Trakai is an island castle located on an island in the middle of Lake Galve not too far from Vilnius. Built-in the 14th Century, this red stone castle was constructed as the main center of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Despite its name, this historic city was actually built and preserved by a diverse group of nationalities. The communities of Karaims, Tatars, Lithuanians, Russians, Jews, and Poles were said to have inhabited the city together in harmony which is quite rare at the time.

Trakai was formerly one of the most fearsome fortifications in the area due to its advantageous location on an island, but it has since been transformed into a museum and is now considered to be among the coolest sites in all of Europe. To preserve the history of the town of Trakai, its castles, and the people who once lived there, there is a permanent exhibition inside with a variety of exhibitions and interesting antique objects. The entrance fee to Trakai Island Castle is 12 EUR per person and the castle gate opens from 9 AM - 6 PM every day from May to September and 8 AM - 5 PM on weekdays and 10 AM - 5 PM on weekends from October to April.

If the weather allows, you should take a hot air balloon ride over Trakai in the early morning to see Trakai island castle and the lovely Lake Galve in all their splendor if you want a more memorable experience there. The hot air balloon tour usually goes for around 150 USD per person and it should take about 3 hours including transfers from and to Vilnius.

If you are lucky enough to be there on a foggy morning, you will be rewarded with a dreamy view of the Trakai island castle surrounded by mystical low clouds almost as if it came straight from a fairy tale. It is an incredible experience to have in Vilnius.

One of the most prominent landmarks that you will likely see the moment you arrive in Vilnius is Vilnius Cathedral, a classical-style Roman Catholic Cathedral that was constructed in the 18th Century over a Pagan temple. During the Soviet reign, it was converted into a warehouse until 1988 when Lithuania gained independence and converted back into a cathedral that anyone can enter.

You can climb to the top of the Gediminas Castle Tower for a breathtaking view of the Old Town and all of its lovely orange roofs by paying 5 EUR, but you can also take in the view from the bottom of the tower for free. In either case, ascending the hill is essential if you want to gain a breathtaking view of Vilnius.

During the 15th, and 16th centuries and the first half of the 17th century, the Palace of the Grand Dukes was a political, diplomatic, administrative, and cultural center of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. At the beginning of the 19th century, at the initiative of the tsarist Russian administration, the residence of Lithuanian rulers was destroyed and restored only in 2013. The National Museum, at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, has four main routes that can be viewed that reflect the functions of the historic residences.

If you're looking for a museum in Vilnius to learn more about its sordid past during the Soviet era and its fight for independence, you can check out the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights as well. Another great museum to visit is the New Arsenal of the National Museum if you want to see some old artifacts. The museum, which honors the Lithuanians who were executed there during the Soviet era, was constructed inside an old KGB headquarters and prison. The museum is open every week from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 9 PM for a 6 EUR entrance fee.

There are many amazing architectures to see in Vilnius but one of the most impressive ones out there is St. Anne's Church. It is unclear exactly who is the genius architect behind St. Anne, although theories point to Michael Enkinger—an architect of a church of the same name in Warsaw— or Benedikt Rejt. What is clear is that St. Anne is a stunning example of Gothic architecture, using dramatic archways, a symmetrical facade, and ornate pillars.

The main facade of St. Anne's Church is one of the most striking features of the church and it is one of the greatest examples of the Flamboyant Gothic architectural style that utilizes the traditional gothic elements and shapes you don't see in other architecture in the city. The place is open from 11 AM to 6 PM every day except Monday and the best part is, it is free to enter.

Another impressive church that you should definitely check out while you are in Vilnius is the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul located a little bit northeast of the city center. It is a Roman Catholic church built in the 17th Century and what makes this church stand out is its beautiful baroque style and the orange/yellow colored exterior which is such a contrast from what you will find inside.

Do not let the colorful exterior of the church fools you as the moment you walk inside, you will find yourself in an all-white nave filled with extremely detailed plain white sculptures and statues all over. The only objects that are not white are the wooden benches, the tiles, the main altar, and some of the murals on the walls and ceilings of the church which create a stark yet beautiful contrast that is hard to explain in words. The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul opens from 7 AM to 6:30 PM every day and it is free for anyone to enter.

The Republic of Užupis is a neighborhood in Vilnius that declared itself an independent republic with its own flag and constitution back in 1998 and it has since been a place for young creatives and artists to congregate and hang out. The history before its bohemian uprising is much darker however as the area used to house most of the Jewish population who were killed during the Holocaust and it became one of the most neglected areas in the city up until Lithuania's declaration of independence where the younger generation and creatives breath new life into it.

It is now a terrific area to take a stroll and observe what the younger generations of Lithuania are getting up to. The Angel of Uzupis is one of the city's most significant icons, and you may frequently join walking tours to learn more about this bohemian sanctuary. Additionally, there are a ton of hip cafes, eateries, art galleries, and other places where you may indulge your creative side. If you happen to be in Vilnius and have some free time, stop by here and enjoy all the artistic pursuits the Republic of Uzupis has to offer.

Built-in the 16th Century, the Gates of Dawn is the only surviving gate out of all 10 gates of the old Vilnius defensive wall. It marks where the old town of Vilnius begins making it a great place to start your exploration. From inside the city's wall, you will see a stunning painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy right at the top of the gate which is considered to be one of the most famous Renaissance paintings in the entire country.

As you continue north, you will find another impressive Catholic church, the Church of St. Theresa towering over you which is also worth a visit. You will also find the Holy Trinity Church & Basilian Gate and Church of St. Casimir, Vilnius which are worth a visit in themselves. Basically, there is a ton of beautiful architecture to see in Vilnius Old Town and if you would like to see them all, you should start at the Gates of Dawn and make your way up north from there.

For the best sunset spot and a viewpoint to see the stunning nightscape of Vilnius, it has to be at the Three Crosses Monument, a hill behind Vilnius Cathedral that you can climb. The Three Crosses Monument was built on top of the old wooden cross-site that was erected way back in the 17th Century and became an integral part of the city until it was taken down by the Soviets. The city reconstructed it after gaining independence to remind itself of the dark past during the Soviet reign.

As it turns out, it is also a great viewpoint to see the unobstructed skyline of Vilnius and it is one of the popular places for locals to hang out at sunset. The hill is pretty easy to climb and it should take no longer than 20 minutes to walk up. The best time to climb is right before sunset and make sure to stay until the blue hours to see the city lights up.

Last but not least, if you are looking for a day trip to do from Vilnius, one of the most popular trips to do is to visit the Hill of Crosses, a sight pilgrimage located in Northern Lithuania. As the name suggested, the Hill of Crosses is a hill full of crosses, crucifixes, statues, and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries left by Catholic pilgrims from all over the country.

How many crosses are there, you asked? Well, approximately speaking, it is said that there are more than 100,000 crosses up here. With the tour, you will also be able to learn more about the history of the hill and why the hill became such an important pilgrimage site for Catholics. Since it is a little far, you should go with an organized tour instead as you will be able to visit the place all in one day without having to worry about the logistics.