Private Jewish Vilnius Tour: Jerusalem of Lithuania

Vilnius earned the name Jerusalem of Lithuania because the Jewish community shaped the city's culture for six centuries.

A private three-hour walking tour of Vilnius's Jewish quarter with an accredited English-speaking guide and hotel pickup from centrally located hotels. You walk the Old Jewish Quarter's inner courtyards, visit the functioning Choral Synagogue, see the grave of Vilna Gaon, and hear stories of Strashun Street's former shops and restaurants. The tour covers the site of the Great Ghetto, the Uzupis graveyard monument built from tombstones, and the oldest Jewish cemetery destroyed by the Soviet regime.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Jewish Vilnius history and sites

• Walk Old Jewish quarter and see murals
• Learn about Choral Synagogue history
• Visit Vilna Gaon's grave
• See Uzupis graveyard monument
• Hear stories of Great Ghetto and Strashun Street
• Walk along Jewish community street
• Discover places linked to Vilna Gaon
• Visit oldest Jewish cemetery site

The experience

Three hours on foot through Vilnius's Old Jewish Quarter with a guide who knows the neighborhood's layered history. The tour moves through the inner courtyards where murals now mark the buildings where former residents lived, then to the Choral Synagogue: the only one still functioning in the city, though it closes on Saturdays and major religious holidays without advance notice. You'll stand at the grave of Vilna Gaon, the 18th-century Talmudist whose scholarship put Vilnius on the map of Jewish culture across Europe.

The route traces Strashun Street, where visible traces of Jewish shops and businesses still mark the buildings, and takes in the Uzupis graveyard site, now commemorated by a monument constructed from former tombstones. You'll hear the history of the Great Ghetto and the atrocities that followed, then walk through streets connected to Elijah ben Solomon Zalman and the first vegetarian restaurant run by the Faina Lewando family, a place beloved by connoisseurs. The tour ends at the site of the oldest Jewish cemetery, destroyed during the Soviet era.

Hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located Vilnius hotels is included, and the guide speaks English throughout. Infants can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available if you request them in advance.

What’s included

• English-speaking accredited guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located Vilnius hotels.
• access to the Old Jewish Quarter, inner courtyards, Choral Synagogue exterior, Vilna Gaon's grave, Uzupis graveyard monument, Strashun Street, and the oldest Jewish cemetery site.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 15:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Child (under 7): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 45 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Senamiescio Gidas

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a guide who knows the neighborhood's history in depth and can answer questions as you walk, rather than moving through a group. The three-hour length fits a half-day in Vilnius without rushing the stories behind each stop.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 7): free.

What is the Choral Synagogue and can I go inside?

The Choral Synagogue is the only functioning Jewish synagogue in Vilnius. The interior is not open to visitors on Saturdays, during major religious holidays, or sometimes without advance notice, so access depends on the day and any closures the synagogue has scheduled.

Who was Vilna Gaon and why does the tour visit his grave?

Vilna Gaon was Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, an 18th-century Talmudist, halakhist and kabbalist whose scholarship and influence put Vilnius and Lithuania on the map of Jewish culture. The tour visits his grave as a landmark of his connection to the city.

What happened to the Great Ghetto?

The Great Ghetto was the site of atrocities with tragic consequences for Vilnius's Jewish community. The guide explains this history and the buildings on nearby Strashun Street that still bear visible signs of the former Jewish shops and life there.

How does the tour handle the sites of destroyed cemeteries?

The tour visits the site of the oldest Jewish cemetery, destroyed during the Soviet era, and the Uzupis graveyard, now commemorated by a monument built from former tombstones. Both stops tell the story of how these spaces were lost and how they are remembered today.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour is a three-hour walk through Vilnius's Old Jewish Quarter and is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.