It’s the final day of my Christmas Market Bingo challenge and I’ve arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania. So let’s see what this city has in store at Christmas time…
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In this Vilnius Christmas Market review I’m checking out the festive cheer, from mulled wine and sausages to activities and atmosphere.
Coming up in this review
Everything You Need to Know About Vilnius Christmas Markets
Vilnius Christmas Market takes place on Cathedral Square. And this year they are an official European Capital of Christmas!
Expect the usual market stalls selling gifts and trinkets, tasty local foods and of course steaming hot mulled wine.
My Christmas Market Bingo Challenge
I’m visiting Vilnius as part of my Christmas Market Bingo challenge.
The rules are pretty simple: I’ve got 5 days and £500 to get a full house on my festive Bingo Card.
Vilnius is the fifth and final Christmas Market of my trip – I’ve visited Hamburg, Stockholm, Tallinn and Riga already. Now let’s get into it!
How Many Christmas Markets are there in Vilnius?
The main event here is Vilnius Christmas Market on Cathedral Square. As well as market stalls, there’s a carousel for the kids and an ice rink over by the Town Hall. There’s even a little festive train that takes you sightseeing too!
They have a long list of accolades for their Christmas Market and the events held alongside it, not least this year where they have the title of European Capital of Christmas.
As well as the main market, there are some additional things like a charity bazaar and a design market which take place on specific days. The Christmas Market runs till after Christmas, and then there’s a grand finale with a Three Kings Procession on 6 January.
When does Vilnius Christmas Market Open in 2025?
Vilnius Christmas Market kicks off in late November, and runs till the end of December.
Vilnius Christmas Market opening times
- Saturday 29 November – Sunday 28 December 2025
- Mon-Wed: 12-8pm; Thu: 12-9pm; Fri & Sat: 12-10pm; Sun: 11am-8pm
- Hours vary on 24, 25, 26 Dec
Is Vilnius a Good Destination for Christmas Markets?
Vilnius is very proud of its seasonal festivities, and as far as European Christmas Markets go, it definitely holds its own.
They’ve got a full events programme running alongside the market, so chances are you can participate in something during your visit. They’ve got a Christmas walk, a fun run, a Christmas bus to take you around the city’s districts, and even a special day – 13 December – that’s extra Christmassy, with choirs, festive post boxes and even a special Christmas currency!
Read more about the full programme over on the Vilnius Christmas Market website.
How Expensive Is Vilnius Christmas Market?
Vilnius Christmas Market felt quite typical of other European markets in terms of prices.
A mulled wine was about €5 (£4.50) for 250ml – the same as in Riga – and food started at around €6 (£5.25) for things like waffles and donuts.
What Are The Best Vilnius Christmas Market Hotels?
Here are my suggestions of hotels to consider for your trip to Vilnius.
My Review of Vilnius Christmas Market
First Impressions
My first impression was that the market felt quite regimented with its white wooden huts lined up in two main strips. But perhaps that’s because I’d just come from my favourite market yet in Riga, where each stall was totally unique!!
However, what’s nice about Vilnius Christmas Market is that there’s loads of space, it’s nice and flat and it’s really easy to navigate – which is perfect for when things get busy at the weekend.
From a quick glance, I could tell there were some really beautiful crafts on offer, and plenty of places serving up hot mulled wine. Plus, the Christmas tree is an absolute stunner, complete with steps to walk up for that perfect festive photo.
All of this stands in the shadow of Vilnius Cathedral, which makes an impressive backdrop for a few hours of yuletide fun.
Food
If you’ve been following my Christmas Market Bingo challenge, you’ll know that I had to eat a sausage at each and every Christmas Market and Vilnius nearly had me stumped!!!
That’s right, you will not find a Bratwurst at this market!
Instead I had to opt for oscypek which I thought was a local cheese (it’s a bit like halloumi), but turns out it’s actually Polish.
