Thanks to an unfortunately little-regarded but certainly one of the best-preserved and most distinctive Old Towns in Europe, Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, can safely be treated as one of the most beautiful and distinctive Nordic cities.
Sad to say, the tourism sector is still not as developed as its neighboring capitals; however, wealthier tourists have the option of reaching Vilnius by chartering a private jet, a travel solution that allows them to move quickly while enjoying very high levels of luxury and comfort thanks to exclusive services made available to them right from the arrival airport.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vilnius has so much to offer: just think of the entirely pedestrian-friendly Old Town, the Cathedral Square, the Jewish Quarter, or any number of historic and religious buildings that stand as open-air testimonies to the various peoples who have passed through the city.
But what about its most iconic monuments?
Let's dive right into this interesting guide to discovering Vilnius!
Historical and geographical background on Vilnius
The location of Vilnius is the southeastern part of Lithuania, at the exact point where the Vilnia and Neris rivers converge. The capital's population center is about 300 km from the Baltic Sea and the nation's main port, Klaipeda; at any rate, it is not too great a distance from Kaunas, Siauliai, and Panevezys, other major population centers. The territory in which the city is located is of a flat type, with some hill relief in the immediate vicinity serving as natural boundaries. The earliest traces of Vilnius date as far back as the Mesolithic period, a prehistoric era in which the first humans settled thanks to the thriving area in which the town now stands; however, the earliest peoples and cultures responsible for the founding of the city are Slavic, German, and Jewish who inhabited southeastern Lithuania in the early Middle Ages. Around the 13th century, Vilnius became the capital of the Duchy of Lithuania ruled by Gediminas, the ruler responsible for building the castle still located on one of the hills surrounding the city. The name and fame of Vilnius grew with its annexation to the Hanseatic League, which resulted in a period of great economic and structural growth for the city; not only that, around the sixteenth century, to protect itself from invading attacks by Crimean Tatars, the city was surrounded by an imposing wall whose ruins can still be visited today. The city flourished even more with the establishment of the Polish-Lithuanian Confederation and the construction of Vilnius University, effectively becoming one of the nation's leading cultural and scientific centers. From the nineteenth century onward, the Lithuanian capital came under the control of the Russian Empire, which expanded its territorial borders and imposed martial law for rebels.The social and cultural life of the inhabitants came to a drastic halt, only to resume after the Russian Revolution of 1905. During the World Wars, Vilnius was first occupied by the Soviets and then by the Nazis until Lithuania's independence only in 1990; since then, the city has also seen the growth of the tourism sector, which has given it new economic life.
What to do and see in Vilnius
The Old Town of Vilnius
Among the most iconic sights of the Lithuanian capital is surely its Old Town, a historic UNESCO World Heritage-listed central district that offers tourists sensational views: half-hidden courtyards, very narrow alleys and lanes, ancient churches with spires and arches recognizable from meters away, winding streets and low, colorful houses create the perfect mix to immerse oneself in an almost surreal and magical dimension. It is impossible not to mention Gediminas Castle and the hill on which it stands, which can still be visited perfectly by arriving there by funicular: wealthier tourists have the opportunity to explore it from the inside thanks to the many private tours organized on site. Also worth mentioning is Vilnius Cathedral dedicated to Saints Stanislaus and Vladislaus, a majestic and imposing religious building with a Bell Tower that is among the tallest in the Baltic Region. After visiting all this, VIP tourists can head to the New Town, the capital's most modern district, to indulge in luxury shopping thanks to the presence of several high-fashion boutiques.
Vilnius' glamorous festivals and events
Throughout the year, Vilnius hosts a varied array of events and festivals that attract a large number of international stars and celebrities. Just think, for example, of the LIFE Theater Festival which, in May, centers the cultural life of the Lithuanian capital on a series of reviews and theater performances that are among the most famous in the world; not only that, in the summer, the Vilnius Festival dedicated entirely to classical music and opera is not to be missed, as well as the Kristopher Summer Festival, which in the middle of July enlivens summer evenings with live music where artists from all over the world perform. In the fall, the most popular festival is definitely the Vilnius Jazz Festival, one of the most important events of the year in which the exponents of this particular musical genre are the protagonists of several evenings based on solo performances and jazz concerts. Proof that Lithuanians love cinema is provided by the annual organization of the Scanorama Film Festival, an event now in its 15th year registering thousands of spectators each year, among whom are several international celebrities ready to attend screenings of the newest films in competition to win the coveted final prize.
