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Don't miss the special tribute to the legendary Georgian artist, Niko Pirosmani, as his masterpieces are reimagined with breathtaking holographic technology at HOLOSEUM ✨ , where art, technology, and culture converge in the heart of Tbilisi. You will step into a realm where light, movement, and music intertwine to create a unique experience that transcends traditional museums.

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Vibrant colors and cultural unity come alive in the bustling streets of Haji Lane, Little India, Singapore. Every corner tells a story of diversity and tradition, inviting you to explore a world of sights, sounds, and flavors.

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Places You Should See in Vilnius - Part 2 (2/6)

Welcome to the part 2 of Vilnius recommendations <3

1.6. Three Crosses (Trys Kryžiai) and Bernardine Park & (Bernardinų Sodas & Parkas) 

After you visit the Museum of Applied Arts and Design you can keep walking and take a right turn or you can walk through Bernardine Park to reach the hill. Bernardine Park & Garden is just in between Gediminas Hill and the Bernardine Monastery. Right next to the park flows Vilnelė River. Three Crosses see the whole city! I like to visit the place at the sunset. The crosses are located in the Kalnų parkas. 

1.7. Republic of Užupis ( Užupio Respublika)

The Republic of Užupis is an independent region in the center of Vilnius. The republic is quite unique. Don’t miss this must-see item when visiting Vilnius. Užupis proclaimed their independence in 1998. They are recognized by Lithuania and many other countries from the UK to Azerbaijan. Check their history here. The region is home to many art and design centers and streets are covered with great artwork and murals. I recommend entering Uzupio from Bernardinų Tiltas and getting out from Paupio Tiltas and visit these places and getting lost through the streets: 

Jonas Mekas Visual Arts Center, 

Bridge of Užupis (there is a pub near it and if you are lucky enough to find a seat, make sure to have a few drinks there) 

Angel of Užupis, 

Constitution of the Republic of Užupis. 

1.8. St. Anne’s Church & St. Francis of Assisi (Bernardine) Roman Catholic Church

St. Anne’s Church (Vilniaus Šv. Onos bažnyčia ) and St. Francis of Assisi (Bernardine) Roman Catholic Church ( Vilniaus šv. Pranciškaus Asyžiečio (Bernardinų) parapija) are located near each other and you can easily reach them from the Cathedral Square or Bernardine Park and even it is close to the Uzupis. I highly recommend visiting inside the churches as they are greatly decorated. But keep in mind that, even on weekdays there are ceremonies in churches; so please be respectful. 

Adam Bernard Mickiewicz is a national poet in Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus from Poland. Mickiewicz is not only a poet but also a dramatist, essayist, publicist, translator, and political activist. You can see his statue right next to the churches. 

1.9. Pilies Street (Pilies Gatve)

This street is one of the famous streets in Vilnius Old Town. It’s only 2 minutes walk away from the Vilnius Cathedral. When you enter the street you will see there local restaurants, great pubs, and souvenir stores. This street is perfect to dine and buy. You will understand what I mean when you see it. 

On the street, coming from the Cathedral side, there is a little shop called Flea Market on the left side. Even though most recognize the shop quickly due to the colorful and crowded sill but some pass by as they are busy with other things. I believe the place needs special recognition on the list. 

1.10. Gates of Dawn & The Church of St Theresa 

Gates of Dawn (Aušros vartai) is a city gate that used to be a part of Vilnius’s defensive wall in the 16th century. The gate contains a famous Renaissance: The Blessed Virgin Mary. The painting is worshipped by Catholics, Russian Orthodox, and Greek Orthodox. Therefore the gate is known to be a prayer point among many. 

If you walk down a bit towards the street you will find The Church of St Theresa (Vilniaus Šv. Teresės bažnyčia) dating back to the 16th century.

1.11. Church of St. Johns & The Bell Tower – Vilnius University

Vilnius University is one of the best universities in Vilnius and is the oldest university in the Baltic states. The university is centrally located and has hidden gems in it. 

Church of St. Johns as short or the “Church of St. Johns, St. John the Baptist and St. John the Apostle and Evangelist” is located in the old town in Vilnius University’s garden. The church is simply beautiful. The Bell Tower of St. John’s Church nearby offers one of the best panoramic views you can get in the city. Definitely go up! 

Vilnius University Library 

Vilnius University Library or VU Library as most refers dates back to the 16th Century and actually 9 nine years older than the university itself. Also, it is the oldest academic library not only in Vilnius but in Lithuania. The original art on the walls and ceilings is very well preserved. It gave me Harry Potter vibes a bit probably because I have never seen such a library with such art. 

