Thinking about where to go in 2024? If you can’t decide between an action packed adventure or sightseeing in a historical city, in Vilnius you can have it all.

Steeped in history and packed with fun things to do, Lithuania’s quirky capital is the place to go. Not only can you soak up the local culture, you could find yourself soaring above the city in a hot air balloon, hiking in the hills, whizzing down a zip wire or taking an exhilarating toboggan ride…all in one place.

As many of us look for more experiential holidays, it’s becoming harder to find somewhere that ticks every box. Curious travellers are looking beyond the usual, more familiar destinations and Vilnius is set to become a city break hotspot in 2024.

Here are some of the top things to do in Vilnius that will add a bit of excitement to your trip.

Feeling the need for speed?

At Liepkalnis Hill, you can have year round thrills. The highest spot in Vilnius, this amusement park provides year round action.  In winter, it’s all about skis and snowboarding but in the warmer months, visitors can speed down tubing slides or zoom along a fun toboggan track. You can even have a game of volleyball here, or indulge in some plane spotting if that’s your thing.

Take a hike
If you’ve brought your walking boots, you won’t need to leave the city to get your hiking fix. Vilnius has hills and lots of urban green spaces, in fact 61% of Vilnius is green – forests, parks and fields happily coexist with the city landscape so some fresh air fun is on your doorstep. There’s plenty of scope to go on a good walk, climb those hills and enjoy the views when you reach the top.

If you do want to explore a little further, there’s a popular 100KM route and the official starting point is at Stalo kalnas, a hill in the heart of the city. However, it’s possible to start the route at any point and cover it in sections or wherever your feet take you.

Wheely good adventures
Get on your bike and explore the city of Vilnius and its pretty green spaces on a cycling tour. Or zip around the city on scooters, segways and rollerskates – mind how you go!

For a longer, more scenic bike trip, cycle out to the stunning Trakai Castle (approx 20 KM from Vilnius) which sits on a pretty island in Lake Galve and accessible by a wooden bridge.

Make a splash
Did you know there are some top notch water parks and wakeboarding sites close to the city? Ideal for water sports enthusiasts or just a great way to cool down in the hot summer months. For extra fun check out the water obstacle courses. Don’t worry about trying to pack a wetsuit into your hand luggage – you can get everything you need right here.

The sky’s the limit
Got a head for heights? Tourists can experience the city’s panorama at 170 metres above the earth on the Edge Walk at Vilnius TV Tower. In addition to dining in the 360° rotating restaurant, visitors will be able to walk the perimeter. Scenic views of the city underneath with no guardrails – only the protection of the safety cord. That’s sure to get the adrenalin pumping!

Or take to the skies for breath-taking views of Vilnius and the surrounding area in a hot air balloon. Imagine soaring over the city, enjoying a dreamy day out gliding over Vilnius’ charming Old Town. In the Lithuanian capital you can do just that!

Park life
Back on terra firma, the city’s adventure parks are a great place to let off steam. Thrillseekers can fly down a zip line, have a go on high ropes or conquer The Elephant Jump – an extreme, giant free-fall swing.

For a city that eats pink soup, has a statue of Tony Soprano on the train station platform, and converted a former prison into a cool, cultural place to visit, it’s fair to say, Vilnius is not dull.

Fun, funky, affordable and with bags of personality, surely it’s worth going to see what all the fuss is about?

Besides, it’s somewhere different to show off how adventurous you are.

How to get here:
Direct flights from the UK to Vilnius are available with Ryanair, Wizzair and LOT.