With summer underway, there’s more reason to head outdoors. To make your walks not only pleasant but also enriching, the Vilnius Film Office invites you to explore self-guided film tourism routes inspired by movies and TV series filmed in the capital.
These routes feature not only popular tourist spots in Vilnius, but also the most sought-after filming locations chosen by international filmmakers — places where characters from series like Stranger Things, Clark, Catherine the Great, and Sisi once walked. Currently, the Vilnius Film Office recommends 14 walking routes, with plans to create even more in the future. From Lukiškės Prison to Vilnius Town Hall and the cinematic alleys of the Old Town – nearly every corner of the city has its own story on screen.
In the Footsteps of Sweden’s Most Notorious Gangster
Clark is a Swedish TV series based on the autobiography of one of the most controversial figures in modern Swedish history – the infamous criminal Clark Olofsson. Known for robbing banks and taking hostages, Clark was far from being a condemned outcast. On the contrary, his victims often defended him in court, and thanks to his charisma, he even became a popular public figure.
In the series, Vilnius stands in for Stockholm and other Swedish cities, with locations like Užupis, Odminių Square, Vilnius Town Hall, and many other recognisable spots across the city transformed into 1970s Scandinavia.
Clark Olofsson’s extraordinary life story can be watched on Netflix, and the Vilnius Film Office invites you to visit the filming locations where Vilnius became the Sweden of the ‘70s.
Vienna’s Hofburg Palace – in the Heart of Vilnius
Almost every local knows that all four seasons of the historical costume drama Sisi were filmed in Vilnius. Produced by Story House Pictures GmbH, the series has gained immense popularity in Germany, Italy, Austria, France, the Netherlands, and Hungary. Through the life story of Empress Elisabeth, Sisi explores universal themes such as love, duty, freedom, family, and the complex choices faced by women.
The series showcases many iconic Vilnius locations – for instance, the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society perfectly stands in for the majestic Hofburg Palace. To experience 19th-century Vienna in Vilnius, follow the Sisi-inspired walking route.
Socialist Modernism of Vilnius on the Big Screen
While Vilnius is often recognised for its baroque and neoclassical church spires or the cobbled streets of its Old Town, the city also boasts a significant number of valuable examples of socialist modernist architecture. Characterised by bold forms, monumental scale, massive concrete structures, and clean lines, these buildings not only reflect a complex historical period but also attract the eye of filmmakers.
On screen, this architectural style often represents ministries, government institutions, police stations, or the grand lobbies of luxury hotels and banks. The Socialist Modernism in Vilnius Cinema walking route invites you to take a fresh look at these often-overlooked buildings – this time, through the lens of film.
The Glamour of International Commercials
Vilnius isn’t just a backdrop for TV series and films – the city also frequently stars in commercials created for both Lithuanian and international markets. Congstar, Mubi, CrowdStrike, Kinder, Cadillac, Honda, Primark, Grey Goose – these are just a few of the brands whose advertising campaigns have featured the Lithuanian capital. From a dancing KFC chicken near the National Library to trance-like dancers in the city’s main streets, the Vilnius in International Commercials route reveals various imaginative scenarios filmed here.
One City, Many Faces
Vilnius has taken on the role of many cities on screen – from historical Vienna, Hamburg, Copenhagen, and Oslo to Vatican City, Berlin, New York, and even Tokyo. Its blend of architectural styles, changing seasons, and the creative work of talented production designers has made the city a magnet for filmmakers seeking a versatile and cinematic location.
For Adrenaline Seekers
Action-packed, documentary-style, or surreal films often call for dark, eerie, or industrial settings. This Vilnius film route invites you to explore such places – a bunker, an abandoned sanatorium, a former water reservoir, a prison, and even a cemetery. These spooky locations have also appeared on screen, for example, in the globally popular series Stranger Things.
Vilnius – A Cinematic Labyrinth of Streets
Horse-drawn carriages rumbling over cobblestones, protests staged for the cameras, vintage 80s cars cruising by, even explosions – the cinematic charm of Vilnius’s streets has captivated filmmakers repeatedly. Do you know where gallows once stood in Catherine the Great, or which streets doubled for Paris, Vienna, or Oslo? The Cinematic Streets of the Old Town route takes you through some of the most frequently filmed and visually stunning parts of the city.
Find more film tourism routes here: https://filmvilnius.com/film-tourism/
Stay up to date with film news and ongoing productions in Vilnius: www.filmvilnius.com
