A long and varied list of sightseeing attractions provides visitors with more than enough to fill holiday itineraries and plenty to occupy the pages of holiday photo albums. The quirky Uzupis district with its autonomy and its own constitution is among the highlights, though the UNESCO-endorsed Old Town generally gets top billing in well-considered travel plans.

Archcathedral Basilica
The original cathedral that occupied this site was built out of wood in 1251. It was in 1387 when the current Gothic-style stone building was erected and the 1600s before the stunning Chapel of St Casimir was added. There are catacombs beneath the church through which visitors can take guided tours.

Church of St Peter and Paul
This splendid Baroque building was commissioned in 1688 and is best-known for its magnificent interior, which was largely the work of two Italian sculptors and took around 30 years to complete. The highlight of the interior is the 2,000 or so sculptures of famous saints, characters from the New Testament and others from Lithuanian history. Also notable is the crystal and brass chandelier given to the church by the city of Venice to mark its consecration.

Gedimino Avenue
Vilnius’s main street dates to the 19th-century and is a scenic location with plenty of fine old buildings to please the eye as visitors wander its length. During the day its open to traffic but come evening time, the larger part of the street becomes pedestrianised and fills with people coming to frequent its many shops, cafés, restaurants and bars.

Old Town
Vilnius’s Old Town is awash with fine old buildings and was considered culturally significant enough to be awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO. A wander around the district yields views of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture, among which are highlights such as Cathedral Square and Gediminas Castle.

Presidential Palace
This magnificent stately building is completely white in colour and dates to the 1300s century, when it was built for the bishop of the time. In later years it was home to both Tsar Alexander I and Napoleon. The building underwent a major renovation project in 1997 and was made the official seat of the Lithuanian president. The estate that the building is a part of features some beautiful manicured gardens.

Uzupis District
For a distinctly different ambience than that offered by the Old Town, head to this curious quarter that has operated autonomously since it declared itself an independent republic in 1997. Be sure to check out the district’s constitutional plaque, which contains entries such as: “Everyone has the right to die, but this is not an obligation” and “Everyone has the right to love and take care of the cat.”