In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The Gate of Dawn (Aušros Vartai, Polish: Ostra Brama) stands at the southern gateway to Vilnius Old Town. It is the only surviving gate of the nine original defensive portals built into the city walls between 1503 and 1522. The elevated chapel above the archway houses the miraculous 17th-century icon of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn. Entry is free every day from 06:00 to 19:00 (Vilnius Archdiocese). Or book a tour: Vilnius: Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide & Chocolatead (from €21, 4.9 stars from 26 reviews) is a 2.5-hour walk with a local guide through the Old Town, which gives the gate the context of the streets around it.
⚠️ Mass is held in the chapel. Services take place in the small chapel several times each morning, in Lithuanian and Polish. You may stand quietly at the back, but do not move around or photograph the altar while Mass is under way.
Visiting hours and chapel access
The gate and its chapel are located at Aušros Vartų g. 14, at the southern terminus of the Old Town’s central pedestrian spine.
| Area | Admission | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate of Dawn archway | Free | Open 24/7 | Street-level public thoroughfare |
| Upper Chapel of the Mother of Mercy | Free | Daily 06:00 to 19:00 | Enter via interior stairway in St Teresa’s Church |
| St Teresa’s Church (Šv. Teresės bažnyčia) | Free | Daily 06:30 to 19:30 | Adjoining early baroque Carmelite basilica |
To reach the chapel, enter the adjoining Carmelite Church of St Teresa through its left-hand side door, where an interior stone flight of stairs ascends directly into the elevated gallery above the street arch.
Aušros Vartų Street. Photo: Zairon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
History of the gate: defending the southern border
In 1503, Grand Duke Alexander Jagiellon granted Vilnius the privilege of building a defensive stone and brick fortification wall to shield the capital from Crimean Tatar raids. The wall incorporated nine gates, each named after the trade road leading out of the city:
- The Medininkai Gate: Facing south towards the road to Medininkai Castle and Minsk, the gate was originally called the Medininkai Gate (Medininkų vartai). It was later renamed Aušros Vartai (“Gate of Dawn”).
- Defensive elements: When the Russian authorities demolished the city walls between 1799 and 1805, the Gate of Dawn was kept because of its chapel. On the southern (outer) facade you can still see the original defensive embrasures and firing loops, and the carved relief of the Lithuanian Vytis (the chasing knight coat of arms) flanked by two gryphons.
The miraculous painting and silver ex-votos
The painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy (Vilniaus Aušros Vartų Švč. Mergelė Marija, Gailestingumo Motina) is venerated by Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believers across the Baltic States and Poland.
It was painted on oak boards in tempera around 1620–1630 by an unknown master, and it is unusual because Mary is shown alone, without the infant Christ:
- The silver-gilt riza: In 1671 the Carmelite friars commissioned a chased silver-gilt riza (metal cover) that covers Mary’s garments and leaves only her face and crossed hands visible. Two crowns, one for the Queen of Poland and one for the Grand Duchess of Lithuania, were placed on the image by papal authority in 1927.
- The silver crescent moon: A large silver crescent moon at the base of the image was added in 1849 and carries an engraved Polish inscription of gratitude.
- The silver ex-votos: The chapel walls are covered in silver. Over 8,000 ex-votos (votai), small embossed silver tablets showing hearts, praying figures, arms and legs, have been given by pilgrims since the 17th century in thanks for recoveries.
- The street window: The chapel has large glass windows facing Aušros Vartų Street, so that townspeople walking through the gate could pause, take off their hats and pray towards the icon.
The chapel above the gate. Photo: Bernt Rostad, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
The chapel altar and icon. Photo: Diliff, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Tours and guided walks
The gate stands where the Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish quarters of old Vilnius met, and a guide can explain how the streets around it fit together.
Vilnius: Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide & Chocolate
From €21 · 4.9 stars from 26 reviews · 2.5 hours · local guide and chocolate tasting
Vilnius: Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide & Chocolatead: a walk through the Old Town led by a local, covering the city’s history, everyday life and hidden corners, with chocolate as part of the tour.
Vilnius: Old Town Walking Tour with Local Stories
From €25 · 4.9 stars from 20 reviews · 2.5 hours · Old Town with a local guide
Vilnius: Old Town Walking Tour with Local Storiesad: a local guide takes you through the Old Town for its history, architecture and local legends.
Vilnius: 2.5-Hour Jewish Quarter Walking Tour
From €22 · 4.8 stars from 403 reviews · 2.5 hours · Jewish Quarter on foot
Vilnius: 2.5-Hour Jewish Quarter Walking Tourad: a guided walk through the Jewish Quarter of the Old Town.
Visiting on your own or with a guide
| What you want | On your own | On GetYourGuide |
|---|---|---|
| Gate of Dawn archway and chapel | Free (open daily) | Passed on the Old Town walking tours |
| St Teresa’s Church nave | Free (open daily) | Passed on the Old Town walking tours |
| Guided Old Town walk | Not run by the chapel or parish | Walking tours from €21 |
| Jewish Quarter route | Self-guided on foot | 2.5-hour themed tour from €22 |
Practical visiting tips
- Etiquette: The chapel is an active shrine. Remove hats before going up the staircase, keep your voice low and silence your phone. Photography without flash is allowed from the back of the chapel when no Mass is under way.
- Accessibility: The chapel is above the gateway, so you climb approximately twenty stone steps through St Teresa’s Church. There is no lift or wheelchair ramp, but the icon can be seen through the window from the street.
- Getting There: The gate is located at the southern tip of Old Town, a 7-minute walk north from Vilnius Central Railway Station (Vilniaus geležinkelio stotis). The nearest public transit stops are Aušros vartai (bus line 89) and Bazilijonų (trolleybus lines 1, 2, 7, 20).
What to see next
- Church of the Holy Spirit (Orthodox): 100 metres north on Aušros Vartų Street, with the relics of three 14th-century Vilnius martyrs. See free things to do for more free sights.
- Vilnius University and St John’s: A 10-minute walk north along Didžioji and Pilies streets.
- Republic of Užupis: Cut east past the Subačius viewpoint into the artists’ district.
- Vilnius city guide: All our Vilnius guides.
Common questions
How much does it cost to visit the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius?
Visiting the Gate of Dawn and entering the upper chapel to view the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary is completely free. Donations for church upkeep and candles can be offered inside.
What are the opening hours of the Gate of Dawn Chapel?
The chapel is open daily from 06:00 to 19:00. Masses are celebrated in Lithuanian and Polish throughout the morning and evening.
Why is the Gate of Dawn significant?
It is the sole surviving city gate from Vilnius's 16th-century defensive fortification wall. The upper chapel houses the 17th-century Renaissance painting of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn, venerated by Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians across Eastern Europe.
Can you see the icon from the street below?
Yes. The chapel was designed with large arched windows overlooking Aušros Vartų Street, allowing pedestrians and pilgrims to pray towards the illuminated icon from street level.
What are the silver objects covering the chapel walls?
The walls of the chapel are lined with over 8,000 silver votive offerings (ex-votos) shaped as hearts, limbs, and plaques, donated by pilgrims across four centuries in gratitude for prayers answered and miraculous healings.
