What is Vilnius like to visit

Asks marmalade

A. If you have read Jonathan Franzen's current bestseller The Corrections, you could be mistaken for thinking Vilnius is full of corruption, a free market economy gone wild and much danger. But it is in fact the capital and most influential city in Lithuania and one of the hotspots of the Balkans alongside metropolitan Riga (in Latvia) and Tallinn (in Estonia).

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It is an old city (the oldest in Eastern Europe) full of cobbled streets with much of its architecture typical of its heyday in the 16th and 17th Centuries, when it was one of the biggest and most influential cities in Eastern Europe. It has always had a large Jewish population, which made it a target for the Nazi's during WWII, it was also occupied by Poland and Russia during the 20th Century and finally gained independence (from Russia) in 1991.

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Today, Vilnius is a progressive city full of hope and ambition since independence and is attracting tourists in their droves - as it offers old world charm, bohemian nightlife and lots to see and do.

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Q. What are the city's main attractions

A. There is a lot on offer here, some of the best things to seek out include the following:

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Old Town: the best place to start any trip here is in the Old Town (known locally as Senamiestis) as it is the heart of the city. It is full of cobbled streets and Baroque buildings, its main thoroughfare is Pilies Gatve (Castle Street).

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Vilnius University: dates back to the mid-16th Century and is built around several courtyards. It is also home to St John's Church, one of the most impressive in the city.

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Archbishop's Palace: dates back to the early 16th Century and was formerly a merchant's house. It's claim to fame is that it housed Napoleon during his ill-fated campaign against Russia in 1812.

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Vilnius Cathedral: dates back to the 13th Century although it has had many restorations and rebuilding since then. It is well known for its ceiling frescoes and the Chapel of St Kazimieras, who is the patron saint of Lithuania, and who is buried in the Cathedral's crypt.

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Genocide Museum: located on Lukiskiu aikste, one of the city's most famous squares, the museum was once the KGB headquarters in Lithuania and the headquarters of the Gestapo during WWII. Many of the guides are former inmates of the jail that runs underneath the building, and offer tours of the cells and sites of torture and execution of thousands of Jews.

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Lithuanian State Jewish Museum: is the best place to visit if you want to know more about the Jewish people, the Jewish areas and the synagogues that once graced this city. The city's Jewish inhabitants once made up over a third of the population here, and today only a few thousand still live here. You can take a tour of Jewish Vilnius from the museum - many are conducted in English - which offer a frightening, accurate and essential account of the city's history.

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Gates of Dawn: is the last remaining city gate (there were originally nine) that once offered an opening to the walls that surrounded and enclosed Vilnius. It is home to Lithuania's most religious monument - the White Madonna - revered by Polish Catholics and believed to have healing powers. It can be found inside St Teresa's Chapel.

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Vilnius Picture Gallery: restoration was completed on this building last year to restore it to its original function as Town Hall. It is also home to the Lithuanian Art Museum, which displays national art from the 16th-19th Centuries.

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St Casimir's Church: is the oldest Baroque church in the city, and dates back to 1603.

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Gediminas Tower: is Vilnius' most famous landmark and it sits upon Gediminas Hill and was once part of the castle and fortifications that surrounded the city. Today it houses the Castle Museum.

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Lithuania National Museum: covers the history of the country up until 1940.

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Gedimino prospektas: is the main commercial street in Vilnius and the best place for shopping.

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Q. What is the population of Vilnius

A. It is approximately 600,000.

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Q. Do I need a visa to visit Lithuania

A. Not if you are a UK citizen.

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Q. What is the best time of year to visit

A. May to September is the best time to visit.

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Q. What is the currency

A. Litas (plural is Litu).

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By Karen Anderson