Vilnius is one of the easiest cities in Europe to choose a base in, because almost everything you’ll want to see sits inside an Old Town you can cross on foot in about half an hour. The harder part is the cobblestones. Some streets are smooth, some are round river stones set at odd heights, and if you’re dragging a suitcase or your knees complain on uneven ground, a hotel five minutes closer to the action makes a real difference. This guide covers the best neighborhoods for a first visit, then our hotel picks area by area, from a Baroque palace near Town Hall to a quiet former monastery by the Gates of Dawn.

When my sister Laurie and I visited in October, we booked a two-bedroom apartment through Booking.com because it was cheaper than getting a hotel. It turned out to be one of the best places we’ve stayed in years. We were on the top floor of an old building, with beautiful antique furniture, plenty of space and a view toward Gediminas Tower. Laurie was particularly impressed with how clean everything was.

The location was excellent, too. We were near the Presidential Palace and Pilies Street, with restaurants, shops and the main sights within walking distance. There was even a grocery store nearby, which came in handy when we didn’t feel like going out for dinner.

I’d happily stay in that part of Old Town again. But there are other areas worth considering, depending on your budget and whether you’d rather stay somewhere quieter or in a more modern hotel.

Here’s where I’d look for a hotel or apartment in Vilnius.

Quick Picks: Best Hotels in Vilnius

1. Hotel PACAI, best for a stay in a restored Baroque palace
2. Grand Hotel Vilnius, Curio Collection by Hilton, best for views of Cathedral Square
3. Artagonist Art Hotel, best for art lovers who want to be in the middle of Old Town
4. Hotel Vilnia, best for easy access to Užupis
5. Shakespeare Boutique Hotel, best for book lovers and a quieter corner of Old Town
6. Domus Maria, best for an affordable stay in a former monastery

Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Vilnius

For a first trip, stay in Old Town or right on its edge. Vilnius is compact, and the further out you go, the more of your day goes to getting back in. Here’s how the main areas compare.

Old Town (Senamiestis)

This is where we stayed, and it’s where I’d send anyone visiting for the first time. The whole historic center is a UNESCO site, and the cathedral, Pilies Street, the university, the Jewish Quarter and the Town Hall are all within a 10 to 15 minute walk of each other. The northern end around Cathedral Square and Pilies Street puts you closest to Gediminas Tower. The southern end near the Gates of Dawn is quieter and a little cheaper. Weekend nights can be loud around Vokiečių Street, so ask for a courtyard room if you’re a light sleeper.

Best for: First-time visitors, short stays and anyone who wants to walk everywhere.

Užupis and Paupys

Užupis, the artists’ “republic,” sits just across the Vilnia River from Old Town, and Paupys is the new development next to it along the river, home to Paupys Market food hall. It can be quieter than the busier parts of Old Town and full of galleries, studios and cafés, and you’re about 10 minutes on foot from Cathedral Square. Most of what you’ll find to stay in here is apartments rather than hotels, and the streets are hilly and cobbled.

Best for: Return visitors, longer stays and anyone who’d rather sleep somewhere calmer.

Gediminas Avenue and the City Center

Gediminas Avenue runs west from Cathedral Square and is the main boulevard of modern Vilnius, with shops, restaurants and big-name hotels. It’s flatter and easier with luggage than Old Town, and you’re still a short walk from the cathedral. It doesn’t have the atmosphere of the old streets, but it’s practical.

Best for: Travelers who want smooth sidewalks, chain-hotel reliability and good transport links.

Across the River (Šnipiškės)

Across the Neris River from Old Town, the skyline turns into glass towers. This is the business district, and the hotels here are big and modern, often with views back across the river to Old Town. From the top of Gediminas Tower you can see how different the two sides of the city are. Depending on where you stay, it can be a 15 to 20-minute walk to Cathedral Square.

Best for: Views, business travelers and good-value rooms in modern buildings.

Best Hotels Near Cathedral Square and Pilies Street

This is the north end of Old Town, closest to Gediminas Tower and the funicular, and it’s the area where we stayed. You’re a few minutes from the cathedral, the university and the shops on Pilies Street.

