Things to do in Vilnius

Something is on in Vilnius every night, and most of the time we find out the next day from someone else’s photos. The problem is not supply, it is that supply is scattered across dozens of places. This guide is about finding an event while it is still useful to you.

When you want to go out tonight

The decision to go out is usually made the same day, a few hours ahead. When that is the case the category matters far less than distance and time. Start from what is on today and read it by start time: some events begin early in the evening, and club nights start considerably later.

Planning the weekend

Weekends are worth planning a few days ahead, because the popular things fill up. From Friday evening to Sunday, several layers usually overlap in Vilnius: concerts and parties, daytime markets and workshops, and exhibitions or tours that only run at weekends.

• Friday evening: concerts, premieres and season openings.
• Saturday daytime: markets, workshops, sport and community events.
• Saturday evening: the widest choice of the week, which is exactly why it pays to decide early.
• Sunday: exhibitions, late breakfasts, family things and quieter meetups.

Free events

There are more free events in Vilnius than it looks: community meetups, language clubs, book launches, open training sessions, talks and exhibition openings. They are advertised less because nobody is buying ads for them, so they are found by people who know where to look.

On Bonder a price is shown when the host states one. If there is no price, replying is free, and the event itself most likely is too.

By interest

Once you know what you are in the mood for, the fastest route is a category. Concerts and live music, parties and nightlife, exhibitions and culture, sport, food, workshops and community meetups each have their own page holding only that kind of event.

How not to miss the good ones

• Use the map, not just the list. The event two streets away usually beats the better one across town.
• Reply in advance. A free reply still takes a place, and capacity is often limited.
• Look at who is going. A guest list tells you more about an event than its description does.
• Follow venues, not only events. A club or cultural centre you liked probably has more worth seeing.