Vilnius Christmas Market: Everything You Need to Know (2024)

Looking to visit the Vilnius, Lithuania Christmas Market? You’re in the right place. The Vilnius Christmas Market is one of the prettiest holiday markets I’ve ever been to.

Similar to other Christmas markets worldwide, there is a new tree every year with slightly different features – but always much loved traditional ones that everyone looks forward to.

The 2024 Vilnius Christmas Market will run from December 1st, 2024 to December 29th, 2024 (however, the trees may stay up until the end of the first week in January.)

We went to Vilnius Christmas Market with not too many expectations. My husband and I are very seasoned travellers and wanted to see the Baltic countries, and Christmas just happened to be the best time for us to go. (I was working as a teacher and had vacation during the winter break.)

I was blown away by the Christmas Market in Vilnius; it is very well done, extensive, and a wonderful event to be a part of.

In this article, I’ll cover:

• features of the Christmas market in Vilnius (what you’ll find there)
• things to do at the Vilnius Christmas Market
• other unique things to do in Vilnius at Christmas

So, let’s jump in!

About the Vilnius Christmas Market

• There are technically two different ‘market’ areas at the Vilnius Christmas Market – one located in Cathedral Square, and the other outside the Town Hall. The walk between the two of them is only about 10-15 minutes, so you can easily walk back and forth, visiting them both.

• Both of the markets are amazing, but they are also pretty small. So, I recommend to plan to do more in Vilnius besides just the markets. There are so many things to do in Vilnius, during winter or year-round.

• In total, I think around 4 days is enough to see everything you’d want to see in Vilnius, plus enjoy the markets.

• Weather in Vilnius in December generally falls between 0°C and -5°C. (32°F and 23°F.) Both rain or snow are possible.
  
• I highly recommend staying in Vilnius Old Town, especially during Christmas, so that you can get the most out of the attractions and the markets.

What You’ll Find at the Vilnius Christmas Market

Here are the things you can expect to find in Vilnius at Christmas

1. Two different Christmas trees

Both of the Vilnius Christmas market areas have their own tree. The one by Cathedral Square is the ‘main’ tree – it usually stands over 100 feet tall, and is surrounded by the wooden rooftop vendor markets.

The Vilnius Christmas trees always have such unique and creative designs, and they’re becoming famous for it. I’m pretty certain that the Christmas tree you see in Vilnius will look different from any other tree you see worldwide.

The above picture is their ‘chess-themed’ Christmas tree that they had when we were there. Look forward to seeing what their tree will look like in 2024!

2. Vendor Markets

The main vendor market is in the Cathedral Square area. You’ll find locals selling handicrafts, treats, presents, and artisan foods.

We saw many hand-knitted socks, mitts and hats, Lithuanian candy, wooden carvings, and traditional Chrismtas treats that are eaten at this time of year.

One of our favourite things to buy at the vendor market was chocolate-covered fruit. We bought bananas, pineapple and even oranges all dipped in chocolate (pictured above) and they were delicious.

3. A Christmas train

We saw an adorable Christmas train that was ridden by children and their parents, playing Christmas carols in Lithuanian.

I don’t believe adults can ride the train alone, but this might be fun to do if you’re in Vilnius with kids.

The train runs between Cathedral Square and Town Hall Square, and leaves every 30 minutes. Rides are free of charge. I think seeing the train go by is just as lovely as I can imagine it is to ride it.

5. Beautifully decorated streets

Vilnius was one of the most Christmasy cities I’ve ever visited. Their old town is 700 years old, and all of the narrow cobbled streets are so beautifully decorated for the season.

We spent so much time just walking around and admiring the little lights on all the streets. This is especially fun to do in the evening of course, after it gets dark.

In December, dusk in Vilnuis is around 4:00-4:30pm. This gives you lots of time to wander around, enjoying the city by night.

Personally, we thought it was also very beautiful at the twilight hour – when its not quite light or dark. The tip is to make lots lof time to walk around admiring the city between 3:30 and 4:30pm!

6. Snow globes selling mulled wine

In the town square area (the smaller Christmas market) there are a bunch of glass igloos where you can duck inside to buy some mulled wine.

There aren’t usually a lot of seats inside the snow globes, but you get one if you’re lucky.

If there aren’t any available seats, then you can still take your mulled wine to go.

The mulled wine in Lithuania often had orange liquor in it, and sometimes a slice of orange. Since seeing this tradition in Vilnius, we started adding sliced oranges to our own mulled wine at home.

4. Movies against the Cathedral

There are children’s movies played against the Cathedral in the main square. They are children’s movies, but they’re in Lithuanian, so we couldn’t understand them.

It was very popular though with many people crowding around to see it. Young kids may appreciate watching some of it, as something fun to do. The movies are very short.

5. Check out the Nativity scene on Cathedral Square

Near the Cathedral Square, there is usually a nativity scene with real animals – goats, donkeys, and maybe some sheap.

This another thing that probably will be especially of interest to the kids.

6. Get your photos in front of the “Greetings” Sign

Also near the Cathedral Square Market was a large sign made with lit up small lights. Many tourists were lining up to get their photos in front of this sign.