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Missing summer - Montenegro

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Places You Should See in Vilnius - Part 1 (1/6)

When I first moved there in 2016, I had no idea about the city. As I lived in a metropolitan city all my life and wasn’t expecting to find much. Well, Vilnius proved me wrong. I was really surprised at how many different options there were in Vilnius to see.  Here is the first 5 places of 30 (actually 30+ish) places you should see in Vilnius.

Vilnius is the greenest capital of Europe and 3rd greenest capital in the world. You can imagine how gorgeous the city center is in between the forests and parks. Also, Vilnius old city is on the Unesco list of “World Heritage Journeys”. These two are a great combination and make Vilnius itself a must-see.

In this post, I will share some great attractions including castles, museums, parks, and others to see in Vilnius. If you are looking for Vilnius transportation, places to stay in Vilnius, local cuisine, cafes, restaurant, bars, souvenirs, I will have another great post dedicated to this. 

There are lots to see and do in Vilnius. I get really sad when I see the guided tours only give the city a half-day or a night stay. The below list has more than 30 items. As the city grows I am sure I will add more in the near future. I created a map with pins of locations of all places, you can find it at the end. 

1.1. Vilnius Cathedral & Bell Tower on Cathedral Square 

Vilnius Cathedral (Vilniaus Katedral) is located on the is just off the Cathedral Square (Katedros Aikštė) in the Old Town. It is the number one must-see in Vilnius. The building and the tower themselves are gorgeous. They also carry works of art dating from the 16th through the 19th centuries. Make sure to at least get a booklet about their history or join a free walking tour (or paid ones) to learn about them! 

Miracle Tile: Right near the bell tower, there is a special tile on the floor. It is called the Miracle Tile. To get your wishes done some step to the tile and spun around and others jump. Our guide told us to step on the tile, make a wish, and spin 3 times clockwise on it. Well, my wish came true so hope yours does too

1.2. Gediminas Castle Tower (Gedimino Pilies Bokštas) 

Another must-see item in Vilnius. The castle is as famous as the Vilnius Cathedral. Gediminas Castle Tower is the remaining part of the main castle in Vilnius. The observation deck provides amazing panorama views. There aren’t many tall buildings (except the Europa Business Center) in Vilnius center you will be able to get an open view of all city. If you want to, you can also go on top of the tower by paying a fee. The castle itself is located on a hill. The uphill road is recently renovated and easy to walk but if you are having difficulties you can use the funicular to go up and down to the hill. 

1.3. Gediminas Avenue (Gedimino Prospektas) & Nearby Places

Gediminas Avenue or the Gediminas street as we mostly use while speaking lies in front of Cathedral Square and is my favorite place to be in the whole city. The street is covered with great shops, cafes, restaurants, and parks. Yes, I said parks. 

You will spend a lot of time here and it feels good to walk down the street. The best part of the avenue is, in the afternoon the road is closed for the cars so pedestrians are free to walk on anywhere they want not only the pavement. 

1.3.1. Lithuanian National Drama Theater 

If you start walking from the Cathedral you will soon see the Lithuanian National Drama Theater on your left. It is easy to find it as the place has the Three Muses Sculpture. I hope the renovation will finish soon. 

1.3.2. Vincas Kudirka Square (Vinco Kudirkos Aikštė) 

This part is in the center of Gediminas Street. I love the park because you can sit on a bench and watch kids skating while listening to a live radio broadcast nearby. Also there is an underground parking lot under the park so it will be useful if you rent a car. 

1.3.3. Lucky Belly 

Across the Vincas Kudirka Square is the Vilniaus Gatve and a funny sculpture is located here. It is called the Lucky Belly. If you touch the belly, you can make a wish. After you make your wish, rub the belly a bit 

1.4. Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania & Monument to Grand Duke Gediminas

The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is located just in the Cathedral Square center and back of the Vilnius Cathedral. The architecture you will see is the recently renewed version of the building. In front of the palace, you will find the Monument to Grand Duke Gediminas. Grand Duke Gediminas had a vital role in Lithuanian history. He expanded the Lithuanian territories and Lithuania had golden times under him. Thus you will see his name a lot. If you visit the museum of the palace you will also have more detailed information about his times too. 

The museum inside has 4 different exhibitions. The exhibitions start from the first days of Lithuania and take up the history from political, cultural, and sociological perspectives. So many things to read, so much to learn. I was amazed. It took me 

more than half a day to complete all the exhibitions. Good thing you can go out and come back again with the same ticket. But I don’t know if it was only for the all exhibitions ticket or for all types. 

