Vilnius Museums

The city of Vilnius is one of the most frequently visited cities of Eastern Europe. It has more than sixty different museums in its account - museums of art, nature, architecture, history, science, theatre, music, cinema, literature and memorial museums. Some of them are the best places to enjoy an impressive panorama of the city. The following is a short list of "must-visit" museums in Vilnius.

National Museum of Lithuania

The National Museum of Lithuania is the largest depository of the Lithuanian historical heritage. At the same time it is the oldest museum of Lithuania, with its roots in the Vilnius Museum of Antiquities established in 1855. The Museum and the main expositions of the National Museum of Lithuania are located in the historical centre of Vilnius, in the buildings within the territory of Vilnius Castles. Expositions and thematic exhibitions introduce the audience to Lithuanian archaeology, history and ethnic culture.

Source: National Museum of Lithuania website

The Television Tower

The Television Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Eastern Europe. It is 326,5 metres high. A photographic exhibition devoted to fourteen unarmed civilians who were killed during the tragic events of 13 January 1991 is mounted on the ground floor. The tower is open to visitors: a lift takes them in 45 seconds up to an observation platform. There is a café, and viewers can appreciate a spectacular view of Vilnius and even of the panorama of the surrounding countryside within the radius of 50 kilometres. Source: Vilnius Tourism

Source: The Television Tower website

The Museum of Genocide Victims

It was established in the building where plans for deportations and the arrests of peaceful inhabitants, the persecution of opponents and the suppression of the resistance were devised and carried out by Soviet institutions between 1940 and 1991. Set up in the former KGB headquarters, the museum is the only one of its kind in the former Soviet republics. 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.

Source: The Museum of Genocide Victims website

Amber Museum-Gallery

There is quite a lot to know about amber. Did you know that there is even black amber out there? In the Museum you can find exhibitions of the works of artists working with amber as well as see the ceramics baking shop. Explore the morphology of amber and maybe even buy a little piece of amber jewellery there.

Source: Amber Museum-Gallery website

Lithuanian Railway Museum

The museum has stored up over 3500 pieces of various exhibits, depicting the history of Lithuanian railways starting from the XIXth century till our days. Exposition is presented in two halls. Hall 1 gives an overview of the Lithuanian Railways in the XIXth - XXth century. Hall 2 continues where Hall 1 left off – from 1918 to the present days. All kinds of excursions, lectures are delivered for the visitors of the museum.

Source: Lithuanian Railway Museum website

Kazys Varnelis House-Museum

The museum contains collections of antique paintings, prints, sculptures, furniture, maps, books as well as works by Kazys Varnelis. During his fifty years in the US (1949 - 1998) Kazys Varnelis became renowned for his paintings of optical and three dimensional illusions based on geometric abstractions and minimal forms. Unity between old architecture with gothic vaults, antique furniture, old maps, prints, sculptures and modern paintings by Kazys Varnelis forms a unique ensemble which makes this museum attractive and original.

Source: Kazys Varnelis House-Museum website

Museum of Applied Art

The museum is housed in the old Arsenal at the foot of Gediminas Hill. This striking white building was built in the early 17th century in the renaissance style on the site of the former city wall, part of which can be seen in the basement. At the present time articles of Lithuanian folk sacral art, works of sacral art, icons of Old Believers, Orthodox Believers and Uniates, as well as metal ware are exhibited at the Museum.

Source: Museum of Applied Art website

Radvilos Palace

The Radvilos Palace was built at the end of the 17th century and was one of the most beautiful buildings in Vilnius. The Radvilos had so much wealth and collections of art that they could easily compete with the Court. Unfortunately, it was devastated by the war with Russia in 1654, wars of the 18th century and also raging fires. In 1967 restoration of the Palace started. At the present time different exhibitions are mounted at Radvilos Palace, visitors can see portraits of the Radvilos family and become acquainted with the story of its life.

Source: Radvilos Palace website

Signatory's House

It is a historical building where the deed on restoration of the independent state of Lithuania was signed on February 16, 1918. The Museum’s exposition represents the history of Lithuania’s statehood, circumstances under which the deed on Independence of Lithuania and the deed on Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence as of March 11, 1991 were executed, their background and Signatories’ activities.

Source: Signatory's House website

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.

Source: Gediminas' Tower website