The Old Town of Vilnius covers about 360 hectares — about the size of 500 football pitches — making it one of the largest surviving old city centres in all of northern Europe. It grew up over many centuries and gathered buildings from different styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical all sit side by side.
One of the most photographed views is from Gediminas Tower, a tall stone tower on a hill right in the centre. From the top you can look out over the patchwork of orange-tiled rooftops, green church domes, and winding lanes stretching in every direction. The view has barely changed in hundreds of years.
There are more than 40 churches and chapels in the Old Town. Some of them have surprising interiors — behind a plain door you might discover walls covered in golden swirls and paintings, or a ceiling full of angels. The Gate of Dawn is a famous chapel built into the old city wall, and people have been visiting it for centuries.
Vilnius has a very lively student population and lots of street art, festivals, and markets in the Old Town's squares. In December, the main square fills with a Christmas market where the smell of hot cinnamon drinks drifts through the air. In the summer, outdoor concerts and film screenings happen almost every weekend.