A Week in Vilnius: What's Actually Worth Your Time
It's easy to get Vilnius wrong. I learned that the hard way when I spent my first morning wandering the narrow streets of the Old Town, convinced that the best coffee was just around the corner. I ended up at a tiny café on Šventaragio Street, where the barista handed me a cup of coffee for 2.50 EUR and a slice of šakotis, a traditional Lithuanian layered cake, for 1.80 EUR. The coffee was good, but the real surprise was the owner, who told me, "You're looking for the best coffee? It's not here. It's at the place with the red door on Pilies Street." I followed her advice, and that's when I realized Vilnius isn't about chasing perfection—it's about embracing the unexpected. One of the most common mistakes visitors make is assuming Vilnius is a city of old-world charm only. While the UNESCO-listed Old Town is stunning, the city's real magic lies in its hidden gems. For instance, the Vilnius Botanical Garden, located just a short walk from the c...