The legend of Vilnius

Today Vilnius is 700 years old. Legend has it that the city started with a dream Grand Duke Gediminas had on a hunting trip. In his dream, Gediminas saw a huge iron wolf standing on a hill howling as if hundreds of wolves were trapped inside it. When the Grand Duke consulted the court magician Lizdeika, he was told that the wolf was a symbol of a great capital that would one day stand atop that hill. By 1323, Gediminas was already sending letters to European cities inviting merchants and craftspeople to visit the city.

Culture in Vilnius

The magical Old Town of Vilnius holds many secrets and a long history. The cobblestone streets lead you on a romantic walk through the UNESCO World Heritage site. But Vilnius has more tricks up its sleeve. Vilnius is home to many talented contemporary artists, which means you can attend a play or a film by a world-famous Lithuanian director, listen to the best opera singer in the world, or visit the exhibition of an acclaimed contemporary artist.

KEY FACTS

Population:  569,700 inhabitants
Ethnic Composition:  Lithuanians 67%, Poles 15%, Russians 10%, Belarusians 3%, Other 5%
Location/Territory:  The City of Vilnius occupies an area of about 400 sq. km, of which approximately 20.2% is developed and the remainder is a greenbelt (43.9% approx.) and water (2.1% approx.)
Language: Lithuanian
Religion: Roman Catholic 77.2%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Old Believer 0.8%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other 0.8%
Government:  Mayor
Currency: Euro
Local Time: GMT + 2 hours (EET), GMT + 3 hour (summer time)
Working Hours: Governmental institutions work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Shops are usually open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. on weekdays and until 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Shopping malls are open all week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Supermarkets are usually open between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., and some supermarkets are open until midnight.

FLIGHTS TO VILNIUS

LINKS TO LEARN MORE

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