I ordered it topped with slices of meat – it cost €4.50 (£3.95) – or it was €12 (£10.54) for 3. I also got a cured sausage from a deli stand (€3.30 / £2.90 for 100g). It wasn’t quite the meal I had envisioned!
- Sausage - €3.30 (£2.90) for 100g
- Oscypek - €4.50 (£3.95)
And in general, the main meal food options were a little limited – though I spotted savoury crepes on sale.
There was also plenty of sweet treats, and I was in awe of people carrying around bit pots full of tiny little donuts. They looked amazing!
For veggies and vegans, there wasn’t much to be honest – you’ll probably end up having side dishes or sweet treats, as most things were pretty meaty.
Drinks
The good news is that Vilnius did not scrimp on the mulled wine, and in fact there were lots of stands selling it.
Even when it was busy, there was only a short queue – as long as you found one of the huts on the outskirts! It cost €5 (£4.50) for 250ml or €7 (£6) for 370ml and was delicious, though the mug wouldn’t win any awards!!
You do have other pay €2 for the cup but you get it back on your card when you return it.
A cup of cocoa was €4, and there were lots of hot fruit teas for the same price.
- Mulled wine - €6 (£5.25)
- Hot chocolate - €4 (£3.50)
Shopping
There was plenty on offer here, including all the standard things you’d expect to see – like knitwear, candles and ornaments.
I was particularly mesmerised by a stall selling Steel Tongue Drums where the woman was playing the most ethereal music. However, at €250 for the smallest, I had to leave it behind!
As there aren’t loads of stalls, it may not be a place to finish up all your shopping but there’s definitely enough range to pick up some cute trinkets.
Activites
The Christmas tree at the end of the market has stairs allowing you to go up and inspect the tree closer, and I saw lots of kids enjoying this!
There was also a lift that takes families with prams and those with walking aids up, which was great to see.
There’s also a carousel at the other end of the market, but otherwise the main purpose is to eat, drink and shop.
However, a short walk away is an ice rink in front of the Town Hall, which costs €6 per adult including skate hire, though the first 2 sessions at 10 and 11am every day are free.
At 900 sq m, this ice rink is pretty big for a city centre, and with the backdrop of the Town Hall, it’s absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend a skate around here, though check the website for the skating schedule.
Otherwise, make sure you go for wander around the Old Town as many of the shops and restaurants are dressed up, and there’s plenty of photo opportunities to be had!
Where I stayed at Vilnius Christmas Market
James and I stayed at Hotel Stikliai, a posh hotel that’s part of the Relais & Chateaux group. It just so happened that a 5-star hotel was on my Christmas Market Bingo card, so I HAD to stay in one, although it mysteriously coincided with the one time James joined me on the trip…
That bed looks lush right? It was a lovely hotel – the bedroom was super cosy with a very comfy bed – I needed a proper rest after all my Christmas Market gallivanting! The bathroom was spacious and I liked having the two sinks.
We paid for breakfast as well which was delicious – I had an omlette.
James and I especially enjoyed this table of photographs dedicated to former guests. Quite an assortment I’m sure you’ll agree…
Is Vilnius Christmas Market Worth Visiting?
My overall thoughts
Vilnius is a brilliant city that I think more people should visit, and so why not use the Christmas Market as an excuse to book that trip?!
The market and related festivities will make for a fun afternoon, before going out to enjoy more of the city.
Basically, the market is 100% worth a visit if you’re there and definitely tickles that Christmas itch, but it also isn’t making my top 10 list of the best Christmas Markets out there.
Other European Christmas Markets to Visit
Countries across Europe put on a great show every year when it comes to Christmas Markets.
If you’re after a classic German market, try Hamburg, Cologne or Berlin. If you like scandi vibes, take a trip to Stockholm. Or if you’re a fan of the Baltics, Tallinn and Riga have Christmas Markets too.
Check out our Christmas Markets page for the lowdown on all things festive in Europe this Christmas.
Watch my Christmas Market Bingo Trip on YouTube
As well as writing about Vilnius Christmas Market for you here, I also made a whole video about it over on my YouTube channel!
