Place · Cathedral & Gediminas Hill
St Anne's Church and the Bernardine complex
A Gothic brick church beside a large Bernardine church and a river garden: 20–30 minutes; free or donation; the walk in from Užupis is short and flat.
- Gothic brick
- Napoleon story
- River garden
- Free entry
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 11Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Treat the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian borders with R…Old Town streets are cobbled and uneven, and snow or ice …
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Baltic states ↗Treat the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian borders with Russia and Belarus as closed to your plans: crossings are restricted, change within hours, and sit under advisories on the far side.
- Baltic states ↗Book open-jaw flights (into Tallinn or Vilnius, out of the other) so the line runs one way; Riga is the biggest airport if you need a single hub.
- Baltic states ↗Midsummer (23–24 June) is the biggest holiday in all three countries: cities empty, many businesses close and island and coast transport sells out.
- Lithuania ↗Lithuania is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Lithuanian sources for your passport.
- Lithuania ↗Borders with Belarus and the Russian Kaliningrad region are not routes for casual travel; check your government's advice first.
- Lithuania ↗The Curonian Spit is a protected national park: cars pay an entry fee, and the Russian half of the spit is a separate border.
- Vilnius and the east ↗Dec–Feb is cold and dark in Vilnius and Trakai: plan outdoor sights for 10:00 to 15:00.
- Vilnius ↗Old Town streets are cobbled and uneven, and snow or ice makes them slower: large suitcases go from the taxi to the door, never on a walk.
- Vilnius ↗December and January have about seven hours of daylight: plan outdoor sights for 10:00 to 15:00.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Usually Opens 09:00Usually Opens 9:00 AM
- Crowds
Quietest around 09:00 or 17:00 · go Late morning or golden hour
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Thu · busiest Fri–Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: free or donation
- Time to spend
- 25–35 min · up to 50 min if you linger
Best time to go
Quiet on weekday mornings; tour groups at 11:30; services on Sundays.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Thu, busiest Fri–Sun.
Opening hours
- Hours
- 09:00–? (typical, check)
- Note
- Opening hours and services change; not printed here until verified for your date.
- Hours note
- Usually open daytime except services (check).
Which month is quietest
- Janquiet
- Febquiet
- Marlight
- Aprbusy
- Mayheavy
- Junheavy
- Julheavy
- Augheavy
- Sepbusy
- Octbusy
- Novlight
- Declight
Quietest Jan–Feb · busiest May–Aug.
Estimate: desk reasoning from season, weekday and cruise or festival patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Maironio street, near the Vilnelė river
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- Not recorded
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Accessibility
- PartialStep-free entrance · One or two steps at the door.
- NoLifts
- NoAccessible toilet · None.
- YesWheelchair · The garden paths are flat; the church has a threshold step (check).
- YesStroller · Fine on the paths.
- YesPlaces to sit · Pews and garden benches.
Sensory load
- Sensory load2/5 Low
- Peak crowd3/5 Medium
Exposure: medium
What to bring and the rules
- Footwear that suits the rule · On.
- A small bag · Small bags only.
- Shoes: On.
- Small bags only.
- Cloakroom (no) None.
- Outside allowed; inside without flash outside services.
- Not allowed.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: The garden shade
- rain: Inside the churches
- crowd: The garden path by the river
Nearest rescue anchor: B — Pilies street café row (field-verify)
Problem
Red lines
- No photography during services; cover shoulders and knees.
- Do not climb on the church walls or fences.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- St Anne’s is built of red brick in the late Gothic style, with about 33 kinds of brick (a local claim, check).
- A well-known story says Napoleon wished he could carry it to Paris in his hand.
- The neighbouring Bernardine church is larger, plainer and often closed (check).
- The garden by the river is a good place to sit and eat a takeaway snack.
- The area is quiet in the morning.
- The churches are working places of worship.
Best time of day
Go Late morning or golden hour. Plan 25–35 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level at weekends and cruise-ship or festival days
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- No ticket needed.
- Donation boxes accept small coins.
- Dress code
- Shoes: On.
- Bags & lockers
- Small bags only.
- Cloakroom (no) None.
- Photos
- Outside allowed; inside without flash outside services.
- Not allowed.