1.5. National Museum of Lithuania & Paminklas Karaliui Mindaugui status 

If you walk left from the Vilnius Cathedral instead of towards the Palace; you will see the National Museum of Lithuania. The museum is a historical state museum and consists of many material and artifact collections if you are interested. You

can check the prices here. The statue of King Mindaugas who is the first and last king of Lithuania is located just outside the museum. If you look up you can see the Gediminas Castle above the museum and the status. 

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At first glance, this photo may appear to be taken on an old film camera. The colors are rich and saturated, the lighting soft and warm. But in reality, this photo was captured on a smartphone. The way the phone decided to capture the light that day created a magical, almost dreamlike quality to the image

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Take a stroll through the colorful streets of Tallinn and you'll feel like you've stepped back in time to a world of whimsy and wonder. With each turn, you'll discover new delights for the eyes and soul. Come explore Tallinn and see why it's one of the most enchanting cities in Europe. 🌇👀📍

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Capturing the beauty of Vilnius cathedral during the golden hour with my trusty Fujifilm camera. The soft, warm light bathes this stunning piece of architecture, revealing its intricate details and breathtaking beauty. Simply magical! ✨

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Flower power takes over Betlemi Streets 🌸 Walking through the charming streets of Tbilisi, you can't help but be mesmerized by the explosion of colors that surrounds you. The same beautiful purple flowers that adorn buildings in Batumi have found their way here, creating a stunning contrast against the city's traditional architecture. And if you come down from Kartlis Deda - the Mother of Georgia, don't forget to raise your head and take in the magnificent view of the city

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Even on a rainy and cloudy day, beauty can still blossom 🌧️💜

This stunning white building in Batumi has been completely transformed by a sea of vibrant purple flowers. Every inch of the facade is covered, creating a magical sight that's impossible to ignore. 📷🌺🏢

The cool breeze only adds to the magical atmosphere, making it a truly unforgettable sight to behold. In the distance, you can also catch a glimpse of the iconic Alphabet Tower, standing tall and proud.

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Finding Beauty in the Rainy Days of Kaunas ☔️🌆 Even on the gloomiest of days, the charm of Kaunas' streets can't be denied. From the warm, dimly-lit stores to the stunning architecture that the rain can't dampen, this city has a mood all its own. 🌧️🏢

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Exploring Ankara's art and coffee scene 🎨☕ From the blue walls and canvases at the Russian Art House to the red rooftops near Samanpazari and views of the Ankara Castle, to the cozy and dimly lit atmosphere at Cafe Borges, every corner of this city has something unique to offer. Don't miss out on the not-so-hidden hidden gems!

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Enjoying stunning views of Istanbul from the roof terrace at Hostel Hust Lounge in Kadiköy. The iconic Haydarpasa Train Station stands proudly in the center of this incredible skyline. This city never ceases to amaze me! 🌇

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Not the best pizza but worth the view - Can Can Pizza @ VCUP , Vilnius Lithuania

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Happy late Valentine's day with a little time travel in Vilnius!

These photos - for me at least- give off all the Valentine's Day vibes. One of the photos captures a couple sitting and hugging by the riverbank while the colors of the sunset and the gentle flow of the river create a magical and intimate atmosphere that will transport you to another world.

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Immerse yourself in the lively and colorful atmosphere of Fabrika Hostel's outdoor space, located in the heart of Tbilisi's creative district. After a refreshing rain, the neon lights glow even brighter, casting a playful and vibrant energy. In the center of it all hangs a big disco ball, reflecting the lively spirit of the crowd. Despite my iPhone 13's camera not quite capturing the true essence of the moment, the creative energy of Fabrika Hostel can still be felt through these photos.

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A Guide for Tbilisi Restaurants and Bars

In 2016, there were hardly any good-looking restaurants in Tbilisi to eat or enjoy your time out as far as I remember. We walked around a lot until we found a burger place and the guys were so proud of themselves for being able to open such a place. Weird huh. This time I was so impressed with the variety and quantity of Tbilisi restaurants, cafes, and bars. Tbilisi was like heaven. We couldn’t decide which restaurants to try, which bars to crawl to, and which cafes to relax in. So we tried to at least have some snacks and drinks in most of them.

