Is there an entry fee?

Yes. Entry to the tower is paid, and some groups enter free, including pre-school children, people with a disability and one accompanying person, and visitors from 80 years of age. The National Museum of Lithuania website lists current prices.

How long do you need at the tower?

Plan about 35 to 40 minutes. That covers the small museum and time on both observation decks.

Is it a good place for sunset?

Yes. Late afternoon and early evening are the best times to visit, when the sun sets over the city as seen from the observation decks.

Gediminas Castle Tower

Q: Can you skip the walk up the hill?

Yes. A funicular runs on the river side, behind the National Museum of Lithuania, and takes 1 to 2 minutes. It has been out of service at times, so check before you go.

Gediminas Castle Tower is the red-brick octagonal tower on Gediminas Hill in central Vilnius, the only remaining part of the Upper Castle. The climb from the park below is short, and the top looks out over the red-tiled roofs of the Old Town, the Neris River and the modern high-rise skyline on the far bank. Inside, a small museum fills several floors with exhibits and models of how the castle looked in medieval times. Plan time for both observation decks, one under the tower and one on the roof.

A wooden castle, then brick

Gediminas Hill rises above the centre of Vilnius, close to the Cathedral. The legend says Grand Duke Gediminas, who is credited with founding the city, dreamed of a howling iron wolf on this hill and then decided to build a settlement here.

The first castle on the hill was made of wood. A brick structure replaced it, and the tower that stands today dates from around 1409. Over time the castle was enclosed in stone walls about three metres thick. It served as a defence bastion and later as a prison. In the 17th century Russian troops nearly destroyed it. The tower was later restored and rebuilt in 1933.

The tower once stood inside a larger castle complex, on the same grounds as the Palace of the Grand Dukes. Only the tower and some walls remain of that complex.

Inside the tower

The museum fills the tower over several floors, and each floor holds a separate exhibition. Together they follow different periods of Lithuanian history and the events that shaped the country.

Models show how the castle looked in the 14th and 18th centuries, and some of them are interactive. The displays include archaeological finds from the castle ruins and medieval armour. Because the museum is small, you can see it in a short time, and the models help you picture the hill as it was.

The two observation decks

There are two places to look out from: an observation deck under the tower and a deck on the roof. The roof gives the wider view, over the red-tiled roofs of the Old Town, the Neris River and the high-rise skyline on the other bank.

The tower is reached by stairs, and the climb is narrow in places. Allow time to use both decks before you come down.

Getting up the hill

The walking route starts from the park at the foot of the hill. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes on a winding cobbled path, and the path offers views along the way.

The funicular runs on the river side, behind the National Museum of Lithuania, and takes 1 to 2 minutes. It suits visitors with mobility concerns, small children, or anyone who would rather not climb. The site has a wheelchair accessible restroom and a wheelchair accessible parking lot, and mobility scooters can be rented on site.

Tickets and free entry

Entry to the tower is paid. The National Museum of Lithuania website lists current prices and the days the tower is open, and it is worth checking both before you go, since the tower is closed on some days of the week.

Several groups enter free. The list includes pre-school children, people with a disability and one accompanying person, visitors from 80 years of age, and holders of the Vilnius Pass. Students can get a discount. Buying tickets in advance is recommended.