Each year, the exact features and what things look like during Christmas in Vilnius will vary. Vilnius has been making headlines recently for their unique trees and is making Christmas a priority. Check their Christmas market website for updates for new things added in 2024

Where to Stay During the Vilnius Christmas Market

• Budget: Happy Inn -A single bedroom apartment right in Old Town for an affordable price
• Mid-Range: Artagonist Hotel – This is we stayed during our Christmas trip to Vilnus and we loved it – it’s just steps away from the Town Square Christmas market. They served mulled wine in the lobby and we LOVED their best buffet breakfast 
• Luxury: Conti Hotel –Short walking distance from many things right downtown. Has a buffet breakfast, as well as stylish suites

Other Things to Do at the Vilnius during the Christmas Market

Here are more things to do in Vilnius during the Christmas market to really get the experience and make for a memorable trip

1. Get a photo from above

One thing you will want to make sure you do in Vilnius (during Chrismtmas especially) is to enjoy the views of the city all lit up.

There are two places where you can do this.

• Gedimina’s Tower – build in the early 1400s, this tower is a historical site in Vilnius and worth the visit. It’s a bit of a ways from the city centre; you can either walk in 20 minutes or take a bus. From the top, you have the most amazing panoramic view of the whole city (pictured above)
  
• The Bell Tower, which is right beside the Cathedral Square Christmas Market (pictured below) It should cost around €5 per ticket, and you can see and take a photo of the main Christmas tree from above

Pro Tip: It gets dark between 4:30 and 5:30pm in Vilnius in December. We made our way to Gedmina’s Tower around 4pm. It was perfect, because we were able to watch it get dark, and see the city suddenly illuminate

2. Head to Trakai Castle

One of the upsides to visiting Vilnius in Winter is being able to see Trakai Caslte on an island with a blanket of snow.

The benefit of heading there in December is seeing this medieval castle all decorated for Christmas!

At Christmas time, the castle is decorated for the holidays. It was simply beautiful. We did a self-guided audio tour and walked all through the interior, and the exterior of the castle.

We also stopped to grab a kibani, which is a traditional baked good of the Karaim people who live in the Trakai area.

Book your tour to Trakai here ($60 per person, 4-hour tour, hotel pick up included)

3. Head to the Uzupiz neighbourhood

Uzupis neighbourhood is worth visiting any time of the year, but during the holiday season, you’re likely to see some unique holiday decorations.

The Uzupis neighbourhood is about a 20 minute walk from Old Town. We decided to walk there, but if you don’t want to walk, then taking an Uber is an option too.

For more ideas of things to do in Vilnius during the cold season, read my post on things to do in Vilnius in Winter

4. Try some seasonal treats!

Similar to other countries, Lithuania has its own traditional Chrismtas dishes and treats, which you can try at this time of year.

• karštas vynas (mulled wine) It is usually made with Amarato liquor, has sliced orange, almonds and raisons in it. We had many of them during our visit, it was delicious
• meduoliai (gingerbread cookies) – they are a round, sort of puffy cookie. You may see them in vendor markets, but you can also find them in bags in the grocery store
• kūčiukai – a doughy pastry that is typically eaten on Chrismtas eve dinner. You can read about their history here.

4. Go see the decorated Presidential Palace

We didn’t know about the Presidential Palace, and happened to just stumble upon it. It is closed at night, but it is always beautifully decorated for Christmas.

The word in the front linkėjimai, means “greetings.”

If you’re interested in a way to learn about Lithuanian history, and warm up during the day, you can take a tour of the Presidential Palace.

Guided tours are free of charge and can be booked here. (Page is in Lithuanian, but you can Google translate to your language.)

Other Tips for Visiting Vilnius At Christmas

• We found that oddly, it was hard to get into a restaurant during the Christmas season at Vilnius. Many of them had long line ups, or were completely full and we weren’t able to eat there. I recommend lining up for Etno Dvaras (traditional Lithuanian cusine located right downtown on Pillies street – amazing for winter) as its first-come first served. You can get in, you just have to wait. Other places turned us away all together, so I recommend just not getting your hopes up.

• Overall, 4-5 days in Vilnius is probably enough to experience the Christmas markets and do all the other touristic things
  
• Vilnius can be combined with a trip to Latvia or Estonia, although you would need to drive. We rented a car in Vilnus, and drove it all the way to Tallinn and Riga. (9 hours one way.)

What to Bring to Vilnius

• Be sure to dress warmly – hat, scarf, mitts, and good waterproof walking boots (as it can either snow, or rain in December.) It wasn’t as cold here as what we are used to in Canada, but as the city is very walkable – you’ll be outside a lot!
• Bring cash (in Euros.) We found many of the vendors took credit card, but it helps to have cash just in case.

Vilnius Chrismtas Market FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about the Vilnius Christmas market

Is the Vilnius Christmas market good?

Yes, Vilnius Christmas Market is amazing. Part of what I love about it is that there are two different markets. While its very popular, it hasn’t quite hit the scale of the markets in Germany or France, and you can enjoy them without intense crowds.

Where are Vilnius Christmas markets?

There are technically two Christmas markets in Vilnius – the most well-known one is by the Cathedral Square. There is also another one about a 15-minute walk away from the Cathedral Square by the Town Square.

Are there Christmas markets in Lithuania?

Yes, Lithuania puts on amazing Christmas markets. There are many throughout the country – recently, their markets in its capital, Vilnius, have been getting some international attention for their very unique trees.

Final Thoughts on the Christmas Markets in Vilnius

Now you know about all the wonders of the Vilnius Christmas Market. I hope that you have an amazing time celebrating Christmas in the beautiful, unique medieval town of Vilnius.

Vilnius has a very traditional Christmas feel, with a slow pace, twinkling lights, lighter crowds, and a more calming and relaxed feel. We honestly loved it and would be so excited to return.