautiful simple at the present time.

Maximum global guests will fly into the global airport within the capital town, Vilnius, like I did.

That is now not a kind of towns you must spend one evening in and go away as briefly as conceivable. It is a capital town you wish to have to discover.

Vilnius has a wide selection of points of interest to look

There are simply such a lot of issues to do in Vilnius. The distinction between the centuries-old structure and the within sight fashionable, hip cafes is an invited visible.

Within the arts district, you’ll in finding conventional Amber jewellery (a Lithuanian distinctiveness) in addition to colourful, quirky galleries. There’s something right here for everybody!

Cathedral Sq., for instance, is without doubt one of the maximum well known assembly issues in all of Vilnius, and you might be more likely to cross through this spot a couple of occasions all through your keep.

The vast open space is regularly used for gala’s all the way through the 12 months, and for those who’re fortunate it’s possible you’ll simply get to take part in a single.

The Cathedral of St Stanislav and St Vladislav is the legit identify of this iconic white development. Step inside of for a visible deal with.

Then, head over to the tall and breathtaking bell tower, within sight. Many guests aren’t conscious – you’ll be able to in reality climb this bell tower, and I extremely suggest doing so!

It’s so much like hiking to the highest of a lighthouse, and the panoramic perspectives of Vilnius are impressive.

The St. Anne’s and St. Bernardine’s Church Advanced also are points of interest to look. Each and every time I’ve stepped foot in Lithuania, I’ve made it some degree to forestall inside of those surprising but contrasting church buildings.

Each are unfastened to go into, and the interiors are similarly surprising. It’s value noting that Lithuania is a Catholic nation.  Whether or not you might be Catholic or now not, upload those in your itinerary, stat!

St. Anne’s church is constructed within the Gothic taste and showcases tall, ornate spires. It’s believed to had been constructed within the past due fifteenth century through architect Benedikt Rejt from Prague.

The outside of the church has remained unchanged since then. The inner has had some repairs, and extra fashionable parts have been added within the twentieth century.

To not be overshadowed, the spectacular St. Bernardine is correct subsequent door. This large and atypical group was once inbuilt a shiny and kooky taste.

Seeing those two very other church buildings aspect through aspect highlights the distinction and good looks. 

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Lithuania’s historical past, after many occupations, is lengthy and hard. The Museum of Profession and Freedom Fights in Vilnius tells the tale of those struggles.

Although a dismal and somber revel in, this museum is most likely THE MOST necessary forestall you’re going to make in Vilnius.

On a private be aware, this museum opened my eyes to all that Lithuania has been thru.

Phrases can not categorical all that I felt, however suffice it to mention that there was once huge appreciate, a variety of disappointment, somewhat of delight, and a willing figuring out of precisely the place I got here from.

This museum takes you in the course of the chronology of all-too-recent atrocities that came about in Lithuania through the years from each Soviet and German occupations.

This museum taught me issues I might by no means have identified about Lithuania’s historical past and resiliency.

Every flooring options images of historic other people and occasions, and is jam-packed stuffed with such a lot data it’s overwhelming.

The basement holds a former KGB jail and – chillingly – an execution room. It’s extremely haunting however so necessary for those who actually wish to perceive the Lithuanian other people.

For those who trip outdoor of Vilnius, Kaunas is some other town stuffed with historic points of interest and museums. For historical past fans, Vilnius and Kaunas must be on the best of your checklist.

Vilnius has unbelievable meals!

I do want to contact at the conventional meals right here, as a result of in spite of everything of your strolling and finding out concerning the nation, you might be positive to wish some gas.

One marvel spotlight I found out on my first go back and forth to Lithuania was once the delicacies.

Etno Dvaras is the primary eating place in Lithuania to have its dishes qualified through the Lithuanian Culinary Heritage Fund.

So, for those who seize a meal right here, know that you are going to be consuming original Lithuanian treats cooked in conventional tactics.

One of the crucial standard foods in Lithuania is cepelinai, which can be gargantuan-sized dumplings made from potato flour, and stuffed with meats or cheeses.

Sure, the cheese model is vegetarian, and it’s scrumptious. Those are like no different dumplings on earth, despite the fact that – the “partitions” are extraordinarily thick, and they’ll fill you up briefly!

Brilliant red beetroot soup and potato pancakes with dill are on a regular basis staples as smartly.

Lithuania could also be widely recognized for its beer. If you’re a lager drinker, don’t skip the native favourite, Švyturys.

Vilnius is reasonable to seek advice from

I’m additionally satisfied to record that Vilnius, and all of Lithuania, are extraordinarily affordable. Although they’re at the Euro, you’re going to in finding considerably lower cost than discovered virtually any place in western Europe.

You’ll be able to in finding resorts and guesthouses for smartly underneath $50 in step with evening, relying to your wishes, and hostel beds are rather reasonable.

A complete dinner with extra meals than you’ll be able to end could be round $12 USD. And souvenirs are very reasonably priced too.

On my final seek advice from, I were given a heat and fluffy iciness shawl that was once high quality for $20, and without a doubt it might be greater than double the fee in america.

So whilst you’ll be able to splurge and in finding extra sumptuous lodging in Vilnius, you undoubtedly don’t want to and will in reality get through rather reasonable.

Simple get entry to to different off-the-beaten-path international locations

Lithuania is one among 3 Baltic international locations, joined through Estonia and Latvia. Latvia and Lithuania percentage borders, and Estonia is solely north of Latvia.

Many guests street go back and forth in the course of the 3 Baltics, and I extremely suggest doing so!

Alternately, Lithuania stocks borders with Belarus and Poland, which can be additionally thrilling escapes I’ve taken.

So, how do I believe about Lithuania now after having visited again and again over?

I nonetheless get extraordinarily excited when my aircraft first touches down. I nonetheless really feel like its “house.” I nonetheless be informed a brand new reality or practice mannerisms that make my upbringing make sense.

And, I’ve since took my father to discover his personal heritage right here, and can quickly be taking different prolonged members of the family to Lithuania subsequent.

It’s abnormal to be from a rustic that you realize not anything about. I’m satisfied to mention this is now not the case! And that I will be able to stay going again, up to conceivable, to be told much more.