A magical Christmas in Vilnius: an interactive holiday map will show the most unexpected places in the capital

Christmas fairs, decorations, and various forms of entertainment in Vilnius are expanding, and this year they have spread from the city centre to the rest of the capital and have become part of the most festive map so far. From unique gastronomic experiences and artists’ workshops to fragrant fairs and gift towns, Vilnius residents and visitors are invited to experience the uplifting atmosphere of a winter city.

An interactive digital map created by Go Vilnius, a business and tourism development agency in Vilnius, will show the way to over 70 festive sites. The map, which is now available in four languages (Lithuanian, English, German, and Polish), can be accessed at www.govilnius.lt/kaledos-vilniuje-2024.

Christmas elves will be working all over the city

The celebrations in the capital at the end of the year will kick off with the lighting of the Christmas tree and the opening of the Christmas Town in the Cathedral Square this Friday, the 29th of November. Discovering an unexpectedly magical Vilnius instead of staying home during the darkest time of the year in the capital will be possible for over a month.

A spectacular ice-skating rink will be waiting in the Town Hall Square, a Christmas train will be running along Pilies Street, and cafés and food fairs in the Old Town will be offering hot Christmas drinks and delicious sweets. Among other attractions, Vilnius residents and visitors will be able to try cranberry-flavoured potato dumplings or flavourful berry kvass cocktails as they wander the streets of the Old Town.

The best way to feel part of the festivities is to get involved, which is why there are also fun activities for children and adults. A jumper workshop will be open in Naujamiestis, inviting people to create unique Christmas jumpers of different designs, and a gourmet experience fair will be held for two weekends on the premises of Lukiškės Prison: food vendors, tastings, live music performances, and dancing. In addition, the hottest sauna in Vilnius will be open here.

Santa Claus will be waiting in an unexpected place

Meeting Santa Claus will be possible not only in the centre of Vilnius as his magical workshop train will be located at the Railway Park, in Pelesos Street.  He will also stop by Vilnius Railway Station, where two unique fairs will be waiting.  According to Džiuginta Daujotaitė, Head of Railway Station Development at LTG Infra, the holidays begin with a trip home, and this Christmas is the beginning of a long journey towards the fulfilment of the vision of stations filled with art and culture.

“Together with our partners, we will fill this unusual place in the heart of Vilnius with the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Santa Claus will listen to children’s wishes, Christmas Grandma will invite them to bake cookies, interactive performances will enchant and amaze, and there will be a space with live musical performances. It will be a cultural experience where Lithuanian creators will present their handmade gifts and hold workshops,” says D. Daujotaitė.

Activities for families will also be offered by Draught Alley Christmas in the heart of Užupis. Jonas Mekas Draught Alley promises magical moments where light, creativity, and fragrant moments will allow people to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. Here, everyone will discover cosy activities, unique gifts, and lots of holiday cheer.

From a lecture on glassblowing to fairs in unique spaces

Christmas tree decorations are not just bubbles or animal figurines: glass artist Algė Julija will reveal the secrets of glassblowing to everyone who registers for the lecture on the 5th of December and explain why even cucumbers are used to decorate Christmas trees. The following weekend in December, she will invite people to enjoy Christmas delicacies with natural essential oils and buy gifts for their loved ones.

And on the 29th and the 30th of November, the historic Writers’ Union Hall will host a fair for the works of exclusively Lithuanian creators, attracting the country’s exceptional talents. The Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library also promises a true Christmas miracle, with Santa Claus’ residence, Elves’ Workshop, Santa’s Post Office, exciting games, dances, and competitions. Those who long for musical performances should also visit the exhibition space of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association (Vokiečių Street 4), where the New Opera Studio will invite people to wait for Christmas in a creative way, by enjoying musical performances and installations.

Vilnius is the city of winter holidays at an international level

Thanks to its unique decoration traditions and entertainment offerings, Vilnius has become an attractive winter holiday destination for people from all over Lithuania as well as tourists from different countries. The capital’s efforts have been recognised with the prestigious title of European Christmas Capital 2025.

According to Vilma Daubarienė, Head of Tourism at the business and tourism development agency Go Vilnius, this is a merit of the entire city community: businesses, hotels, restaurants, and cultural institutions all work hard every year to make Vilnius interesting to the world.

“Every year during the holiday season, Vilnius receives around 100,000 tourists. The original ideas that we have implemented together delight Vilnius residents as well as visitors from other Lithuanian cities and abroad. We invite everyone who wants to experience the spirit of Christmas in the capital to visit the magical Christmas locations in Vilnius by using the interactive map that we have created,”  says V. Daubarienė.

Most of the capital’s Christmas locations are marked by red sleighs, the same ones that Santa Claus uses to visit those looking forward to the holidays. The sleighs will feature festive visuals with QR codes leading to a digital map of the city or an unexpected adventure in Vilnius.

Go Vilnius also invites people not to miss the opportunity to take a photo in the Vilnius Tourism Information Centre’s (Pilies Street 7) display window, which has been transformed into a festively decorated frame. To create a festive mood for tourists, they will be invited to send Christmas cards to friends and family members in their home countries and help decorate the Christmas tree. In addition, visitors to the Vilnius TIC will be able to take part in educational activities to learn more about Lithuanian holiday traditions.