In 1991 Lithuania gained full independence from the USSR. A bursting Vilnius school trip itinerary allows students to explore the ingenious resistance and open rebellion of the Lithuanian people including its Singing Revolution and 600km Baltic Peace Chain.
Vilnius
- 4 days
- +2 hrs (UTC)
- Lithuania
- Approx. 3hrs
- Vilnius Old Town - A UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Gediminas' Castle Tower
- Grūtas Park
- Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
- Lukiškės Prison
- Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History
For the latest travel advice, including passport and visa information, visit the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website
Sample itinerary
This sample itinerary is offered as a guideline. The trip focus, length and itinerary/activities can be tailored to meet your learning objectives.
- Day
Day 1 - Fly to Vilnius, Guided Walking Tour
Arrive at Vilnius Airport and transfer by coach to your accommodation in the city centre. Familiarise yourself with your surroundings by heading into the city to explore Vilnius Old Town - A UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Medieval Old Town is labyrinthine, with cobbled streets, beautiful buildings and historic churches. Check out Pilies Street, the oldest street in Old Town which runs from the Vilnius Castle towards Poland and Russia. Take the easy hike up to Gediminas Castle Tower to capture great views of the city, the Neris River and the baroque masterpiece that is Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, now home to the National Museum of Lithuania.
As night falls, take a trip up Vilnius TV Tower. Soaring to 330 metres high, the tower is Lithuania’s tallest building with an observation deck and revolving restaurant.
Day 2 - Soviet Lithuania
Today is a full day dedicated to exploring the impact of Soviet rule on Lithuania. Begin with a walking tour of Vilnius to explore the significance of Soviet relics woven into its history.
Visit Grūtas Park to see an overwhelming collection of 86 Soviet-era statues and ideological memorabilia. Founded by a local business, the park houses statues removed during de-Sovietisation. Located in Dzūkija National Park, this controversial private museum features recreations of Soviet Gulag prison camps, complete with guard towers and barbed wire fences. The satirical Ig Nobel Prize was awarded to the park in 2001, which includes sections dedicated to totalitarian leaders and the Terror.
At lunchtime, explore Tymo Farmers Market, open on Thursdays, which also hosts the city’s Pink Soup Fest, or Paupys Market with its indoor urban jungle and vibrant foodie community.
Continue investigating Soviet control with a visit to the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, which delves into repression under Soviet authorities. Housed in the former NKVD headquarters, students can explore the prison isolation cells that detained suspicious citizens between 1940 and 1987. Its exhibitions explore the process of Sovietization, resistance from Lithuania's guerilla units, and their repression in the Unfair Fight exhibition. A further exhibition is dedicated to Lithuanians deported to gulags.
Finish the day with a visit to the Hill of Three Crosses. The crosses have become a symbol of the city. The original wooden crosses collapsed in 1869, and Tsarist authorities did not rebuild them. While occupied by the Germans in WWI, new concrete crosses were erected. These were demolished by the Soviets in 1950. The crosses you see today were built by the Lithuanian Independence movements against Soviet control.
Day 3 - Lithuania in the Cold War
Today, jump into exploring the Cold War in Lithuania. Start with a visit to one of the 300 civil defence shelters built to protect residents in and under Vilnius from chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks and air bombardment. You can choose either a guided or self-led tour into one of these underground bunkers. Feel its isolation, try on the protective equipment, and explore authentic survival tools, all surrounded by original Soviet-era posters.
Next, head to Lukiškės Prison. During the Cold War, it housed criminals alongside political prisoners and exiles from Lithuania, Belarus, and Poland. A tour here looks at the prison’s 115-year history through both World Wars and the Cold War, as well as the daily life of inmates in the preserved buildings. Now a public arts centre known as Lukiškės Prison 2.0, it features music and food trucks daily and has even served as a background for "Stranger Things" Season 4.
Finish the day with a walk along Gediminas Avenue, until you find the district courthouse. Visible inscriptions commemorate victims of the Soviet occupation. Under Nazi rule, the Gestapo used this building, and under the Soviets, it became a KGB headquarters. During the Nazi occupation of Lithuania, the Gestapo functioned here, and during the Soviet era the building was converted into the KGB headquarters.
