The Vilnius Christmas market opens on Cathedral Square on 28 November 2026, the same day the city lights its Christmas tree, and runs until 27 December 2026. The stalls sit beneath the tree in front of the white Cathedral, with a two-storey carousel beside them and a Christmas train looping through the lit-up Old Town. Vilnius was European Christmas Capital in 2025, and the season has become one of the busiest times of year to visit the Lithuanian capital.
Arriving on the day you leave? Leave your bags near Vilnius station and walk up through the Old Town to the market.
Vilnius Christmas Market 2026: Key Facts
| Dates | 28 November – 27 December 2026 |
| Tree lighting | Saturday 28 November 2026, opening the festive season |
| Location | Cathedral Square (Katedros aikštė), Old Town |
| Opening hours | 2026 hours not yet published; in recent seasons stalls opened around midday and stayed open into the evening, later on Fridays and Saturdays |
| Entry | Free |
| Christmas train | 28 November 2026 – 6 January 2027, through the Old Town |
| Nearest station | Vilnius railway station, about 25 minutes’ walk through the Old Town |
The city’s tourism office publishes the full programme and any changes on Go Vilnius.
Cathedral Square and the Tree Lighting
Cathedral Square is the city’s main open space, between the Cathedral, its free-standing bell tower and the Gediminas hill with its castle tower above. The tree goes up in the middle of the square every year, and its design changes from season to season, so locals turn out on lighting night to see what it looks like. The market huts wrap around it, selling food, hot drinks, crafts and gifts, and the two-storey carousel stands next to the stalls.
Lighting night on 28 November is the busiest evening of the season. If you prefer space to look around, come on a weekday afternoon and stay until dark, when the tree and the Cathedral are lit.
Other Festive Events in the City
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 28 November | Christmas tree lighting and market opening | Cathedral Square |
| 28 November | Charity market | Town Hall Square |
| 28 November – 6 January | Christmas train | Old Town |
| 5 December | Christmas Run | City streets |
| 15–20 December | Design Square, a market of local designers and handmade gifts | See the official programme |
| 17 December | Maltesers’ Soup Day (charity) | See the official programme |
| 31 December | New Year’s Eve projection on the bell tower | Cathedral Square |
Town Hall Square, at the other end of Pilies and Didžioji streets, has an ice rink during the season, and festive buses visit different neighbourhoods around the city. The walk between the two squares along Pilies street is the prettiest stretch of the Old Town after dark.
Food and Drink at the Vilnius Christmas Market
The stalls at the Vilnius Christmas market lean towards Lithuanian comfort food and sweets. Look out for:
- Kūčiukai, small crunchy bread bites traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve, often with poppy seed milk or cranberry juice.
- Šakotis, the tall spiky tree cake baked in layers on a spit over an open flame.
- Cepelinai (potato dumplings) and kugelis (potato pudding) if you need a proper meal.
- Kibinai, savoury pastries originally from the Karaim community of Trakai.
- Varškės spurgos (cottage cheese doughnuts), honey cake and mulled wine to keep warm.
How to Get to the Vilnius Christmas Market
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Vilnius railway and bus station | Walk through the Gates of Dawn and along Didžioji and Pilies streets to Cathedral Square, or take a city bus | About 25 min on foot |
| Vilnius Airport | Airport train to the railway station, or city bus towards the centre | About 20–30 min |
| Kaunas | Regular trains and buses | About 1h–1h30 |
| Riga | Long-distance bus or train | About 4h |
| By car | The Old Town has limited parking; park outside the centre and walk | Varies |
Tips for Visiting
- Dress for real cold. December in Vilnius is often below freezing, and the square is exposed to the wind.
- It gets dark around 16:00 in December, so you can see the lights early and still have a full evening.
- Walk the Old Town between the two squares. Several streets and courtyards are decorated, and the Gates of Dawn are on the way from the station.
- Note the end date. The Cathedral Square market closes on 27 December, while the Christmas train runs until 6 January.
- Pair Vilnius with Riga or Tallinn for a Baltic Christmas market trip by bus or train.
Luggage Storage Near the Vilnius Christmas Market
Vilnius is often one stop on a Baltic trip, so lots of visitors spend their last afternoon at the market before a bus or train to Riga, or a flight home. The Old Town streets are cobbled and icy in winter, which makes dragging a suitcase to Cathedral Square slow going.
Radical Storage has verified partner hotels, cafés and shops in Vilnius, including in the Old Town, by Reformatų Park, near the Central Train Station and near the Gates of Dawn. Book online in a minute, drop your bags and collect them before you leave. Every bag is protected up to €10,000, cancellation is free and travellers rate the service 4.8/5.
- Luggage storage near Vilnius station for train, bus and airport-train arrivals.
- Luggage storage near Cathedral Square, close to the market.
Vilnius Christmas Market FAQ
The Vilnius Christmas market runs on Cathedral Square from 28 November to 27 December 2026. It opens on the same day as the Christmas tree lighting.
The tree on Cathedral Square is lit on Saturday 28 November 2026, which opens the festive season in Vilnius.
Yes, entry is free. You pay for food, drinks, gifts and rides such as the carousel.
Look for kūčiukai Christmas Eve biscuits, šakotis tree cake, cepelinai potato dumplings, kibinai pastries, cottage cheese doughnuts, honey cake and mulled wine.
It is about a 25 minute walk through the Old Town, passing the Gates of Dawn and following Didžioji and Pilies streets. City buses also run towards the centre.
Radical Storage has partner locations in the Old Town, near the Central Train Station, by Reformatų Park and near the Gates of Dawn. Book online, drop your bags at a verified local business and collect them later, with protection of up to €10,000 per bag.
