Gediminas Tower is the red-brick tower on top of Castle Hill in Vilnius, the last standing part of the Upper Castle. It is one of Lithuania's great national symbols: it appeared on the old litas banknotes, and on 7 October 1988 the yellow, green and red flag was raised on it again, a key moment on the road to independence.
Gediminas Tower at a glance
- Where: on Gediminas Hill (Castle Hill) above Cathedral Square, at the north-eastern edge of the old town.
- Built: wooden fortifications under Grand Duke Gediminas in the early 14th century; the brick castle under Vytautas, completed around 1409 after a fire; the tower was rebuilt in 1933.
- By: the 1933 rebuilding was led by the architect Jan Borowski.
- What it is today: part of the National Museum of Lithuania, with an exhibition on the castles of Vilnius inside and an observation deck at the top.
- Time needed: 45 minutes to an hour including the climb, the exhibition and the view.
From wooden fort to national symbol
Grand Duke Gediminas, who ruled Lithuania in the early 14th century and is regarded as the founder of Vilnius, fortified this hill with wooden defences. After a fire in 1419, the castle was rebuilt in stone and brick as a Gothic fortress with three towers, a palace and outbuildings; the surviving western tower had a square base and an octagonal upper part. In the 17th century the Upper Castle was abandoned and later used as a prison for nobles, and over time most of it fell into ruin.
In 1933, when Vilnius was part of Poland, the tower was rebuilt to its present form. Since then it has become the image of the city. In the late 1980s, as the independence movement Sąjūdis grew, the national flag was hoisted on the tower on 7 October 1988 and has flown there ever since. The hill has had problems with landslides in recent years, and parts of its slopes have been reinforced.
What to look for
- The tower itself: a square brick base topped by an octagonal upper storey, with the Lithuanian flag flying from the roof.
- The remains of the Upper Castle walls and the foundations of the old palace around the tower, uncovered by archaeologists.
- Inside, models of the Vilnius castles from the 14th to the 17th centuries, weapons and other finds from the hill; a new exhibition opened on the top floor in August 2026.
- The view from the observation deck: the red roofs and church towers of the old town on one side, the glass towers of the business district across the river on the other.
- The Three Crosses on the neighbouring hill to the east, another landmark of the Vilnius skyline.
The legend of the Iron Wolf
Legend says that Gediminas went hunting in the forest here and, tired after a successful day, spent the night on the hill. He dreamed of a huge iron wolf howling on the hilltop as loudly as a hundred wolves. The pagan priest Lizdeika explained the dream: Gediminas should build a city on this spot, and its fame would spread across the world like the wolf's howl. Gediminas obeyed, and the city took its name from the nearby river Vilnia. The iron wolf still appears in Vilnius today, from statues to the names of sports teams.
Tips for your visit
- The lift from the Old Arsenal courtyard was suspended in 2025 after a technical failure; check whether it is running before you go.
- Otherwise, walk up: a steep stone path with wooden steps leads up from the Vilnia river side, so wear good shoes.
- Go at sunset for the best light over the old town from the top.
- Combine it with the Palace of the Grand Dukes and the cathedral at the foot of the hill.
Nearby
- Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania: the rebuilt Renaissance palace of the Lower Castle at the foot of the hill.
- Vilnius Cathedral: the neoclassical cathedral and its bell tower on Cathedral Square, a few minutes down the hill.
- Hill of Three Crosses: the white crosses on the hill across the Vilnia, with another wide view of the city.
- Bernardine Garden: the riverside park just south of the hill, good for a rest after the climb.
See Vilnius with World City Trail
Our Vilnius scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around three hours, with about 58 minutes of walking, and it includes places such as the Gate of Dawn, Town Hall Square and Literatų Street. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Dutch.
If you prefer a different format, Vilnius also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Vilnius scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Vilnius →
Play the outdoor escape game in Vilnius →
Facts checked in October 2026.