1. Grand Hotel Vilnius, Curio Collection by Hilton ($$$): Formerly the Kempinski, this hotel sits on the corner of Cathedral Square in a restored historic building. Some rooms and suites look straight out at the cathedral and bell tower. You’re steps from the Gediminas statue, Pilies Street and the funicular up to the tower.
2. Narutis Hotel ($$$): One of the oldest surviving houses on Pilies Street, with original frescoes in some rooms and corridors. Breakfast is served in a vaulted cellar, and there’s a small wellness area. Room layouts vary because of the age of the building. It’s a great base if you want to be on the main street, a few minutes from the cathedral.
3. Artagonist Art Hotel ($$): Each room was designed with work by a different Lithuanian artist, which fits Vilnius perfectly, since there’s art on every other wall in this city. It’s in Old Town between Cathedral Square and Town Hall, with soundproofed rooms and heated floors. Some bathrooms are glass-walled, so check if that matters to you. My pick for anyone who wants a hotel with personality right in the middle of things.
4. Novotel Vilnius Centre ($$): A reliable chain hotel on Gediminas Avenue, a few minutes’ walk from Cathedral Square. Higher-floor rooms look out toward the cathedral, the castle hill and Old Town. There’s nothing historic about it, but the sidewalks around it are flat and smooth, which matters if you’re traveling with luggage or have mobility concerns.

Best Hotels in the Southern Old Town

From Town Hall Square down to the Gates of Dawn, this end of Old Town takes in the old Jewish Quarter and the Portal. It’s a little quieter than Pilies Street and has both the grandest hotel in the city and its best bargain.

1. Hotel PACAI ($$$): A 17th-century Baroque palace on Didžioji Street that belonged to the powerful Pac family, now a design hotel. The restoration kept vaulted ceilings and old frescoes and paired them with clean Nordic interiors, so it feels historic without being stuffy. There’s a spa in the old cellars and an inner courtyard. If you want one big splurge in Vilnius, this is it.
2. Radisson Collection Astorija Hotel ($$$): A Baroque building on Didžioji Street near Town Hall Square, recently renovated under Radisson’s upscale Collection brand. Some rooms look toward St. Casimir’s Church, and there’s an indoor pool and spa. It’s a few minutes from the Portal and the Jewish Quarter. Street-facing rooms can be noisy on weekends, so courtyard rooms are the safer bet.
3. Stikliai Hotel ($$$): Probably the best-known hotel in Old Town, on Gaono Street in the old Glass Quarter, right in the streets of the former Jewish Quarter. It’s classic rather than modern, with antique furniture, a glass-roofed breakfast room, an indoor pool and a well-regarded restaurant. The street out front is cobbled, so ask for help with bags if you need it. A good pick for travelers who like traditional, old-world hotels.
4. Imperial Hotel & Restaurant ($$): Traditional, fairly formal interiors in the quieter southern part of Old Town, near the Gates of Dawn. There’s a spa area, a gym and a restaurant people book for its own sake. Breakfast is extra and not cheap, so compare rates with and without it. A good choice if you like classic hotels and don’t mind being a 15-minute walk from Cathedral Square.
5. Domus Maria ($): A guesthouse in a former monastery right next to the Gates of Dawn, with vaulted corridors and inner courtyards. It’s very quiet, the location is excellent for the southern end of Old Town and there’s secure parking. The trade-offs are simple rooms, thin walls and no air conditioning, which matters less in the cooler months. It’s the best value-for-history pick in the city.

Best Hotels Near Užupis and the Bernardine Garden

The eastern edge of Old Town, around St. Anne’s and the Bernardine Garden, is the calmest part of the center. Užupis is a short walk over the bridge, and you’re still about 10 minutes from Cathedral Square.

