Vilnius: 10 Best and Unusual Public Spaces

Before moving on to the project descriptions, it is important to mention some peculiarities of Vilnius. A significant part of the Lithuanian capital is occupied by the Old Town, one of the largest medieval ensembles in Northern and Eastern Europe. It is not only an important landmark, but also an everyday environment for the citizens. 

Unlike many other places in Europe, tourists have not managed to drive the residents of Vilnius out of the historical part of the city, and there are still many residential buildings and schools, kindergartens, repair shops and other non-tourist places that serve them. Pedestrian streets, squares and landscaped courtyards run between the buildings. Many neighborhoods, including the Old Town, have drinking fountains, bookcrossing shelves, bicycle lanes and rentals. Nature plays an important role in the perception and life of the city: Vilnius is considered one of the greenest capitals in Europe, with 46% of the city covered by various parks and squares.

All of this makes the city incredibly attractive for walking and biking. Whatever your neighborhood and whatever your mode of transportation, you will find all kinds of public spaces, many of them new and all of them free. We have selected ten of them and marked them on the map. Most are open 24 hours a day – and only two of the ten are open on a fixed schedule.

Park near Green Hall Business Center 2

Address: Upės g., Vilnius, 08106 Vilniaus m. sav.

This small green space is both a park and a kind of “face” of the Green Hall 2 business center, which is located higher up on the slope. According to the building’s architect, Edimtas Šimeliūnas of Archinova, the client wanted the outdoor project to embody the principles of sustainable development and harmonize with the Neris River embankment.

The landscaping was therefore discrete and integrated as much as possible into the regional context: several circular platforms with outdoor furniture, as well as a children’s playground and stairs leading to the river. Local materials, mainly wood, were used for the construction of all elements; plants were planted in the area and the roof of the gazebo was covered with moss.

Public Space at the White Bridge

Address: Upės g. 6, Vilnius, 09309 Vilniaus m. sav.

The pedestrian White Bridge, or Baltas Tiltas, is located in the very center of Vilnius. On the side of Šnipiškės district and CUP shopping center, there is a large area for walking and sports: there is a concrete bowl for skateboards and BMX, basketball and volleyball courts, and various outdoor exercise equipment. The differences in height have been used for amphitheatres with seating, and in front of them is a platform (pontoon) on the water. The pavilions on the bridge house the Caffeine coffee chain, a food court, and an IKI supermarket.

Thanks to the variety of functions, the space is used all year round, even in the harshest cold weather. The project was developed by architects and engineers of ID Vilnius (Vilniaus plano until 2024) at the request of the city administration.

Paralympic Waterfront

Address: Olimpiečių g. 15, Vilnius, 09200 Vilniaus m. sav.

Another project of ID Vilnius is the Paralympic waterfront in the area of the abandoned Soviet Palace of Sports. The space is designed for active recreation: there is a climbing wall, and a bicycle path runs along the upper part of the embankment. A sculptural composition in honor of Paralympians is installed on the bank, and a seasonal café is open in the summer. Nearby, there is a small sandbank where you can easily get into the water or launch a kayak on a special slope.

Public Space in Paupys

Address: Aukštaičių g. 12, Vilnius, 11341 Vilniaus m. sav.

One of the most popular recreational places in Vilnius is the Paupys district of the Darnu Group. The Skaiteks factory used to stand here. In the new buildings, the textures of the facades and interiors are reminiscent of the industrial past: raw concrete and Corten steel. 

In addition to apartment buildings, Paupys is home to offices and many public spaces: Paupio Turgus, for example, is a food court in a bright atrium that is covered from floor to ceiling in greenery. Next door is Pasaka (lit. “Fairy Tale”), a wooden movie theater designed by Audrius Ambrasas Architects.

Because of the difference in elevation, the most crowded places are separated from residential neighborhoods – to get to restaurants and a movie theater, you have to climb stairs or ramps. 

