Lonely Planet Experiences Private Vilnius Tour: Soviet Stories
Vilnius, Lithuania
From USD 379.93
Office phone number: +370 616 20002 or +370 616 20007



Lonely Planet Experiences Private Vilnius Tour: Soviet Stories
Vilnius, Lithuania





Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Get a look at life behind the Iron Curtain on this private Vilnius time travelling tour that digs deep into the city’s Soviet past. Learn about ‘homo sovieticus’ and all the incredible and funny stories that shouldn’t be forgotten. Visit a local market, taste Soviet-era dishes, see the Soviet blocks that still stand, find out what life was like for the “happiest people in the world,” and learn why the entire Soviet empire collapsed.
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Find out what life was like for Vilnius locals during the Soviet occupation, with stories from your own private guide
- Learn the meaning of the Soviet-era saying, “It is better to have 100 friends than 100 rubles”
- Find out why it’s said there was no sex during Soviet times
- Enjoy a Soviet-style lunch in a typical Soviet-time cafe
- See important Soviet-era sites like the wedding palace, the former KGB headquarters, and the legendary TV tower
- Listen to funny and absurd stories of the weird reality that was the era of the Cold War
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- As part of the tour, you have lunch in a decades-old, family run canteen, servicing and supporting lower-income members of the community.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Meeting point:
Vilnius City Hall, next to the Tourism Information Office. Look for a guide wearing a black t-shirt with our BEST. DAY. EVER. logo, and a red ribbon showing Urban Adventures.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 2.00 PM
- Ending point:
Gedimino Avenue, Lukiškių Square, next to the KGB Museum
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, food tasting and snack, glass of beer.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks (beer, mead, wine, and kvass are available), entrance to the KGB museum (EUR 4 per person), public transport ticket (EUR 1 per person), tips/gratuities for your guide.
Exploring the Soviet past in Vilnius means diving into its quirks and absurdities, the funny and sad stories, and the harsh realities about life in ‘the best country in the world.’ On this private Vilnius tour, you’ll learn about Stalin’s horrors, as well as the struggles, resistance, and drive for freedom that destroyed the Soviet empire.
For 50 years, Lithuania was a Soviet republic and this period left many visible marks. This is a country where partisan war lasted for nine years, where almost every family has someone who perished in Gulags, where unarmed people protected their country from Soviet tanks, and where the collapse of the Soviet Union began.
We’ll meet for our Vilnius walking tour at the Town Hall, then walk toward the Jewish quarter and visit the local market, where not many things have changed, except the prices. Here we will try a Lithuanian specialty: salted and smoked bacon and “black bread,” which helped people to survive through both good and bad times. Then we’ll walk toward the former railway workers’ union house — a unique place that’s now converted into a nightclub and skating park, and decorated with modern art. You’ll learn why workers needed a palace and why some factories had no address, only a mailbox.
Next, we’ll head to the Soviet block apartment district. We’ll talk about what life was like in those apartments and what it felt like to be a citizen during that era. What was it like to live in the "best country in the world"? We’ll discuss all the details and rituals of daily life, like what locals ate for breakfast, and find out why good friends were more important than money. Your guide will even throw in a few jokes from Soviet times — the same jokes that used to once risk sending you to prison.
Next up on your private Vilnius tour, it’s time to explore cuisine à la Soviet! Find out why kitchens in Soviet blocks were limited to nine square metres in size, and why canned green peas and mayonnaise were top products at that time. We’ll then pop into a Soviet-inspired restaurant to taste very special ‘delicacies’ from Soviet times. Don’t be afraid — they’re actually surprisingly tasty! We’re talking about deep-fried pastry with minced meat and onion filling, which would only be prepared for special occasions. We’ll also try some Lithuanian soup, because Lithuanians can’t imagine lunch without it! And a glass of beer too, of course.
We’ll then do as the locals do and hop aboard public transit to the wedding palace, where we’ll tell you all about wedding traditions from Soviet times. Find out why only civil registration could guarantee the happiness of your marriage, how taxi drivers created new wedding traditions, and why there was no sex in the Soviet Union! We’ll also walk to a trade unions’ palace, built on a cemetery, where there are other Soviet secrets to share. We’ll hear about the importance of connections and the meaning of a Soviet saying, “It is better to have 100 friends than 100 rubles.”
From here, we’ll take in the sweeping view — including spying the legendary TV tower and the most popular pub in Soviet Lithuania. It is said that beer flew through the pipes here directly from the brewery, and people could talk freely here, as it was too noisy for the KGB to spy on them.
Our final stop will be where the Soviet era both started and ended: the former KGB headquarters, now a famous museum. It used to be said that one could see Siberia from there. Across the street, there used to be the biggest monument to Lenin in Lithuania — and here you will find out what happened to him when the Soviet era ended.
(If you’d prefer to travel as part of a regular group experience, please book our Soviet Stories of Vilnius group tour.)
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, food tasting and snack, glass of beer.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks (beer, mead, wine, and kvass are available), entrance to the KGB museum (EUR 4 per person), public transport ticket (EUR 1 per person), tips/gratuities for your guide.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: Travellers under 12 years of age are not permitted on this tour.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +370 616 20002 or +370 616 20007
Email address: info@vilniusurbanadventures.com
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