In this guide
- Dates in 2026: Tree lit Saturday 28 November; market 28 November to 27 December; festive season to 6 January 2027 (vilnius-events.lt).
- Locations: Cathedral Square (tree, market, carousel) and Town Hall Square (ice rink, 29 November to 25 January 2027).
- Christmas Train (Kalėdų traukinukas): a sightseeing train round the Old Town, boarding near Cathedral Square, until 3 January 2027.
- Winter hours: Gediminas Tower stays open until 20:00. Palace of the Grand Dukes closes on Mondays and Trakai Castle on Mondays and Tuesdays from December to February.
“Christmas in the Capital” is organised by Vilnius City Municipality and the Vilnius Cultural Centre, and its programme is on kaledossostineje.lt.
The illuminated Christmas tree on Cathedral Square. Photo: Pofka, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Dates and Market Locations
| What | 2026 dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tree lighting | Saturday 28 November, 19:00 (the time may change) | Cathedral Square |
| Christmas Market | 28 November to 27 December | Cathedral Square |
| Christmas Carousel | 28 November to 6 January 2027 | Cathedral Square |
| Christmas Train | 28 November to 3 January 2027 | Boards at Šventaragio g. 2 |
| Vilnius Ice rink | 29 November to 25 January 2027 | Town Hall Square |
| New Year’s Eve events | 31 December | Cathedral Square and the Bell Tower |
Dates from vilnius-events.lt; the tree stays lit until 6 January 2027 (kaledossostineje.lt).
1. Cathedral Square Christmas Town (Katedros aikštė)
- The tree: It stands beside the neoclassical portico of Vilnius Cathedral and the Bell Tower, and is lit at the ceremony on 28 November.
- The market: Wooden houses sell seasonal food and handmade gifts. Hours are Monday to Wednesday 12:00 to 20:00, Thursday 12:00 to 21:00, Friday and Saturday 12:00 to 22:00, Sunday 11:00 to 20:00 (kaledossostineje.lt).
- The carousel: A 10-metre-tall carousel with a five-minute ride, open until 6 January 2027 (kaledossostineje.lt).
2. Vilnius Ice, Town Hall Square (Rotušės aikštė)
Town Hall Square is a 10-minute stroll south of Cathedral Square along Pilies and Didžioji streets. The “Vilnius Ice” rink is an open-air rink of almost 900 square metres (kaledossostineje.lt):
- Hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday 10:00 to 22:00, Friday and Saturday 10:00 to 23:15.
- Sessions: Each session lasts 45 minutes and places are limited.
Warmly lit festive market stalls on Cathedral Square. Photo: Pofka, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Cathedral Square tree
The Vilnius Christmas Tree is a symbol of Christmas across Lithuania and gets a new look each year (vilnius-events.lt).
- Viewpoints: For the tree framed against the lit Bell Tower, stand at the corner of Šventaragio and Pilies streets, or on the free viewing terrace on Castle Hill.
What to Eat and Drink at the Winter Markets
| Festive Treat | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Meduoliai | Honey and ginger cookies, often hand-decorated |
| Šakotis (tree cake) | A Baltic cake baked on a rotating spit, with dozens of crisp pastry “horns” |
| Hot spiced wine (karštas vynas) | The usual market drink |
| Roasted pork sausages | Served with braised sauerkraut |
The Christmas Train (Kalėdų Traukinukas)
The Christmas Train is a sightseeing train round the Old Town, running until 3 January 2027 (kaledossostineje.lt):
- Route: It boards near Cathedral Square at Šventaragio g. 2 and runs along Pilies, Didžioji, Šv. Jono and Universiteto streets, back to Šventaragio.
- Hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday 12:00 to 20:00, Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 22:00, and 24 December 11:00 to 20:00.
Town Hall Square at Christmas. Photo: Pofka, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Winter Sight Hours and Seasonal Closures
- Gediminas Tower: Open daily 10:00 to 20:00. The funicular runs daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
- Palace of the Grand Dukes: Closed on Mondays from September to May. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10:00 to 18:00, Thursday 10:00 to 20:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 16:00.
- Trakai Island Castle: Open Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00 from December to February; closed Monday and Tuesday.
- MO Museum: Closed on Tuesdays year-round; open Wednesday to Monday 10:00 to 20:00.
- Rooftop views: The Cathedral Bell Tower costs €6.00 and Gediminas Tower €8.00.
- Three Crosses Monument: Open 24/7. The wooden stairs up Bleak Hill get slippery under snow; wear boots with a good tread.
What to pack
- Footwear: Insulated, waterproof boots with a non-slip sole. The cobbles on Pilies and Didžioji streets can hold black ice under fresh snow.
- Clothing: Thermal base layers, a warm sweater and a windproof, hooded coat.
- Accessories: Gloves, a hat and a scarf. Bring a power bank, because the cold drains phone batteries quickly.
Common questions
When does the Vilnius Christmas Market open and close?
In 2026 the tree is lit on Saturday 28 November at 19:00, and the Christmas Market on Cathedral Square runs from 28 November to 27 December. The festive season continues to 6 January 2027, with the carousel on Cathedral Square until then (vilnius-events.lt). The market is open Monday to Wednesday 12:00 to 20:00, Thursday 12:00 to 21:00, Friday and Saturday 12:00 to 22:00 and Sunday 11:00 to 20:00 (kaledossostineje.lt).
Where are the Christmas markets located in Vilnius?
The market, the tree and the carousel are on Cathedral Square (Katedros aikštė). The Vilnius Ice rink is on Town Hall Square (Rotušės aikštė), and the Christmas Train boards near Cathedral Square at Šventaragio g. 2.
What is special about the Vilnius Christmas tree?
The Cathedral Square tree is the symbol of Lithuanian Christmas and gets a new design every year, according to the city's events site (vilnius-events.lt). It stays lit until 6 January 2027.
What traditional Christmas foods should you try in Vilnius?
Hot spiced wine (karštas vynas), honey gingerbread (meduoliai) and šakotis, the tree cake baked on a rotating spit. Kūčiukai, small poppy-seed pastries served with poppy milk, are the Christmas Eve dish.
What are winter museum opening hours in Vilnius?
Gediminas Tower is open daily 10:00 to 20:00. The Palace of the Grand Dukes is closed on Mondays from September to May, and Trakai Island Castle is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays from December to February.
Does Lake Galvė freeze over at Trakai in winter?
In a long cold spell in January and February the lake can freeze around the castle. Check locally that the ice is open to walkers before stepping onto it.