- What's closed
- ServicescheckMass times close the church to sightseeing.
- WintercheckShort opening hours; check.
- RenovationcheckParts of the complex may be closed for repair.
- Inside: Bernardine churchcheckA large church next door (check access).
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Where to buy | Skip-the-line reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church interior | free or donation | — | No ticket. |
| Bernardine church | free or donation (check) | — | — |
| Garden | free | — | No ticket. |
How to do it well
- 1Walk to the church from the Old Town or the Užupis side.
- 2Stand across the small square and look at the brickwork.
- 3Step into the Bernardine church next door; check whether it is open (check).
- 4Walk into the Bernardine Garden by the river for a rest.
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
15min
Worthwhile
25min
Typical
35min
p95
50min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (35 min).
With the other 10 min, these are a walk away (their own visit time is on their page):
- Bernardine GardenA river garden with paths and benches.2 min on foot · 8 min spare
- Bernelių užeigaA traditional lunch.5 min on foot · 5 min spare
- Vilnius UniversityCourtyards and libraries.8 min on foot · 2 min spare
- UžupisThe artists’ quarter.10 min on foot · 0 min spare
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Inside, in order
St Anne’s façade
10 minThe Gothic brick façade with towers and pinnacles.
St Anne’s interior
10 minA quiet nave with limited decoration.
Bernardine church
10 minA large church next door (check access).
optionalcheckBernardine Garden
20 minPaths and benches by the river.
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- quiet
- Worst while inside
- quiet
- Leave by
- 09:359:35 AM
- Closing buffer
- 505′
Good window: go.
- Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 18:00. The churches close early in winter; the garden closes at dusk.
- Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partlyOne or two steps at the door.
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: no · noNone.
- Wheelchair: yes · yesThe garden paths are flat; the church has a threshold step (check).
- Stroller: yes · yesFine on the paths.
- Places to sit: yes · yesPews and garden benches.
A level route from the street; a step at the door (check).
Step-free route
- 1Take a taxi to Maironio street; the garden paths are flat.
- 2Ask at the church door about the threshold step (check).
- 3Avoid the cobbled lanes up to Užupis.
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | no | Cafés nearby. |
| Accessible toilet | no | None. |
| Cloakroom | no | None. |
| Café or food | limited | A café near Maironio street. |
| Drinking water | no | Bring a bottle. |
| Seating | yes | Pews and benches. |
| Wi-Fi | no | None. |
| Card payment | no | Donations only. |
Seasons, festivals and night openings
| When | What happens | Effect on your visit | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun–Aug | Garden in bloom | Shade and benches. | |
| Dec–Feb | Snow | Icy paths; the churches are cold. | |
| Sep–Oct | Autumn colour | Golden trees in the garden. |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture fans | good | A Gothic brick church. |
| Photographers | good | Brickwork and garden. |
| Wheelchair users | ok | Flat garden paths. |
| Families | good | Open space. |
Skip it if
- You have seen enough churches.
- The church is closed for services.
Rules on site
- food
- Not inside.
With kids
- with kids
- The garden has open space and a playground; keep voices low in the church.
- child price
- free
Combine with
Combine with
- 2 minBernardine Garden — A river garden with paths and benches.
- 5 minBernelių užeiga · eat — A traditional lunch.
- 8 minVilnius University — Courtyards and libraries.
- 10 minUžupis — The artists’ quarter.
- 15 minVilnius Cathedral — A large interior.
Walk the Cathedral & Gediminas Hill area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| St Anne’s from across the small square | Morning, sun behind | Stay on the path. |
| Bernardine church behind the trees | Golden hour | Keep clear of the road. |
| Garden path by the river | Any time | Watch for cyclists. |
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is the Napoleon story true?
It is a well-known local legend and is not documented; treat it as folklore.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
What is special about St Anne's?
A late Gothic church of red brick with elaborate details, known for a story about Napoleon.
Is it free?
Yes, donations are welcome.
Can I go inside?
Usually yes; check hours (check).
How long do I need?
About 20–30 minutes with the garden.
Is the garden open?
Yes, it is a public park by the river.
Where is it?
On Maironio street, near the river and Užupis.
Photos
Deep dive
Sources
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Add St Anne's Church and the Bernardine complex to a day
Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The quietest window written into this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.