- Most Popular!
- 3 hours Duration 3 hours
- Food, Activity Type Food Culture Activity Type Culture
With a fascinating fusion of Jewish, Polish, Italian, and Russian influences, Vilnius is a cultural feast of architectural and culinary proportions.
Tour Highlights
- Visit two vibrant local Christmas markets, a traditional craft shop, and a beloved family-owned restaurant.
- Learn how to make the most ancient and traditional Lithuanian Christmas Eve dish — poppy seed milk with traditional ‘yeasted cookies’ — and have a taste, too.
- Shop for authentic gifts and souvenirs such as bees bread, knitted gloves, linen bags, incense, herbal tea and lots more, with a local by your side.
- Learn about old Soviet-era Christmas traditions and how they stack up to today’s modern approach to the festive season.
- Admire (arguably) Europe’s most beautiful Christmas tree and discover the history behind decorative Christmas trees in Lithuania.
Traditional Lithuanian Christmas Tour
Unlock the secrets of a traditional Lithuanian Christmas on this very special pop-up tour. Explore the city’s bustling Christmas markets, learn about its unique pagan festive traditions, try traditional yuletide treats and shop for authentic Christmas trinkets and gifts for friends and loved ones. Linksmų Šv. Kalėdų! (that’s Merry Christmas in Lithuanian if you hadn’t guessed already).
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- On this tour, you will not only visit two Christmas markets, but also a workshop where artisans preserve and honour longstanding traditions of producing Lithuanian crafts, which represent a centuries-old cultural heritage.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, one sample of traditional drink at the market, poppy seed milk with kūčiukai (cookies), one edible gift.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Meeting point: By the steps into Vilnius Town Hall. View on Google Maps.
- Starting time: 2.00 PM
- Ending point: Christmas market, Cathedral square.
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Meet your guide next to the Christmas tree outside the Town Hall to begin your Vilnius Christmas adventure.
We’ll start with a cranberry pap or strong apple juice to welcome you to our city. Then we’ll wander around the vibrant Christmas market in the old town, admiring the handicraft stalls and pretty light illuminations, chatting about Lithuanian Christmas traditions.
A charming old crafts store is next on our yuletide agenda, where we will learn about Lithuanian Christmas spells (and cast a few of our own) and about the types of festive decorations preferred by locals, hopefully discovering some artisan secrets of the trade as we go.
Feeling peckish? Immerse yourself in a traditional poppy seed milk-making session at a family-owned restaurant and find out about the many traditions that surround Christmas Eve dinner in Lithuania. Together we’ll taste the milk with kūčiukai — small crunchy cookies made of yeasted dough with poppy seeds. As we munch, you’ll learn some Lithuanian words and how to pronounce them, to help you navigate the city.
Next up, we’ll pop into an authentic (and tiny) Baltic ethno shop to see, touch and smell their locally made incense sticks and candles, plus lots of other unique goodies that make for wonderful and unique Christmas presents for friends and family back home.
We’ll visit the most beautiful and brightest Christmas tree in the heart of the city and as we gaze up in wonder, your guide will tell stories about all things December 25th in Vilnius and the rest of Lithuania — when did it all begin, how the trees are/were decorated, old traditions versus new, etc. Hopefully, you’ll be well and truly feeling the Christmas spirit by now.
We’ll hit another Christmas market now, chatting to friendly vendors and trying the special Christmas treats. If you’re interested in purchasing anything, your guide can help with the all-important bargaining process!
Your tour will end at the last Christmas market stop, hopefully with you and your party in full Christmas swing, feeling festive and singing Christmas carols! Your guide will give you a small, edible Christmas gift to take home because it wouldn’t be Christmas without gift-giving! Feel free to continue to wander around the market or your guide can advise on the best way to get back to your accommodation. Before you go, don’t forget to ask for more tips on what else to see, do and eat while you’re in town.
Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, one sample of traditional drink at the market, poppy seed milk with kūčiukai (cookies), one edible gift.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Please wrap up warm and bring an umbrella or plastic raincoat if the weather forecast shows rain.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Closure of sites: If any of the spots we normally visit are closed, we will find an alternate but equally awesome place to take you to.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
Dietary Notes
This tour can accommodate dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance of your dietary needs. You can do so in the ‘Additional information’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at [email protected].
Local contact
Office phone number: +370 616 20002 or +370 616 20007
Email address: [email protected]