Vilnius Japanese Garden 

Address: Linkmenų g. 2a, Vilnius, 08104 Vilniaus m. sav.; 06:00-23:00 

A large garden in the Šnipiškės district was opened at the end of April 2023. The garden is designed according to all the canons of Japanese landscape art, with traditional elements – cascading ponds, stone paths and sakura trees. The pond in the center of the garden can be crossed by a pontoon bridge. Bridges also lead over waterfalls and carp ponds.The concept was developed by renowned Japanese landscape architects: Shiro Nakane, the curator of the Imperial Gardens of Japan, and his son Yukihiro Nakane. On the Lithuanian side, the project was adapted by landscape architect Ramune Sanderson – in the past she was also responsible for the landscaping of the Neris River embankments. The project was funded by the European National Development Fund, which aims to make the area more attractive to businesses and create new jobs.

Vingrių Square

Address: Vingrių skveras, Vilnius, 01141 Vilniaus m. sav.

Next to the Mo Museum is a public garden with works of art by Lithuanian artists and a winding artificial stream. It was built in memory of a spring that existed there since the 16th century and was used by the city’s inhabitants until the Soviet occupation. Immediately after the square begins a steep slope with impressive relief. The architects of ID Vilnius took advantage of this peculiarity to design a staircase with an intermediate terrace and a viewing platform, from which one can enjoy a view of the roofs of the Old Town.  

Sei Shin En Japanese Garden

Address: T. Kosciuškos g. 26, Vilnius, 01100 Vilniaus m. sav.; Tuesday-Sunday, 11:00-17:00.

Another place of Japanese culture in Lithuania is a small and subtle Japanese garden, which was opened in 2009. The idea came from the artist Dalia Dokšaitė, who has been interested in Far Eastern culture for many years. Every element – from stony paths to elegant pagodas – is designed to create a meditative atmosphere. Bamboo, rhododendrons, maples and other plants were chosen according to the changing seasons: each season is colorful and harmonious in its own way. 

Like the other sites in this text, the garden is free to visit, but it is important to check the schedule before you go. From time to time, the garden also hosts Japanese performers, tea ceremonies, and other events; the best way to keep track of the schedule is on Facebook. 

Lutheran Garden 

Address: V. Mykolaičio-Putino g. 10a, Vilnius, 03155 Vilniaus m. sav.

This summer, ID Vilnius introduced a new green area on Tauras Hill. It was named Lutheran Garden in memory of the old Lutheran cemetery that was destroyed during the Soviet occupation. At the edge of the area, the building of the civil registry office was built, one of the most remarkable examples of Lithuanian Soviet modernism.

During the current reconstruction, some of the remains were reburied and the few surviving tombstones were returned to their original locations, based on research of archival data from 1938. In addition, new paths were laid and Corten steel plaques were installed. The best places in the park are the benches at the edge of Tauras, where you can enjoy the view of Vilnius skyscrapers.  

Senator’s Passage

Address: Dominikonų g. 11, Vilnius, 01131 Vilniaus m. sav.

Senatorių Pasažas, or Senator’s Passage, is a project with great love for historical Vilnius. The five-hundred-year-old building near the Jewish Quarter has undergone many changes: in the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, it was a stable, in the 20th century a tea house and a bakery. During the Soviet era, cars were parked in the yard. Recently, the complex was reconstructed according to the project of the famous Lithuanian DO Architects. The works were finished in 2020. After the reconstruction, the courtyard was pedestrianized, and many shops were opened here.

The owner – Danish businessman Niels Peter Pretzmann – did not plan to turn this building into a public center and wanted to limit himself to offices and apartments. However, the architects’ research confirmed that the passageway was initially actively used by the citizens. When Pretzmann found out about this, he made a new business model that included restaurants and shops. He did not demand that the architects create as many usable square meters as possible – for him, the main value was the maximum expressiveness and authenticity of the place.  

Ogmios City

Address: Verkių g. 29, Vilnius, 09108 Vilniaus m. sav.

The last one is located off the tourist routes. This is the area of the multifunctional center Ogmios City, which is positioned as an “open-air shopping center” – retail pavilions are located in separate buildings rather than in a single large building. This planning allowed for the development of numerous outdoor recreational spaces: small squares and plazas with fountains and drinking fountains, children’s playgrounds, and gazebos.

The area is planted with perennials – not only trees and shrubs, but even vegetables in flower beds. The project has been nominated for the 2022 Mies van der Rohe Award, the European Union’s top architecture prize. 

For more insights into contemporary architecture and public spaces in Vilnius, check out our previously published article on the city’s most interesting modern architectural highlights [here].