Things to Do in Vilnius in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Vilnius
Is April Right for You?
Advantages
- Spring awakening timing - you'll catch Vilnius right as it sheds winter. Trees along Bernardine Garden burst into bloom mid-month, parks fill with locals after months of hibernation, and outdoor cafe tables reappear on Pilies Street. The city genuinely feels reborn, and you get to witness that transformation.
- Shoulder season pricing without summer crowds - accommodation costs typically run 30-40% below July-August rates, and you can actually walk through the Gates of Dawn without queuing behind tour groups. Major sites like Gediminas Tower have breathing room, making for better photos and a more contemplative experience.
- Extended daylight for exploration - sunrise shifts from around 6:30am early April to 5:45am by month's end, with sunset moving from 7:45pm to nearly 8:30pm. That's genuinely useful when you're covering Vilnius on foot - you can fit in morning Old Town walks, afternoon museum visits, and still catch golden hour from Three Crosses Hill.
- Cultural calendar sweet spot - you'll likely catch both Easter celebrations (dates vary, but often land in April) and the start of spring festival season. Kaziukas Fair sometimes extends into early April, and smaller neighborhood events kick off as weather permits. The city's cultural life is active but not overwhelmed by peak tourist programming.
Considerations
- Weather unpredictability is real - April in Vilnius genuinely swings between 15°C (59°F) sunny days and 3°C (37°F) gray mornings. You might pack away your winter coat on Tuesday and need it again by Thursday. That variability makes packing annoying and means you can't count on specific conditions for outdoor plans.
- Rain comes without much warning - those 10 rainy days don't follow a pattern. Showers can roll in during what looked like a clear morning, and they're cold enough to be genuinely unpleasant if you're caught without layers. Unlike summer rain that's warm and brief, April rain tends to linger and drop temperatures noticeably.
- Some seasonal operations haven't opened yet - certain outdoor attractions, seasonal restaurants with terrace-only seating, and some tour operations don't fully launch until May. You'll find the core city functioning normally, but options narrow slightly compared to full summer operations. Worth checking specific venue schedules before building your itinerary.
Best Activities in April
Old Town Walking Routes
April's cool temperatures (averaging 7-12°C or 45-54°F) make extended walking genuinely comfortable - you won't overheat climbing the hills around Upper Castle or navigating the cobblestones through Uzupis. The variable weather actually works in your favor here since you're never far from a cafe or museum if rain hits. Morning walks from 9-11am tend to catch the best light without the chill, and the relatively sparse crowds mean you can photograph Pilies Street and Town Hall Square without timing shots around tour groups.
Trakai Castle Day Trips
The 28 km (17 mile) trip to Trakai works beautifully in April because the castle's dramatic island setting looks particularly striking when reflected in still-cold water, and you'll encounter maybe a quarter of the summer crowds. The castle itself is fully operational year-round, and April weather is cool enough for comfortable exploring without the sweltering heat that can make the upper levels stuffy in July. That said, bring layers - the lakeside location means wind chill is real, and temperatures can feel 3-4°C (5-7°F) cooler than Vilnius proper.
Soviet History Tours
Vilnius has a genuinely fascinating Soviet layer that most visitors miss, and April's cooler weather suits the sometimes somber nature of these experiences. You'll visit sites like the KGB Museum (Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights), former interrogation cells, and neighborhoods built during Soviet occupation. The indoor-heavy nature of these tours makes them perfect backup plans for rainy days, and the smaller April crowds mean more space in the museum's confined basement areas and better opportunities for questions.
Lithuanian Countryside Cycling
April marks the start of cycling season, and routes through Aukstaitija National Park or along the Neris River are genuinely beautiful as spring arrives - you'll see birch forests leafing out and encounter almost no one on weekday rides. Temperatures in the 8-14°C (46-57°F) range are actually ideal for cycling since you warm up quickly once moving. The main consideration is mud - trails can be soft after rain, so paved or gravel routes work better than single-track until later in the month.
Traditional Lithuanian Cooking Experiences
April is perfect timing for cooking classes because you're working with spring ingredients - wild garlic, early greens, and seasonal preparations that differ from summer or winter menus. These 3-4 hour sessions typically happen in home kitchens or small studios, teaching dishes like cepelinai (potato dumplings), saltibarsciai (cold beet soup, though you'll learn the warm spring version), and kugelis (potato pudding). The intimate indoor setting makes weather irrelevant, and April's smaller tourist numbers mean classes are genuinely small - often just 4-6 participants.
Curonian Spit Excursions
The 98 km (61 mile) sand spit shared with Russia makes for a striking day trip, and April means you'll have the dramatic dune landscapes largely to yourself. The drive from Vilnius takes about 4 hours to Nida, so this works best as an overnight or very long day trip. April weather on the coast runs cooler than Vilnius - expect 6-10°C (43-50°F) with significant wind - but the stark beauty of empty beaches and the Hill of Witches sculpture trail are genuinely worth experiencing without summer crowds.
April Events & Festivals
Easter Celebrations
Easter dates shift annually but often fall in April, bringing traditional Lithuanian celebrations including elaborately decorated eggs (marguciai), special foods like Easter bread (boba), and services at major churches including Vilnius Cathedral and St. Anne's Church. The Saturday evening vigil at the Cathedral draws substantial crowds and features candlelit processions. Markets around Town Hall Square sell traditional Easter items throughout the week before. This is genuinely a local celebration, not a tourist event, which makes it more authentic but also means less English explanation of what's happening.
Vilnius Jazz Festival
When it falls in April (the festival sometimes shifts between late April and early May), this brings international and Lithuanian jazz acts to venues across the city for about 10 days. Performances happen in clubs, concert halls, and sometimes outdoor spaces if weather permits. Tickets run 15-35 EUR per show depending on venue and artist. The festival atmosphere is relaxed and genuinely focused on music rather than being a major tourist draw, which means smaller crowds and better access to performers.