Whether an independent outdoor type or a family with little ones in tow, you can be sure that Vilnius has plenty of activities to suit. The summer season brings possibilities for activities such as golf and angling, while come wintertime outdoor skating, skiing and snowboarding can all be enjoyed. The Vichy Aqua Park, meanwhile, presents fun for visitors of all ages, whatever the weather.

Fishing
There are a number of good locations in and around the city where angling enthusiasts can indulge their pleasure. The main fishing season runs from late June to late September and during this time anglers can expect good opportunities to land species such as pike, carp, trout and graylings. There is also a winter fishing scene that involves anglers boring holes into frozen lakes and then casting their lines down through the holes.

Golf
Fans of the game will find an impressive 18-hole course at the European Centre Golf Club, located just 30 minutes’ drive away from the city. Set amid beautiful surroundings, the course offer international standard game play and is open to members and non-members alike. 
Phone: +370 616 263 66; www.golfclub.lt/en.php/news  

Ice Skating
In the winter season the ponds and lakes in the city freeze over, and are filled with enthusiastic ice skaters. If you visit at any other time of the year or just prefer skating in an indoor setting, then the rink at the Akropolis Centre, with its skate-hire facilities and refreshment vendors, will suit your needs.

Vichy Aqua Park (Vichy Vandens Parkas)
This fun-packed family theme park is based on aspects of Polynesian culture and offers a variety of attractions that are well suited to visitors of all ages. Besides totem poles, rock sculptures and dancers wearing grass skirts, the park offers an excellent selection of waterslides, with one or two promising riders speeds of up to 60mph. A 280-square metre large wave pool is equally thrilling, while for adults preferring relaxation, there are sunbeds lining the banks of the watery areas. 
Phone: +370 5 211 11 1; www.vandensparkas.lt/en

Winter Sports
With temperatures that dip well below 0°C during winter, the mountainous areas in Vilnius’s surrounds get their fair share of snow. Consequently there are some excellent conditions in which to enjoy popular activities such as skiing and snowboarding. From Vilnius it’s possible to book a one-day skiing trip through local travel agents.

Vilnius is teeming with cultural sites and it’s tourists with an interest in such things that make up the bulk of its visitors. Among the highlights, the Lithuanian National Museum is a must for anyone wanting some background on the country’s past. Architecture enthusiasts, meanwhile, will love the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit and the Church of St Francis and Bernardine.

Church of St Francis and Bernardine
Together with the nearby St Annes Church, the Church of St Francis and Bernardine makes a small complex, in which the latter is by far the more architecturally grand. Built initially in the 16th-century, the church was later destroyed by fire and only when it was rebuilt were the splendid Gothic features that it now possesses added.

Lithuanian National Museum
The country’s oldest and largest collection of materials relating to national cultural heritage is on display at this fascinating museum situated close to the cathedral. The museum has been open to the public since 1855 and contains a wide variety of artefacts that present aspects of Lithuanian history, including books, textiles, portraits, prints, weapons and coins. 
Phone: +370 5 2629426; www.lnm.lt/en/index.php  

Museum of Genocide Victims
This chilling but nonetheless fascinating museum is housed in a former KGB prison that has been preserved so as to present an appearance much the same as during its years of operation. The cells downstairs are interesting, if not disturbing, with the water torture chambers presenting the most troubling sights. The bricks that form that bottom layers of the building feature the names of all those executed inside the prison. 
Phone: +370 5 2498155; www.genocid.lt/muziejus/en  

Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit
Considered the most important Orthodox church in the country, this Baroque structure dates to the 1600s, but following a fire it had to be rebuilt in the mid-1700s. The building’s interior offers its most notable features with the altar and other main areas decorated in bright green. In the centre of the church is a glass coffin in which lies the preserved and covered remains of three early Christian martyrs.

Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum
The city is often referred to as ‘northern Jerusalem’ since before WWII it was home to over 70,000 Jewish residents. This fascinating museum takes an in-depth look at the plight of these citizens and the history of Lithuanian Jews. The permanent collection includes an exhibition dedicated to the Holocaust. 
Phone: +370 5 2127912; www.jmuseum.lt/index.aspx?Lang=EN  

Vilnius University
The university buildings and the 11 courtyards spread between them are among the oldest of their kind in Europe, having been founded in 1579. Initially the buildings were used for study by scholars of the Jesuit order but later, in 1773, following the dissolution of the order, a secular authority acquired it and converted it into a university.

The local food in Vilnius is typical Lithuanian cuisine featuring favourite ingredients, traditional cooking techniques and hallmark dishes. Lithuanian restaurants in Vilnius offer popular creations such as the potato sausages known as vėdarai, the dumplings known as pierogi, the cold soup dish known as salti barsciai and the pie with mince, potato and smoked eel known as cepelinai.

The city has a plethora of good dining establishments and some of the best locations to find eateries include the Uzupis district and Gedimino Avenue. In both of these areas you’ll find not only traditional Lithuanian cuisine but also a good selection of establishments offering international fare.

For shopping, Gedimino Avenue again is a good place to head for a mixed selection of retailers and a pleasant period ambience. For the full contemporary shopping mall experience, Vinius’s Akropolis is the place. This massive covered retail centre is home to a huge array of outlets and includes dining and entertainment venues also.

Visitors looking to take home something typical of the city should keep their eyes open for jewellery made with Baltic amber. As a general rule, goods made with these stones are not overpriced when you consider their attractiveness. There are numerous shops selling amber goods but the Amber Museum-Gallery on Mykolo 8 is one of the best places.