In this guide
- Peak season (June–August): Highs of 20°C–26°C, 17 hours of daylight, open-air terraces and balloon flights over the Old Town.
- Shoulder season (May & September): Highs of 15°C–20°C, fewer visitors, cherry blossom in spring or autumn colour in the parks.
- Winter: Christmas market on Cathedral Square from 28 November to 27 December 2026 (govilnius.lt). Trakai Castle closes on Mondays from October to March.
The best time to visit Vilnius depends on whether you want terraces and long evenings or snow, cellar pubs and Christmas markets.
Lithuania has four distinct seasons, and the calendar changes with them: Kaziukas Fair in March, the Pink Soup Fest in May, Midsummer fires in June, autumn colour in October and the Light Festival in January.
Cathedral Square in warm summer sunshine. Photo: Codman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Vilnius Month-by-Month Guide
Festival dates come from the Go Vilnius cultural calendar and Christmas page.
| Month | Avg High/Low | Daylight | Highlights & Major Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C / -6°C | 7.5 - 8.5 hours | Vilnius Light Festival, 22-24 January 2027, held for the city’s birthday |
| February | 0°C / -6°C | 9.0 - 10.5 hours | Užgavėnės pancake festival; cellar pubs |
| March | 5°C / -2°C | 11.0 - 13.0 hours | Kaziukas Fair |
| April | 13°C / 3°C | 13.5 - 15.0 hours | Užupis Independence Day (1 April); Open House Vilnius; cherry blossom in Sakura Park |
| May | 19°C / 8°C | 15.5 - 16.8 hours | Vilnius Pink Soup Fest |
| June | 22°C / 12°C | 17.0 - 17.5 hours | Culture Night; Joninės (Midsummer) |
| July | 25°C / 14°C | 16.5 - 17.2 hours | Statehood Day (6 July); swimming in Lake Galvė at Trakai |
| August | 24°C / 13°C | 14.5 - 16.0 hours | Open-air cinema; balloon flights |
| September | 18°C / 9°C | 12.0 - 14.0 hours | Vilnius City Fiesta (4-6 September 2026) |
| October | 11°C / 4°C | 9.5 - 11.5 hours | Autumn colour; Vilnius Jazz Festival (14-18 October 2026) |
| November | 5°C / 0°C | 8.0 - 9.0 hours | Vilnius Gastronomy Week (9-15 November 2026); Christmas market opens 28 November |
| December | 1°C / -4°C | 7.2 - 7.8 hours | Christmas tree on Cathedral Square; ice rink on Town Hall Square |
Spring (April to May): Blossom and Outdoor Dining
Temperatures climb from single digits in April to highs of 18°C to 20°C in May.
- Užupis Independence Day (1 April): On April Fool’s Day the Republic of Užupis celebrates its national day. Border guards stamp visitors’ passports on the bridge and poets read the constitution along Paupio street.
- Sakura Park in bloom (late April to early May): The Chiune Sugihara Sakura Park on the right bank of the Neris, beside the National Gallery of Art, fills with pink cherry blossom and locals picnicking by the water.
- Vilnius Pink Soup Fest (May): A festival built around Lithuania’s cold beetroot soup, with themed events and food across the city (govilnius.lt).
Summer (June to August): Long Days and Festivals
Highs average 22°C to 26°C and daylight lasts past 22:30 in June, so the city lives outdoors.
- Midsummer (Joninės, 23-24 June): 24 June is a public holiday, and the Kernavė museum is closed that day (kernave.lt). Check before planning a Kernavė day trip then.
- Statehood Day (6 July): Marks the 1253 coronation of King Mindaugas. At 21:00 Lithuanians gather in public squares to sing the national anthem (Tautiška giesmė) together.
- Hot air balloons: On calm summer mornings and evenings, balloons fly over the Old Town and its church spires.
Golden autumn foliage in a Vilnius city park. Photo: Artiom P from Vilnius, Lithuanian, CC BY 2.0.
