Shopping

While it hasn't come quite as far as Riga or Tallinn in terms of selection of stores, Vilnius has come a long way since Soviet days.

Department Stores    Markets   Handicrafts     Antiques    Books    Souvenirs 

Department Stores

Akropolis: (near A-3) Ozo 25, tel. 248-4848. If you love the charm and tradition of this city, Akropolis might make you sick. But if you love shopping malls and American culture, this is your place. More than 90 stores and restaurants encircle an indoor skating rink (open:08-24) and 8 movie theaters (open:10-24). The food court features pizza, Chinese grub and Lido, the tasty Latvian chain cafeteria that makes splendid meat and potato dishes.

Europa: (B-3) Konstitucijos 7a, tel. 248-7070. Heaps of quality retail and a handful of brasseries for the discerning modern shopper. It never knocked the socks off Akropolis like they said it would, but it does offer you everything under one roof without having to leave town to get it.  

Markets

Hale: Pylimo 58/1. This market offers a maze of esthetically unappealing goods from fruits to Marlboros. Open in the morning; closed Mondays. Follow your nose. If you’re in the market for fresh pig’s heads, this is the place.

Flower Market: (C-3) J. Basanaviciaus 42. As elsewhere in the Baltics, you don’t need an occasion to give someone flowers. Open 24h.

Gariunai: Outside the city, off the Vilnius-Kaunas highway. Literally everything on sale. Many traders specialize in Turkish goods. Packed. A people-watcher’s delight.

Kalvariju Farmers’ Market: (B-4) Kalvariju 61. Open in the morning; closed Mondays. Take bus # 5 or # 10 across Zaliasis (Green) Bridge and get off with the babushkas. Cheap bulk deals and household goods for suspiciously low prices.

Handicrafts

Artisans ply their wares on Pilies street. 

Amber: (D-5) Ausros Vartu 9.

Amber Gallery: (H-3) Sv. Mykolo 8.

Ars Bella: (H-2) Daukanto 2/5-7. Souvenirs and folk art.

Juva: (D-5) Ausros Vartu 21. Amber.

Linas: (J-3) Stikliu 3. Linen museum and a shop. Also at Didzioji 11.

Mazoji Galerija: (B-2) Latviu 19. A good selection of jewelry.

Sauluva: (H-3) Sv. Mykolo 4. Wooden toys, ceramics, amber, glassware.

Suvenyrai Market: (H-3) Pilies 23. Lithuanian-style tablecloths and amber.

Antiques

Antikvariatas: (H-3) Pilies 21, tel. 212-4784.

Antikvariatas: (H-4) Bernardinû 10, tel. 262-9077.

Galerija Maldis: (C-4) J. Basanaviàiaus 4a, tel. 212-2192. High-class antique; 19th, 20th century items. www.maldis.lt

Sancta: (D-5) Auøros Vartû 15, tel. 262-4033. 

Senasis Kuparas: (I-2) Dominikonû 14, tel. 262-1024. www.kuparas.lt 

Versme: (I-3) Didýioji 27, tel. 210-7082.

Vilnius Atniques Center: (I-2) Dominikonu 16, tel. 262-6476.

Books

Akademine Knyga: (H-2) Universiteto 4, tel. 261-9711. Open:09:30-19; Sat. 12-17; Sun. closed. Penguin novels, dictionaries, reference books. Go downstairs for the city’s widest selection of English-language leisure reading and travel books.

Draugyste: (G-2) Gedimino 2, tel. 268-5081.

Littera: (H-3) Sv. Jono 12, tel. 268-7258. Open:09-18; Sat. 10-15; Sun. closed.

Neta’s Uýsienio Knygos (Foreign Books): (I-1) Traku 5, tel. 261-0416; tucked in an old-town courtyard. Open:10:30-18; Sat., Sun. 10:30-15. A nest of English-language books; also academic texts. Oxford center.

Prie Hales: (D-4) Pylimo 53/2, tel. 269-1180. Open:09-18; Sat. 10-15; Sun. closed. Good selection of books in English. Books about Lithuania. 

Rotas: (D-4) Pylimo 42, tel. 261-5100. Open:09-18:30; Sat. 10-15; Sun. closed. Specializing in foreign-language learning books.

Vaga: (C-4) Gedimino 50, tel. 249-8392. Open:10-19; Sat. 11-18; Sun. closed. 

Versme: (J-3) Didýioji 27, tel. 262-6410. Good location next to the Town Hall. 

Suggested Souvenirs

You can’t visit Lithuania and not bring back some gintaras, or amber. This fossilized tree sap has adorned thrones of kings and tombs of pharaohs for thousands of years. You can find amber with insects inside, though this type of amber is relatively rare and more expensive if you do find it. Amber jewelry, from bracelets to watches, are among the most popular souvenirs from Lithuania.
Also wildly popular are Lithuanian wood-carvings. Wood craftsmanship in Lithuania is spectacular. There are assorted favorites, ranging from living figures (serious, humorous or even macabre) to Lithuanian-style crosses.
Linen items are an excellent buy.
A great place to do some comparative shopping is on Pilies street, where artisans, pensioners and others hock their finest works: including woodwork, paintings of Vilnius and Lithuania, hand-crafted knickknacks and, of course, things made with amber that would stretch the imagination. There are some true bargains here, and some poking around and patience can lead to some real gems.
You can also bring home some alcoholic beverages. A few bottles of Utenos or Kalnapilis beer would make things interesting at home, as would a bottle of Kvietino vodka. It’s also hard to beat a good bottle of krupnikas, or honey liqueur. Other liqueurs, like Palanga, Dainava, or Sokoladinis, are also popular and make a nice after-dinner drink.
Compact discs are also a good buy. Anything by M.K. Ciurlionis would definitely satisfy music lovers. Not all of his works can be found at your local HMV or Tower Records, so it is probably good to stock up here.
Also, for the sports fan, why not a basketball jersey of the top team, Zalgiris?

 Department Stores    Markets   Handicrafts     Antiques    Books    Souvenirs 
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