Mafshalia მაფშალია 

Location: 137 Davit Aghmashenebeli Ave, Tbilisi, Georgia 

Georgian cuisine is something I am familiar with. Also, I tried some restaurants in Tbilisi for Georgian cuisine in 2016. What I learned is you need to choose little places over known restaurants. Well, Mapshalia is also well known even though it is a small restaurant owned by a family due to their cheap, large portioned, delicious dishes. We waited for almost an hour before getting a table during dinner time. After finally sitting down, we ordered Megruli style khachapuri, chicken kharcho with nuts, cheese dumplings, and mchadi. We were going to order ghomi with cheese but the lady stopped us and told us it was enough for 2 people. 

The owners and servers only spoke a few words of English but they were kind enough to try and understand my broken Russian. If you decide to go there bring cash. Credit cards are not accepted, only cash. 

Hinkali Factory ხინკლის ფაბრიკა

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hinkalifactory/ 

Location: Various 

I love all kinds of dumplings and try them whenever possible. The first time we came there we went into a tourist restaurant near Meidani. We ordered each type of hinkals and none of them were good. They had thick uncooked skin, the insides were bad, were somehow oily. We became sick afterward and couldn’t really eat anything else for the next few days. So I was hesitant this time. My friends at the hostel told me the place I went to was the worst possible place you could try Georgian food and suggested I visit Hinkali Factory. 

We went to the Hinkali Factory on Pkhovi Street and ordered regular beef hinkal and pan-fried Asian filling hinkals. Also, mushroom chebureki cause I like chebureki a lot. The hinkals were amazing. They were thin, well-cooked, and juicy. The food went well with kompot which is a fruit-based drink. Not exactly juice because you boil and strain the fruits but it is light and fresh in the end. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the mushroom chebureki. The filling was too wet so the fried dough became soggy. Also, you could only taste coriander and no mushroom at all. The prices were fair and they take credit cards. 

Kazbegi Beer 

Website: http://www.kazbegi.com/ 

Location: 68a Dimitri Uznadze St, Tbilisi 0112, Georgia

Kazbegi is a local beer brand and this location is in between a store and serving hall. I took my friends there and they were shocked. The place looked like a canteen and there were only Georgian men at the tables. A total local place. No tourists at all. I enjoyed it much but I can agree the place is not for everybody. They serve snacks and fish plates as I have seen but we only ordered beer. The beer was good and cheap. 

8000 Vintages 

Website: https://8000vintages.ge/ 

Location: 60 Irakli Abashidze Street, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia (They have other locations as well, this is the one we went) 

8000 Vintages is a must-visit place if you are into wine. Well, I am allergic to wine but I still wanted to enjoy a good cheese plate while my friends are sipping their selection of wines. The inside was like a museum and I liked that a lot. Prices vary depending on your tasting wine but I can say they offer wines for every price range. 

Prinz Bar

Location: 37 Shota Rustaveli Ave, Tbilisi, Georgia 

If you have read my blog post on Tbilisi techno clubs and bars you may be familiar with the name Prinz Bar. The place is a vegan bar/kitchen by day and becomes a dance floor by night. The place is located on the first floor of an apartment. The entrance feels like you are entering someone’s home but the inside is really chill. I am amazed by their bbq burger made from fried oyster mushrooms. Definitely recommended. 

The only tip I can give is, that Google reviews say the Prinz Bar opens at 2 P.M. but doesn’t. So go there later. 

WU Shi 

Well, I need to tell you, Instagram made me visit this place. Their page came up as an ad in between stories. They had arcade games, playing hip-hop, and a selection of Japanese beer. So we went in, the games were there, we had fun. On the other hand, the sushi selection was really little and only basic ones had. I found the price to be expensive for the basics BUT the fish was really fresh and tasty. So I don’t regret it. For the Japanese beer, I couldn’t try any of them because they ran out of them when I visited. So if you are looking to enjoy sushi you can pay a visit. 

Art-Cafe Home 

Location: 18, lermontov 0105, Georgia

I also talked about Art-Cafe home in this post. I came there first in 2016 and it was summer. The weather was nice and sunny and we watched the sunset from their terrace. This time weather was cloudy and rainy from time to time and we went in before opening time (they were kind enough to take us in). Still, I enjoyed the terrace. We got some local dark beer and sat before moving on to visit another museum. They also have an art gallery and a dancefloor for parties. 

Canudos Ethnic Bar კანუდოს ეთნიკ ბარი 

Location: Mikheil Javakhishvili Str. 2 Samaia Square, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia

I like ethnic themed places so Canudos was a must visit for me. We went there after having a late lunch in Prinz so I haven’t tried anything except their fries. The garden is nice, interior is cool, price–performance ratio is a bit above other places but ok. Regular beer cost more than most of the places I went but it wasn’t an expensive place at all. 

