Vilnius Cathedral Crypts

Vilnius Cathedral is the spiritual heart of Lithuania, a white neoclassical temple with a columned portico that stands on a site used for worship since before the country became Christian. The present building dates from the late eighteenth century, and inside the Baroque Chapel of St Casimir, the country’s patron saint, is a highlight. The cathedral itself is free to visit, but the crypts below can only be seen on a guided tour, sold on Tiqets as an hour-long visit with a live English-speaking guide. The tour leads through chambers from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the burial places of cathedral bishops, members of the Chapter, magnates and rulers of the Grand Duchy, and remains uncovered during excavations, with video projections that show how the cathedral was rebuilt over the centuries.

How it works: you show your phone ticket at the ticket office in the Bell Tower, the free-standing tower beside the cathedral, about fifteen minutes before your slot, and the guide takes the group down from there. The crypts are cool and dim, with some steps and uneven floors, so bring a layer and sensible shoes.

What you see: the tour explains the layers of the site, from the earliest foundations to the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque phases, and how burial traditions changed. The royal mausoleum and the stories of the rulers buried here bring the Grand Duchy to life in a way no museum label can.

Making the most of it: visit the cathedral nave and St Casimir’s Chapel before or after the tour, then climb the Bell Tower or cross the square to the Palace of the Grand Dukes, which stands on the site of the old Lower Castle. Remember that the cathedral is an active church, so dress modestly and avoid the main services. Tiqets also sells the crypts as a combination with Trakai, useful if you plan to make that day trip.