Wondering what to do in Vilnius in October? Well, even though the warm season in Lithuania is over, it doesn’t mean that the hustle and bustle of Vilnius ends as well. Actually, our capital city invites all its guests to attend the most interesting exhibitions, concerts and cultural Vilnius events during the upcoming month. So, here are some of the best things to do in Vilnius in October:
1. Vilnius Jazz
2. Vilnius Documentary Film Festival
3. Exhibitions
4. Concerts
5. Our Walking Tours
1. Vilnius Jazz
Where? Various venues.
When? From 16 to 20 October.
How much? From 21 Eur.
If you’re a jazz music lover and are wondering what to do in Vilnius in October, we definitely suggest you dedicate at least one of the cooler autumn evenings to a jazz concert. Vilnius Jazz Festival is an annual Vilnius event that hosts many famous international jazz musicians as well as Lithuanian performers. The concerts take place either at the Russian Drama Theatre or at a Jazz bar called “Paviljonas”, so it’s up to you to choose either the “formal” and sophisticated environment of a theatre or more of a laid-back vibe of a bar for a jazz performance.
More info: here.
Source: http://www.kult.lt/
2. Vilnius Documentary Film Festival
Where? Cinema center “Skalvija”.
When? From 24 September to 4 October.
How much? From 1,5 Eur.
This is the ultimate October Vilnius event for any cinema lover. Vilnius Documentary Film Festival offers a rich programme of 30 international films and invites the viewers not only to watch the documentaries, but also to meet the film creators, attend lectures and so on. This year the festival is focused on the topic of love, human connection and hope. We think that seeing a film on a gloomy day is one of the best things to do in Vilnius in October, especially since the quote above “Skalvija” cinema door reads “People often stop by the cinema to hide from the rain”.
3. Exhibitions
-
Open-air Exhibition “Balance in the Treetops”
Where? Europos parkas.
When? All October.
How much? From 1,5 Eur.
If the weather on your trip to Vilnius isn’t too bad, why not take a longer drive/bus ride (bus No. 66) to discover some outskirts of our capital city? Europos parkas (“The Park of Europe”) that’s located 17 kilometers away from Vilnius, invites you to a huge open-air modern art museum. This season the park has a new addition - an exhibition called “Balance in the Treetops”, created by the Polish sculptor Jerzy Kędziora a.k.a Jotka. The figures that are “floating” above the ground invite you to use your imagination and find new horizons, which is ideal for exploring a new city. A quick trip to a wooded area just outside town could be an awesome Vilnius attraction!
©EuroposParkas
For those who prefer to stay in the city, we definitely recommend checking out other exhibitions around town. Here are some of the most interesting ones in October:
-
Nature’s offices
Where? Town Hall.
When? Until 19 October.
How much? Free admission.
By placing various nature objects as in installation in the space of Vilnius Town Hall, the Lithuanian artist Aurelija Maknytė wants us to rethink our approach towards nature and our connection (or, maybe, disconnection?) to it. The exhibition does not only expose nature as “untouched”, but also shows it as something created by people.
More information here.
This is only one of the exhibitions at Town Hall. Click here to find others. They’re also worth your visit!
-
Wild Souls. Symbolism in the Art of the Baltic States
Where? National Gallery of Art.
When? Until 11 October.
How much? 5 Eur.
Since Symbolism in the Baltics was quite different to the one in Western Europe, it’s interesting to explore it from our point of view, especially to those interested in art. This exhibition hosts artworks of the most important 19-20 century artists from the Baltics.
This is only one of the exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art. Click here to find others. They’re also worth your visit!
-
Why Is it Hard to Love?
Where? MO Museum.
When? All October.
How much? 7 Eur for a standard ticket. Find other prices here.
This exhibition was born after the curator, Dutch multimedia artist and director Saskia Boddeke, wrote a poem for her daughter in order to inform her on what the world is struggling with today. This may sound a bit negative, but the message the artists send is optimistic: the struggle is what gives our existence meaning. The exhibition is an interactive process that invites you to create characters and experience it as a movie!
More information here.
This is only one of the exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art. Click here to find others. They’re also worth your visit!
©Norbert Tukaj
4. Concerts
One of the best things to do in Vilnius in October could be catching a concert or two. Here are the ones we recommend:
-
X International St. James Festival
Where? Various venues.
When? 18-31 October.
How much? Free admission.
This festival of choral music does not only offer you free concerts, but also invites you to the most beautiful churches of Vilnius. Don’t miss the chance to listen to some classical music performed by the best Lithuanian choirs.
More information here.
Source: http://www.chorasvilnius.lt/st-james-festival/
-
Concerts at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society
Where? Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society.
When? All October.
How much? Various prices. Check here.
Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society offers lots of concerts for the month of October. If you’re up for an evening with the music of Beethoven, Paganini or Mozart, just grab your ticket and head to one of the most beautiful buildings of Vilnius.
More information here.
5. Our Walking Tours
Where? Vilnius.
When? Whichever time you choose by pre-booking a tour, check here.
How much? Depends on the tour, but do not forget that we offer two free tours - pay whatever seems reasonable to you.
Finally, one of the best things to do in Vilnius is to join a walking tour guided by locals. Whatever the season, we are waiting for you every day! And the month of October is perfect for exploring - it doesn’t get any hot and there aren’t too many people on the streets. If you’re having trouble choosing which tour to take, check out this blog post. Pick the one that suits your interests the most and let’s meet up!
We really hope you’ll enjoy your stay in Vilnius in October! If you’d like to explore more general ideas on what to do in Vilnius if the weather isn’t treating you the nicest (which, let’s be honest, does happen in October here), check out our blog post on what to do in Vilnius on a rainy day.