1. Hotel Vilnia ($$): A 19th-century building on Maironio Street, directly across from St. Anne’s Church and the Bernardine Church. It’s the closest hotel on this list to Užupis, a short walk over the bridge. Reviews praise the beds and showers more than the breakfast. Good for anyone who plans to spend a lot of time on the Užupis side.
2. Shakespeare Boutique Hotel ($$): A literary-themed hotel on Bernardinų Street, next to the Bernardine Garden, with rooms named after writers, antique furniture and a small library. It’s on a quieter street in the eastern part of Old Town and has private parking, which is rare here. After seeing how much Vilnius honors its writers on Literatų Street, this one felt like it belonged on the list.
3. Mabre Residence ($): On Maironio Street on the eastern edge of Old Town, close to St. Anne’s and the bridge into Užupis. Rates are often well below the hotels a few streets over. A solid choice if you want to be within walking distance of everything without paying Pilies Street prices.

Best Hotels Across the River and in New Town

Outside Old Town you get modern buildings, flatter sidewalks and lower prices, with a 10 to 20 minute walk to the cathedral. Good for views, early trains or a tighter budget.

1. Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva ($$): The big tower across the Neris River, with views back over Old Town from the upper floors and a bar on the 22nd floor. It’s a business hotel, and it’s 15 to 20 minutes on foot to the cathedral, but if you want to see the whole city laid out at sunset, book a high floor facing south.
2. Comfort Hotel LT ($): A rock and roll themed hotel in Naujamiestis, about a 10 to 15 minute walk to Old Town and close to the train and bus stations. That makes it handy for a day trip to Trakai or an early departure. Rooms are simple, and there’s a gym, bar and breakfast buffet.

Know Before You Go: Booking Tips for Vilnius

Consider an apartment. Laurie and I booked a two-bedroom apartment in Old Town because it was less expensive than getting a hotel. We ended up with plenty of space, a kitchen and a great location. If you’re traveling with family or friends, it’s worth comparing apartment prices with hotels before booking.

Pay attention to cobblestones. Vilnius is a very walkable city, but some of those Old Town streets are rough on your feet, especially after a full day of sightseeing. If you’re traveling with heavy luggage, check how far you’ll need to walk from where your taxi can drop you off. Older buildings may not have elevators, either.

Check parking before booking. If you’re driving to Vilnius, don’t assume your hotel or apartment has parking. Some Old Town streets have restricted vehicle access, and you may need to use a nearby parking garage. Check with the property before you arrive.

Think about where you’ll spend your time. We spent most of our visit exploring Old Town, Užupis and the nearby sights, so staying centrally made sense. If you’re planning to visit the same places, I’d prioritize location over extra hotel amenities.

Book earlier for busy weekends. Vilnius has plenty of accommodation options, but I’d book ahead if you’re visiting during summer, a holiday weekend or a major event. That gives you more choice, particularly if you want to stay in Old Town.

Getting from the airport is easy. Vilnius Airport is relatively close to the city center, so you don’t need to choose an airport hotel for a typical sightseeing trip. Taxis and ride-hailing services are convenient options, especially if you have luggage.

FAQ About Hotels in Vilnius

Where I’d Stay in Vilnius Again

If I went back to Vilnius, I’d look for another apartment in Old Town, preferably near the Presidential Palace and Pilies Street. Laurie and I loved being able to walk almost everywhere, and having a kitchen and extra space made the trip even better.

If I were booking a hotel, I’d start in that same area. There are some beautiful historic hotels around Cathedral Square and Pilies Street, and you’d be close to most of the places you’ll want to visit.

I’d also consider staying near Bernardine Garden or Užupis. We really enjoyed exploring that side of the city, and it would be a nice alternative to staying right in the center of Old Town.

For me, location would be the deciding factor. Vilnius is a great city to explore on foot, and being able to walk out the door and start exploring is worth a lot.

Planning More Travel

If you’re planning a trip to Lithuania, start with our Vilnius Travel Guide for the sights we visited, what we enjoyed and practical tips from our trip.

You can also read our guides to Where to Eat in Vilnius and One Day in Vilnius to help plan your visit.

And if you’d rather hear about the trip, listen to our Vilnius episodes of thegetAwayZ European Travel Podcast.

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