Day 4 - Lithuania and the Holocaust
Finish with one last activity to match your educational goals.
Students could explore the impact of the Holocaust in Lithuania with a visit to the small Green House Museum or the larger Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History which hosts the resettled Paneriai Memorial Museum exhibiting documents and reports issued by the Nazi occupiers and personal belongings of those killed in the massacres.
Fly home after a fascinating trip.
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What’s included
Full TCBC support from the moment you book until you return home
Full itinerary flexibility to ensure the perfect tour for your students
We'll source the best available flights based on your school's location
You'll have all our necessary contact details to hand should the need arise
Knowledgeable TCBC guide ready to bring your walking tours to life
Detailed itinerary, with all entrance fees included, no hidden costs
Return flights, 1 piece of hold luggage per person, airport taxes and security charges and ATOL Protection Contribution
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure with your local TCBC guide. We can also arrange your UK airport transfers if you wish
Experienced local TCBC guide in Moscow for all your excursions. Will accompany your group full time from early morning until late evening
Coach, fitted with seat belts, at your disposal throughout, including evenings
4 nights accommodation at 3 or 4 star hotel, twin rooms for students and single rooms for teachers
Breakfasts and dinners daily at the hotel, but sometimes in local city centre restaurants depending on your schedule
Guided tours of Red Square, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the Kremlin, Armoury, Novodevichy Cemetery, Gulag museum, Moscow metro, Victory Park, Great Patriotic War museum and Stalin’s Bunker
All entrance fees are included, there will be no hidden costs. The only money your students will need on tour will be for lunches and souvenirs.
24 hour emergency contact details of TCBC's office and your local guide's mobile number
The normal free staff place ratio is 1:10 but this is flexible and we'll work to whichever ratio you require
Please check with your school to ensure you are covered by an adequate travel insurance policy which we will need to see a copy of. We can help you source cover if you need
We generally don't include lunches unless requested. We prefer to let the students explore the local options and choose for themselves
If you feel you have received excellent service, then our local guides and drivers will appreciate being tipped. Guidelines will be outlined in your quote
We will inform you of the availability of ballet, opera, circus, folklore show and sports events closer to departure and invoice you at that stage
Accommodation
We regularly use the same properties in Vilnius who are used to working with our school groups and meet our high standards.
Hotel Vilnia
Hotel Vilnia, located within a historic 19th-century building alongside the Vilnia River in Vilnius , is just a 3-minute stroll from the iconic Gediminas' Tower.
Reasons to travel with us
We honestly believe we are the best in what we do. We'd love the opportunity to show you.
Safety & reliability
The safety of all our travellers is our number 1 priority. We have a robust Safety Management System in place to ensure that our tours are run to the high levels you expect.
Experience & expertise
We have years of experience in planning school tours. Our expertise lies in our organisational skills, attention to detail and an understanding of what you need to make your trip a success.
TCBC local guides
Our guides are our greatest assets and consistently lauded. Highly experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy, most are hand-picked and have worked with us for years.
Complete peace of mind
Our accreditations (ATOL, ABTA, STF, LOtC) provide you with the reliability, assurance and financial security expected from a specialist tour operator.
Customer
service
Our dedicated team is on hand to offer help and advice at every stage. We are positive you will be impressed with the high level of service you receive from us.
Flexibility & customisation
We customise every trip to suit your needs and offer maximum flexibility in planning your itinerary. We won’t rest until we get it right!
The personal touch
Getting to know our clients is very important to us. It’s very likely therefore that you’ll meet one or several of us at some point, either at school before departure or on the tour itself.
Total transparency
We include as much as possible in our quotes and are very transparent about what is and what is not included. There will be no hidden or surprise costs.
Pre-departure support
We understand how much work goes into planning a school trip. You will be dealing with the same people throughout the pre-departure process allowing us to respond quickly and accurately.
Repeat business
99.9% of teachers are so happy with our tours and our service that there is no need to travel with anyone else. We are confident you will feel the same way.
An incredible trip. I would strongly recommend without hesitation that any student of Russian history take the opportunity to visit this fabulous country.
