Visit Vilnius!

Mayor: Juozas Imbrasas (2007-)

Population: 554,400 (Vilnius County 847,754)

Total municipal area: 154.8 sq miles

Time: GMT+2 (DST GMT+3)

Currency: Litas LTL, 1 LTL = 100 centas

Phone Area Code: 370-5-xxxxxx

Airport: Vilnius International Airport VNO (Vilniaus Oro Uostas)

Climate: In-between continental and maritime climate the average temperature in January is -4.9°C and in July +17°C.

- Gediminas avenue!
Gedimino prospektas (Gediminas' Avenue, Prospect) is the main street of Vilnius. It runs from the Zvrynas Bridge (over the Neris River) to Sventaragio Street (Cathedral Square). This street was formed in 1836 as Sv. Georgijaus / Sv. Jurgio (St George's) Prospect. While Vilnius was under Polish occupation (1920-1939) it was called Adomo Mickeviciaus Street (in Polish - 'ulica Mickiewicza'). During the Soviet régime it was renamed Lenin's Prospect, but from 1989 it has been known by its present name of Gediminas' Prospect. Along this street one finds the important national institutions of the Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania and the National Martynas Mazvydas Library, as well as banks, hotels, luxurious shops, restaurants and cafés.

- Gediminas' Tower
The Vilnius Castle Museum was opened in 1960, and in 1968 it became a subdivision of the Lithuanian National Museum. The exposition of the Vilnius Castle Museum displays reconstruction models of Vilnius castles of the second part of the 14th and the beginning of the 17th centuries, armament, iconographic material of old Vilnius. An observation deck on the top of the tower is the best place from which to appreciate a magnificent panorama of Vilnius.

- Funicular
In 2003, a funicular railway started operating in Vilnius, which takes people from the foot of Gediminas Hill to the top. It takes 35 seconds for the funicular railway to cover a 71-meter long distance, and the entire ascending process, including getting on and off the funicular, takes about one minute. The train accommodates as many as 16 people at any one time. While going up you can see beautiful vistas of the city along with the River Neris. The railway is a great help to elderly people and parents with small children. It starts its journey up from the only closed yard of the National Museum, which you can access from the River Neris side. The tickets cost: adults - 2 Litas, students and schoolchildren - 1 Litas. Children under 10 years of age and senior citizens are free. The same ticket is valid for the
return journey.

- National Museum of Lithuania
The Museum houses main collections of archaeology, history and ethnic culture of Lithuania. It is situated in the historical centre of Lithuania - in the buildings of the Vilnius Castle complex. Today the Museum has over 998 thousand exhibits. It organises expeditions of ethnic culture researchers and historians, carries out archaeological excavations. More than half the exhibits of the museums of Lithuania to be restored, are restored at the Restoration Centre. There is a specialised library and the archive at the Museum. Expositions of archaeology, history, ethnic culture and thematic exhibitions illustrate the development of history and culture of Lithuania. More than 250 thousand people visit the Museum every year. The Museum has guided tours.

- St Catherine's Church
The church of Saint Catherine is the first church to have been extensively restored since Lithuania regained its independence. The church was substantially renovated, with complex restoration work being performed on the interior. The central altar of the church was fully refurbished. In 2006 the Vilnius City Municipality transferred the right of administration of Saint Catherine's churchto the "Vilnius Teachers' House" organisation. The central nave of the church of Saint Catherine is ideal for concerts. The acoustics are excellent, and the venue is used for cultural events, as well as for rehearsals and concerts of the Sv. Kristoforo kamerinis orkestras (Saint Christopher's Chamber Orchestra), the choir "Jauna muzika" ("Young Music"), the boys' and young people's choir "Azuoliukas" ("Little Oak") and other artistic collectives and performers.

- The Amber Museum
The Museum was founded in 1988. The exhibits on display at the Amber Museum-Gallery tell visitors about the morphology of amber. It is revealed in the exhibits of various sizes, forms and colour. The unique collection of inclusions and the reconstruction of Juodkran treasure are on display here. Visitors can also see the ceramics baking shop of the end of the 15th century found in the basement of the Museum, authentic earthenware. Exhibitions of the works of artists working with amber are constantly held at the Gallery. One can also buy amber jewellery of modern and classical design here.

- The Museum of Genocide Victims
The Museum of Genocide Victims was founded in 1992. This is the only museum of this kind in the Baltic States founded in the same building where Soviet repressive institutions of NKVD and NKGB-MGB-KGB operated from the second half of 1940 right to August of 1991. The basement of the building houses the inside prison-isolator (special prison in the USSR for political detainees and espionage suspects) in which Lithuanian residents who were in disfavour with the occupation authorities were imprisoned from
the autumn of 1940 right to 1987.

Visitors can become acquainted with the exposition mounted in the place were death sentences were carried out. The former office of the Deputy Chief of the MGB (KGB) inside the prison, located on the ground floor of the Museum, displays documents, photographs, maps and other things showing the process of sovietisation of the country in 1940-1941. The exhibition devoted to the guerrilla war in 1944-1953 will acquaint the visitors with the territorial structure of partisan formations and military organisation, aspirations of fighters for freedom, their everyday life and activities. The exposition Nelygi kova (Unequal struggle) reveals the NKVD-NKGB struggle against armed resistance. At the present time the expositions: Lithuanians in the GULAG: 1944-1956 and Deportations: 1944-1953 are being completed to be mounted on the first floor of the Museum.

On 28 October 2008, Vilnius is introducing the national programme "Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009" with nearly 120 unique projects, more than 900 events and the message to the world: Vilnius - European capital of culture opens the gate to the country which celebrates its name millennium.
"Next year is 365 important steps to create a new experience of European culture in Vilnius. In 2009, many places in Vilnius will feature international projects affecting many daily lives. The prestigious status of European capital of culture is the excellent opportunity to change ourselves and others. We'll try to make use of all opportunities and to show Vilnius as a lively city open to people and to new initiatives," says Elona Bajorinien%u0117, Director of PI Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009.