Autumn (September to October): Golden Foliage and Culture
Highs are 16°C to 19°C in September and 9°C to 12°C in October.
- Vilnius City Fiesta (4-6 September 2026): Concerts, street performances, exhibitions and markets in the city centre (govilnius.lt).
- Vilnius Jazz Festival (14-18 October 2026): Contemporary and experimental jazz in venues around the city.
- Autumn colour: Climb the wooden trails to the Three Crosses monument in Kalnų Park or walk Bernardine Garden while the lime and oak trees turn gold and rust red.
The Old Arsenal in winter. Photo: Pofka, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Winter (November to March): Snow, Lights and Markets
Winter brings snow and temperatures that typically range between 1°C and -7°C.
- Christmas in Vilnius (28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027): The Christmas tree stands on Cathedral Square throughout. The market there runs from 28 November to 27 December 2026, and the ice rink on Town Hall Square from 29 November to 25 January (govilnius.lt). Stalls sell mulled wine (karštas vynas), honey cakes and woollen mittens; see the Christmas market guide for the detail.
- Vilnius Light Festival (22-24 January 2027): Free light installations across the Old Town for the city’s birthday.
- Kaziukas Fair (March): Craftspeople, food producers and folk artists fill the Old Town streets, selling dried-flower verba palms, smoked meat and heart-shaped gingerbread (Kaziuko širdis).
Seasonal Sight Openings and Closures
Between October and April several sights change their hours:
| Landmark / Attraction | Summer (May - Sep) | Winter / Off-Season (Oct - Apr) |
|---|---|---|
| St John’s Church Bell Tower | Open daily 10:00 - 19:00 (late Apr - late Oct) | Closed completely (late Oct - late Apr) |
| Palace of the Grand Dukes | Open daily (June - Aug) 10:00 - 18:00 / 20:00 | Closed Mondays (Sep - May) |
| Trakai Island Castle | Open daily 10:00 - 19:00 (April to September) | Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 - 18:00 in March, October and November; Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 - 18:00 in December to February |
| Gediminas Tower | Open daily 10:00 - 20:00 | Open daily 10:00 - 20:00 |
| Balloon flights | Sunrise and evening, weather permitting | Rare |
What to Pack by Season
- Summer (June–August): Light clothing, walking shoes for the cobbles, sunglasses and an umbrella for afternoon thunderstorms.
- Autumn & Spring (April, May, September, October): Layers, a sweater, a waterproof jacket and a scarf for the hilltop viewpoints.
- Winter (November–March): Waterproof boots with grip (the cobbles ice over), thermal base layers, a windproof parka, gloves and a hat.
Common questions
What is the best month to visit Vilnius?
May to September, when daylight lasts up to 17.5 hours in June, highs run from 18°C to 25°C, the outdoor terraces are open and every seasonal sight is open. September is quieter than July and August.
What is Kaziukas Fair?
Kaziukas Fair is a craft and folk fair held in March in the Old Town. Craftspeople, food producers and folk artists sell carved wood, ceramics, smoked sausages and the dried-flower palms called verba, and Vilnius' tourism board dates the fair back more than 400 years (govilnius.lt).
Which sights in Vilnius close during winter?
Trakai Island Castle is closed on Mondays from October to March and on Tuesdays from December to February (trakaimuziejus.lt). The Palace of the Grand Dukes is closed on Mondays from September to May. St John's Church bell tower closes from late October to late April.
Is Vilnius worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you plan for the cold: temperatures typically range between 1°C and -7°C. In 2026 the Cathedral Square Christmas tree stands from 28 November to 6 January and the Christmas market runs from 28 November to 27 December (govilnius.lt). The Vilnius Light Festival follows in late January.
When do hot air balloons fly over Vilnius?
Balloon flights over the Old Town run in the warmer months and only in calm weather, taking off around sunrise and in the evening. Winter flights are rare.
