Vilnius - a relatively small city, which has about 500 thousand inhabitants. At the same time, this is a fairly large center of commerce: for this number of residents in Vilnius there are 6 major shopping and entertainment centers and countless shops, shops and all kinds of boutiques. At the same time, there is no shortage of visitors in all of them - both from local residents and visiting foreigners. The secret lies primarily in their dissimilarity: each trading institution in Lithuania has its own "zest."

Souvenirs from Vilnius

First, the traditional Baltic goods are amber. It is mined here a lot, so the products of amber are inexpensive. In the very center of Vilnius there are several souvenir bazaars where you can find a huge assortment of products from this stone. Also it is worth to go for a walk in small shops in the Old Town of Vilnius: in addition to shopping, the very contemplation of the exceptional jewelry made of amber will bring a lot of impressions. Most jewelry and talismans made of amber are made by Lithuanian craftsmen manually.

Secondly, it is customary to bring traditional ceramics from Lithuania. All kinds of plates, beer mugs, ashtrays and figurines of devils - their biggest choice is presented at the Museum of Devils - are inexpensive and are sold in the same place as amber: in the central streets of the city.

In the third, from here it is customary to bring hand-made articles of wood with an image Vilnius and Lithuania: wooden spoons, beer mugs, plates, breadcrumbs, ashtrays, etc. They are made only by hand, and each of them can be called a work of art. There is always something to choose from in the souvenir market on Pilies Street, in the Lithuanian souvenirs shop.

Fourth, Lithuania is famous for its flax: a huge selection of tablecloths, napkins, linen clothes of various colors can be purchased at specialized shops in the central streets of Vilnius . In addition to traditional products, they also make dolls from flax - their Vilnius craftsmen sew by hand.

Fifth, you should pay attention to decorative glassware. Glass souvenirs are blown by Lithuanian masters in technology, very similar to Murano. Buy them at any souvenir shop and on the street markets.

And in the sixth - Lithuania is famous for its knitted goods. Woolen socks, mittens and hats with national ornaments are especially popular. Buy them at any store with clothes and specialized "tourist" shops - of course, at a different price.

In addition, Latvian cooking is good enough that many tourists want to take home a piece of Vilnius in the form of a smoked eel, a traditional cake "shakotis "(Sweet cake made of short dough in the form of a tree, hollow inside), Latvian bread and cheese. Bread and pies are better to buy in small private bakeries, cheese to choose brands "Svaly", "Rokishkio Suris", "Tilzhe" - it can also be purchased at the supermarket.

Also it is impossible to imagine a trip to Lithuania without tasting the famous Lithuanian beer, which on the quality of practically not inferior to the German. The most famous varieties of Lithuanian beer are: "Svyturys", "Utenos", "Kalnapilis". And among the equally famous Lithuanian liqueurs is to choose popular brands: "Palanga", "Dainava", "Sokoladinis", as well as all kinds of tinctures and balms. You can buy all this magnificence both in ordinary supermarkets and in specialized shops and shops.

Gediminas Avenue is a popular shopping arena

Drink a cup of coffee, and again for shopping!

Vilnius Shopping Centers

The main street for shopping in Vilnius with shops on both sides is Gediminas Avenue. It starts from the Old Town and continues to the Neris River. The streets of the Old Town of Didzioji, Pilies, Vokieciu are good not only in the spirit of the Middle Ages and old architecture, but also in boutiques of such famous brands as Hugo Boss, Maxmara, GF Ferre, Prada, La Perla, United Colors of Benetton, Zara, Mango, Emporio Armani.

The largest shopping center in Vilnius is Akropolis. In addition to many shops, there are a bowling alley, a cinema, an ice arena, a network of banks, Internet cafes, dry cleaning, a beauty salon, a solarium, a hairdresser and much more - you can go in the morning and leave it in the late evening.

The second most important shopping center - "Europa", in which more than 80,000 shops, 4 restaurants and 5 cafes are located on an area of ​​more than 20,000 m². Fountain, architectural details, many flowers and plants make its interior unique. A rest from the intense shopping in the shopping center can be done in a cafe, which literally floats in the air.

If this is not enough, you can go to OZAS, where on a total area of ​​180 thousand sq. M are about 200 shops with a rich assortment of clothes , cosmetics, jewelry, accessories, office supplies, office equipment, household goods. There are also various cafes and restaurants, cinemas, X-Planet entertainment center, observation areas with city views, beauty salons

And the three-storey modern shopping center "Panorama" located in the center of the Lithuanian capital is a favorite place for rest and Lithuanians themselves , and numerous guests of the city. Here even performances of foreign artists are held, and in terms of assortment and service the shopping center is in no way inferior to modern Western European models. One of the floors of the center is completely under the children's play area, and a superb view of the city opens from the third-floor restaurants

Vilnius Central Universal Store (VCUP), opened in 1975, was the main shopping center in Soviet times. Today VCUP operates over 150 stores, many of which represent Lithuanian brands Ramunė Piekautaitė, Trinite, Zoraza, Lino Kopos, Sirena. There are also various services, restaurants and cafes. Through the glass wall of the center visitors can admire the view of the Neris River

Gedimino 9 is located in the very center of Vilnius. In more than 65 stores you can find clothes, shoes, cosmetics, products from amber, antiques, accessories, furniture, dishes, watches, household goods. On the 4th floor there is a gallery of Lithuanian design and fashion. And on the top floor there is an observation deck with a view of the Old Town

Among the supermarkets of Lithuania, the networks Maxima, Rimi, Iki, Ikiukas (medium and high price range) and more budgetary Norfa and Prizma are allocated. And the most economical way for shopping in Vilnius is the Gariūnai Market, one of the biggest in the Baltics.

Traditional Lithuanian souvenirs can also be bought in the Museum of Amber Sculptures, the Museum of the Amber Gallery, the Small Amber Museum, and also Flax and Amber Studios and Linas Studios.