Things to Do in Vilnius in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Vilnius
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Christmas markets transform the Old Town into something genuinely magical - the main market in Cathedral Square runs late November through early January with 50+ wooden stalls selling crafts, mulled wine, and proper Lithuanian food. Unlike Western European markets, prices stay reasonable at €3-5 for food, €2-3 for drinks.
- Accommodation costs drop 30-40% compared to summer peak. You'll find excellent boutique hotels in the Old Town for €60-80 per night that would cost €120+ in July. Book by early November for best selection, though last-minute deals appear after December 20th when business travel stops.
- The city feels authentically local in December - you're experiencing Vilnius as residents do, not the tourist-oriented summer version. Cafes are full of locals, not tour groups. Museums have 5-10 minute queues instead of hour-long waits. You'll actually have space to appreciate the Baroque architecture without dodging selfie sticks.
- Winter light creates remarkable photography conditions. Sunrise around 8:30am and sunset by 4pm means golden hour lighting lasts most of the day. Snow-dusted red rooftops against grey skies produce that classic Eastern European winter aesthetic that's impossible to capture in summer.
Considerations
- Daylight is brutally short - roughly 7.5 hours from sunrise to sunset. By 4:30pm it's fully dark, which compresses sightseeing into a narrow window. If you're not a morning person, you'll miss half the available light. Indoor activities become necessary rather than optional.
- The cold is legitimate and unrelenting. This isn't charming winter-wonderland cold - it's the kind that makes your face hurt after 15 minutes outside. Wind chill regularly pushes feels-like temperatures to 15-20°F (-9 to -7°C). You'll spend more on taxis than planned because walking 1.5 km (0.9 miles) becomes genuinely unpleasant.
- Many outdoor attractions and viewpoints lose their appeal. Climbing the 200+ steps up Gediminas Tower is miserable in freezing wind. The Bernardine Gardens are essentially closed. River walks along the Neris become pointless. About 40% of what makes Vilnius charming in summer simply doesn't work in December.
Best Activities in December
Old Town Walking Tours and Architecture Exploration
December is actually ideal for appreciating Vilnius's UNESCO-listed Old Town architecture because the bare trees don't obstruct building facades and winter light emphasizes the Baroque details. The compact Old Town covers roughly 3.6 square km (1.4 square miles), so you can see major sites in 2-3 hour walking sessions before needing to warm up. Morning tours work best - starting at 10am gives you maximum daylight and the cobblestones are less icy than evening. The cold keeps crowds minimal, so you'll actually get quality time inside churches like St. Anne's and Vilnius Cathedral without tour group congestion.
Soviet History and KGB Museum Experiences
December's grim weather actually enhances the Soviet-era historical sites. The Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights (former KGB headquarters) with its basement prison cells feels more authentic when you're already cold. The brutalist architecture of the former Communist Party headquarters and Lukiskes Prison make more sense against grey December skies than summer sunshine. These are indoor-focused activities perfect for short daylight hours, typically requiring 2-3 hours per major site. The emotional weight of these spaces somehow matches the season.
Traditional Lithuanian Sauna and Spa Experiences
Lithuanian sauna culture becomes essential rather than optional in December. Traditional smoke saunas followed by cold plunges make perfect sense when it's 25°F (-4°C) outside. This is what locals actually do in winter - spending 2-3 hours alternating between 180°F (82°C) saunas and cold pools, often combined with birch branch treatments. Several bathhouses in the Old Town and Uzupis neighborhood offer authentic experiences without resort prices. Evening sessions from 6-9pm are popular with locals, creating genuine cultural immersion.
Christmas Market Food and Craft Exploration
The Christmas markets run from late November through early January and represent December's main outdoor draw. Cathedral Square hosts the largest market with 50+ stalls, while smaller markets appear in Town Hall Square and Bernardine Gardens. This is genuine local culture, not tourist theater - vendors sell Lithuanian honey spirits, amber jewelry, wool crafts, and traditional foods like cepelinai and kibinai. Mulled wine costs €2-3, hot mead €3-4, and food portions run €3-6. Plan for 1-2 hour visits in late afternoon when lights create atmosphere but it's not yet brutally cold.
Contemporary Art Gallery and Museum Circuit
December's short daylight makes Vilnius's indoor art scene more appealing. The MO Museum showcasing Lithuanian modern art, National Gallery with its contemporary wing, and numerous independent galleries in Uzupis create a legitimate art circuit. Vilnius has been investing heavily in contemporary art infrastructure, and the museum quality rivals larger European cities at a fraction of the cost. Entry fees run €6-12 per museum. The art spaces are properly heated, uncrowded in December, and you can easily spend 4-5 hours exploring without repeating the outdoor cold-warmup cycle.
Day Trips to Trakai Castle
Trakai Island Castle, 28 km (17 miles) west of Vilnius, becomes a proper winter castle in December. The 14th-century fortress surrounded by frozen or partially frozen lakes creates that medieval winter fortress aesthetic. The castle interior is fully heated and houses a decent historical museum requiring 1-1.5 hours. The surrounding town offers traditional Karaim pastries called kibinai that taste better when it's freezing outside. Total trip time is 4-5 hours including 40-minute transport each way. Snow coverage is hit-or-miss but when it happens, the photography is exceptional.
December Events & Festivals
Vilnius Christmas Market
The main Christmas market in Cathedral Square runs from late November through early January, featuring 50+ wooden stalls selling Lithuanian crafts, amber jewelry, wool products, and traditional foods. Unlike commercialized Western European markets, this maintains authentic Lithuanian character with local vendors and reasonable prices. Evening lighting ceremonies happen around 5pm when the cathedral and market illuminate simultaneously. Weekends feature live folk music and occasional craft demonstrations.
New Year's Eve Celebrations in Cathedral Square
December 31st brings the city's largest public celebration to Cathedral Square with live concerts, fireworks at midnight, and an outdoor party atmosphere despite freezing temperatures. Thousands of locals gather from 10pm onward. The celebration is free and genuinely festive, though expect crowds of 15,000-20,000 people. Nearby bars and restaurants run special events with advance bookings required. The party continues in Old Town bars until 3-4am.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Traditions
December 24-25 sees most of Vilnius shut down for family celebrations. This is worth noting because nearly all restaurants, shops, and many attractions close. Christmas Eve is the main celebration day in Lithuania, with traditional 12-dish meatless feasts. Churches hold midnight masses that are open to visitors - Vilnius Cathedral's midnight service on December 24th is particularly atmospheric. December 25th remains quiet with limited services, making it a poor day for sightseeing.