In the view of many neighbors, Vilnius is a small boring town, in which there is nothing to do, and there is no shopping. This is actually not the case. The capital of Lithuania, although small, is cozy and colorful. And even if this is not the capital of shopping, there is always something to buy here.
What to buy
If we talk about souvenirs, the first thing that is associated with Lithuania is wooden toys. There are many of them, for example, in souvenir shops in the old part of the city. This is a great gift not only for children but also for adults. Also, shopping in Vilnius will not do without buying amber products, its choice is greater than in Latvia, and the prices are more reasonable. Also, Lithuania, like other Baltic countries, is famous for its ceramics. Tourists mostly buy figurines, but if you try, you can buy beautiful and functional dishes.
If you want to buy clothes or shoes, there are many shopping centers and single-brand boutiques in the city, many international brands and interesting local brands are represented.
And, of course, without food: in terms of gastronomic souvenirs, Lithuania is very interesting. There are many varieties of delicious rennet cheese, such as apple or black plum. In stores there are even sets of several varieties on a wooden board, supplemented with a knife and a jar of honey. You can buy Lithuanian rye bread and smoked eel in the company of cheese .
A great present is chocolate or Rūta brand sweets. Candy stores sell candy and chocolate in the form of figurines or in gift sets. Such a present will be more remembered after a trip to shopping.
Vilnius: tips for shopaholics
If you are traveling to Lithuania and in local stores you see things at the same prices as, say, in Russia, take everything here, since you can get a VAT tax refund using the tax refund system.
What else distinguishes shopping in Vilnius? There are many Russian-speaking people here, which means that sellers in the store will always help you make purchases without a language barrier.
Shops usually work until 11 p.m., but if you plan to buy local tincture, liquor or any other alcohol, remember that it is sold only until 10 p.m.
When buying clothes, pay attention to local brands, they offer good things in the style of Scandinavian minimalism, for example, the Happeak brand. There is no doubt about the quality of Lithuanian fabrics; they always comply with international certificates.
If you are interested in discounts, then in Lithuania everything is like in the rest of Europe: sales at the end of each season and big sales on Christmas. There are also night sales, all the ads can be found on the Internet on the sites of shopping centers.
Shopping centers
There are as many as 5 shopping centers in Vilnius, and during the sales season they are literally crowded with tourists from the nearest Ukraine and Belarus, all because the discounts here are larger and the choice is better, and you can get to Vilnius in a few hours.
Shopping centers are convenient in that they collect under one roof both clothing and shoe stores for the whole family, and home appliance departments, and bookstores, and souvenir shops, and supermarkets with national products that allow for full shopping in Vilnius. “Akropolis” is the largest of such centers, where in addition to shops there are cafes with restaurants, a bowling alley, a cinema, and even an ice rink. At the box office of the shopping center for one and a half euros you can buy a discount card and start shopping in more than 200 mall stores. In addition, the center has a large round-the-clock parking, which is convenient for those who come to Lithuania by car. The pluses are that it is not only the largest shopping center of the city, but also that it is geographically closest to the border of the city. It is also convenient for car travelers who plan on shopping in Vilnius.
What is worth visiting besides the Acropolis is another popular mall - Ozas. But locals and children appreciate it more, which is not surprising, because there is a huge entertainment center with attractions, trampolines and other entertainments. For just a few euros per hour, you can leave your child with animators and calmly go shopping. A special discount card is also available for foreigners, which can be obtained at the information desk. The shopping center is also known for offering rare global brands for us, but they are not cheap either.
Other shopping centers are no less interesting:
- Modern EUROPA with the best Japanese restaurant in the city and many exclusive brands and popular European brands of quality clothing.
- PANORAMA with a large number of shops of local and international brands, restaurants, a children's room and a karting track. Focus on the second floor, here are clothes and shoes, on the first - interior items, and on the top floor - cafes and restaurants.
- The oldest shopping center in the city VCUP, where you can make purchases in one of 150 stores.
Outlets
These large shops or centers where you can buy branded items from old collections for little money are very common all over the world and especially in Europe. There is one such large outlet in Vilnius. This is PARKAS OUTLET. It is located within the city, and discounts on things in it reach 70%, so if you are not after fresh collections, be sure to check here.
Boutiques
Like any European capital, Vilnius is filled with boutiques of famous premium brands. If you are interested in just such stores, go to Gedemino Street, where directly from the Cathedral you will find boutiques of Prada, La Perla, MaxMara, Armani, HugoBoss and other world brands. There are also local designers. What else is pleasant shopping in Vilnius in these places? You can admire the unique architecture, leaving the shops, because this is the old part of the city.
Markets
Gariunai is the most famous tourist market offering shopping in Vilnius. Reviews recommend it to fans of cheap purchases. It has nothing to do with the tourist national and colorful markets in old cities throughout Europe. In fact, Garyunay is a clothing market where you can inexpensively buy a variety of clothes. Directly opposite it there is also a large automobile market.
Souvenir shops
Souvenirs are presented in a wide variety in shops in the old part of the city and in flea markets. Unusual shopping Vilnius offers just at the last. Look for such antique crashes on weekends near the Franciscan monastery or on Mount Tauro. Here you can always buy antique dishes or clothes, coins, paintings and much more. Also go to Pilies Street, where local craftsmen put up for sale ceramics, wood products, amber, flax. Not all stores here return tax for shopping in Vilnius, so if you are of principle, look for the appropriate sticker on the window or door.
An interesting assortment is presented in the Aušros Vartų Meno Galerija store near the Gate of Dawn. Here you can buy not just crafts, but real works of art: national dolls, jewelry, dishes, paintings.
Of course, Vilnius is full of all kinds of shops. Most of them are designed for a thoughtful buyer. And those who have little time, but want to bring something interesting, are waiting for supermarkets, for example, “Iki” at the bus station or “Maxim” near the railway station. Here you can always buy gastronomic souvenirs and magnets with the sights of Vilnius.