Vilnius luxury hotels
The accommodation options that Vilnius makes available to wealthy tourists are many and varied. Among the most luxurious is undoubtedly the Grand Hotel Vilnius, a historic 5-star luxury hotel that gives the most elegant and sophisticated suites, a private terrace for each, a gourmet restaurant, and an indoor pool. Also worth mentioning is Hotel Pacai, located in an old Baroque palace in the center of the city, a 5-star hotel that offers all the comforts and luxuries of a property in its class, from air-conditioned suites with flat-screen TVs to a private restaurant and fitness center. Finally, the Narutis Hotel, which consists of no less than 2 private restaurants, suites decorated in a unique style, and an overall absolutely elegant and luxurious atmosphere.
Climate and best time to visit Vilnius
The climate in Vilnius is semi-continental, with very cold and rather dark winters and mild but fairly rainy summers. Rainfall, however, is frequent throughout the year even though the coastal Lithuanian area is significantly wetter than the inland area. In spring, temperatures gradually begin to rise only from May onward; in fact, April still remains quite cold with the high risk of overnight frosts and even snowfall. There is no shortage of sunny days, however, just as there are rainy ones. The climate undoubtedly warms up from June onward, for a summer characterized by pleasant temperatures that can fluctuate around 25°C maximum; the beautiful season allows for the organization of various outdoor events that attract tourists to the city's best-known sights. With the arrival of autumn, temperatures drop dramatically: the weather begins to become increasingly gray, rainy, and cold, with the first snowfalls that can occur as early as October or early November, effectively heralding a very harsh and dark winter, with temperatures below freezing often and snowy landscapes. The snowfalls are not too heavy, but very frequent: this makes visiting the city rather difficult at this time, although the Christmas holidays allow tourists to admire the capital immersed in a magical atmosphere. The best time to charter a private jet to Vilnius is definitely late spring or summer, segments of the year when the weather is pleasant and ideal for sightseeing.
How and why to fly private to Vilnius
Vilnius International Airport (ICAO code EYVI) is the nation's main hub and serves not only the capital, but also multiple neighboring cities. The domestic and international flights it operates are varied thanks to the various airlines that stop over in Vilnius.Air traffic, in recent years, has grown a lot and has allowed the company that manages the airport to carry out some expansion and renovation work to improve the terminals present. Many of the passengers who transit there use private jets to get to Vilnius: for this reason, the terminal dedicated to general aviation provides them with multiple premium services such as Fast Tracks to avoid the line at security or check-in, a free WiFi connection, the possibility of owning the Privilege Card to access the range of luxury services offered, a lounge room equipped with a bar-restaurant corner, PC stations, international magazines, TV, air conditioning, and private luggage storage, as well as personalized assistance for each passenger. The approximately 6 kilometers separating the airport from the city center can be traveled by taking advantage of various transfer services, from cabs available at the terminal exit to rental cars with or without a driver ready to take tourists anywhere in the city.
How much does it cost to fly private to Vilnius
Among the most important routes operated by private jets to Vilnius is the one that connects it to Paris, whose flight lasts about 3 hours; one can charter a Light, Medium and Large Jet at respective prices of €14,000, €26,000 and €37,000. It is also possible to leave from Saint Tropez with a flight of about 3 hours and 15 minutes, but renting only a Light Jet at a cost of €15,000. Decidedly shorter is the flight from Oslo to Vilnius in about 2 hours: rentals of the above 3 categories of jets are available at about €10,000, €19,000 and €27,000, respectively.
The most suitable jet for flying to Vilnius
One of the most suitable light jets is definitely the Cessna Citation CJ2, an aircraft that consists of 6 seats, a range of more than 2,500 km and a top speed of about 750 km/h; its interior cabin, although dimensionally small, still offers great comfort and head and leg room. Even better performance parameters are offered by the Hawker 900XP, a Medium Jet capable of accommodating up to 9 passengers and flying at a speed of over 800 km/h for about 4000 km on a single tank of fuel. The Dassault Falcon 8X, on the other hand, is a Large Jet that offers even more luxury and comfort to travelers by providing them with an interior cabin capable of accommodating 12 people and equipped with tables, sofa beds, and extremely comfortable reclining seats. The aircraft's range exceeds 6,000 km, allowing it to travel great distances without making any refueling stops!
The most frequent flights to and from Vilnius
Below of the most frequent links to Vilnius:
