We had originally planned to visit Poland back in 2022 as part of our Finland trip, but had to change our plans due to covid restrictions. With the geopolitical situation in that part of the world, we decided to go ahead and visit Poland and the Baltic countries this year when they are still relatively safe and stable, and also to check off few more countries in Europe on our bucket list.
10D9N in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia
28 May 2024 (Tues): Warsaw - Vilnius
After spending 4 days hopping around 4 cities in Poland, it was time to continue our journey to the next country...Lithuania! Traveling around Poland was very easy by train, but we found out that traveling between countries in this part of Europe is not as convenient by train. As such, we opted to travel by bus from Warsaw to Vilnius.
We got to the bus stop 20 minutes earlier as we weren't sure where to wait for the bus. Thankfully, our booking confirmation had a map to help us find the bus stop which was adjacent to Warsaw Central station. The bus arrived on time at 12am, and we only had to show our printed confirmation to the bus driver.
We booked our Lux Express bus tickets from Warsaw to Vilnius online on Feb 20 (about 3 months before) so we were able to get it at a good price of EUR 9.90 ($10.50) per person.
The bus was a 2-2 seating and it was clean and nice. There is a power outlet for each seat, a personal entertainment screen, toilet onboard, free WIFI, and free coffee/tea. As much as I like to be strategic when selecting airplane seats, I made the mistake of not selecting our seats strategically for this 8-hour overnight bus ride. I should have selected one aisle and one window seat in 2 different rows for each of us to increase the chances of us getting 2 seats for each of us. The bus was about 75% full.
Arrived Vilnius bus station at 8.30am. Hello Lithuania...country #48! Our morning workout began with a 20 minutes walk from the bus station to our hotel, with hip-hop Einstein cheering us on.
Arrived our hotel, Hotel Pacai Vilnius at 9am.
Booked our 1-night stay at this 5-star hotel with a Marriott 35K Free Nigth Certificate from our cc. The Standard room would have cost $249 per night. Not that we would pay o much for a hotel but cc has definiely enabled us to stay in facny places that we wouldn't normally stay.
Lobby & hotel restaurant
Glad we were able to check in early at 9am and got a free upgrade to a Deluxe room. The ceiling is very high and the design looks classy.
Nespresso and Milton Brown toiletries were complimentary.
After lazing around the hotel and freshening up, we were ready to head out and explore Vilnius at 11am.
We felt like we were in a museum instead of a hotel. This hotel is set in a Baroque palace dating back to 1677. Famouns for being the most magnificent mansion of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, this mansion lived through the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the rule of Russion czars, Napolean's entrance to Vilnius, and the Soviet before it was reborn in 2018.
Vilnius old town is comparatively less crowded as compared to the old towns in Poland. There were many one-way cobblestone streets.
The bohemic Republic of Uzupis. As if Lithuania is not small enough, the people in Uzupis consider themselves as a separate 'self proclaimed' republic and the bohemian heart of the city. They even have their own president, currency, flag, army (around 11 men), and Constitution, which consists of 39 articles that tell you the rights of the place, such as everyone has the right to be happy, and a dog has the right to be a dog. It is even translated into multiple languages.
St. Anne's church was built in the Gothic style and hasn't changed for over 500 years.
Interior of St. Anne's church
In our attempt to get to our next stop, Google navigated us through some random paths and we ended up walking through Bernadiny Sodas park, and a hike we weren't prepared for.
I didn't know that the Three Crosses Monument is actually located on a hill. This monument is not only a symbol of religious importance but also symbolizes the nation’s rise up against the Soviets.
Panoramic view of Vilnius city from the monument. Worth the short hike.
Completed our unplanned hike and took a quick break under the shade in front of Lithuania National Museum.
Vilnius Cathedral holds immense historical and cultural significance, making it a true gem of Lithuania. With its stunning architectural design and grandeur, the cathedral stands as a symbol of the country’s rich heritage. Spot what I did with the sun in the photo. :P
Cathedral Square is the main square of Vilnius and is surrounded by several significant buildings, including Vilnius Cathedral and the Gediminas Tower.It serves as a gathering place for locals and tourists alike, with its open space and beautiful architecture creating a sense of grandeur and tranquility.
Support for Ukraine can be seen everywhere in the Baltics. See the blue & yellow flags in front of the Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
Cute little street next to our hotel
Wrapped up our 2.5 hours sightseeing of Vilnius at 1.30pm at Town Hall Square.
Spent the rest of the day chilling in the hotel. We didn't even go out for lunch or dinner as we were trying to deplete the Mountain House meals we brought. :) Beautiful sunset and view of the hotel's courtyard from our room.
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