Warszawa ვარშავა 

Location: 19 Aleksandr Pushkin St, Tbilisi, Georgia

Warszawa caught our eye while we were walking from Old Town Wall Ruins to Freedom Square. We decided to get a beer. People were standing outside, chatting. I realized it is a good place to make friends as everybody was talking in English at the time. Beer was regularly priced. 

Other Places 

I have went to a few other places other than the mentioned ones above. 

A bit outside the center

These two below are in a really far from the Tbilisi center. You need to pay a special effort to end up in this part of Tbilisi. Our main effort was to visit the Nutsubidze Skybridge. So I didn’t want to recommend them as usual places. If I weren’t to visit the bridge I would definitely pass them. 

Amra ამრა (7 Sandro Euli Street, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia): A great place to try Abkhazian – West Georgian food. We went there as one of my friend's family was from the region but he hadn't had the chance to try local food yet. Not budget friendly at all, also I found portions small but they offer a unique cuisine. I liked their adjika chicken (don’t remember the full name) 

Strada Sandro Euli სტრადა სანდრო ეული (7 Sandro Euli Street, Tbilisi 0186, Georgia) This restaurant is right near the Amra and we accidentally walked in while looking for Ambra and I liked the interior inside. If I had time I would try that place too 

For pub-crawling

Here are some other bars we went to during our self-guided pub-crawling: 

Bunker Bar (9 0105 Mikheil Lermontovi St, Tbilisi, Georgia) 

Rudeboy Bar Tbilisi (9 Shalva Dadiani St, Tbilisi, Georgia) 

World’s End Bar (Sololaki, 7 Shalva Dadiani St, Tbilisi 0105, Georgia) 

Ambavi ამბავი (12 Galaktion Tabidze St, Tbilisi 0105, Georgia) 

I don’t have much experience talking about any of them except Ambavi as we had only one drink in each and then went into another place. Typical pub crawling. I will talk about Ambavi in another post as the place had a dj when we went and I found it suitable to enjoy a night out. 

Well-known (but I passed)

These places are really well-known (also famous on Instagram), pricey but good quality: 

Cafe Stamba (14 Merab Kostava St, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia) 

The Kitchen (14 Merab Kostava St, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia) 

Lolita (7 Tamar Chovelidze St, Tbilisi, Georgia) 

Keto & Kote (3 მიხეილ ზანდუკელის ჩიხი, #3 თორაძის ჩიხი, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia) 

Salobie Bia (17 Shota Rustaveli Ave, Tbilisi, Georgia) 

PAUL Restaurant (3/5 Galaktion Tabidze St, Tbilisi, Georgia – also has other locations) 

Kikliko (28 Mtskheta St, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia) 

These places offer a full experience of food, specialty drinks, and interior altogether. Read the reviews on Google if you are interested in visiting any of them and check prices beforehand. Also, don’t get surprised as the Cafe Stamba

and The Kitchen has the same address. As I mentioned above they are within two hotels located near each other. 

Wanted to visit but couldn’t

And these are the places I wanted to try but either I was too full or had other plans and didn’t have time to visit later. Note: they are not budget-friendly at all. 

Restaurants: 

Klike’s Khinkali Restaurant (#1 Shio Chitadze St, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia) 

Grafika გრაფიკა (5 Mikheil Lermontovi St, Tbilisi 0105, Georgia) 

Old City Wall Restaurant ძველი ქალაქის გალავანი (2 Shota Nishnianidze St, Tbilisi, Georgia ) 

Weller (56 Egnate Ninoshvili St, Tbilisi 0112, Georgia) 

Café Littera კაფე ლიტერა (13 Ivane Machabeli St, Tbilisi, Georgia) 

Cafes: 

Plantloverstbilisi (4a Niaghvari St, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia ) 

Shukura შუქურა (49 Irakli Abashidze Street, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia ) 

Pin Pon Cafe პინ პონ (13 Lado Asatiani St, Tbilisi 0105, Georgia) 

For Drinking Out: 

Tsota Tsota Craft Beer Pub (7/20 Geronti Kikodze St, Tbilisi, Georgia) 

Dirty habit Bar (9 Geronti Kikodze St, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia) 

Wine Factory N1 ღვინის ქარხანა N1 (1 Vasil Petriashvili Street, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia)