Vilnius

Step into the postcard-perfect old town of Vilnius to experience one of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in Europe. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is surprisingly intact, with a smattering of cafes and boutiques tucked away in period buildings. Once nicknamed the “Jerusalem of the north,” the city’s Jewish community was largely destroyed during WWII, but there are reminders throughout, from the Holocaust museums to the former ghettos. Green spaces carpet much of this dreamy city – which was in fact born of a dream that Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, had while napping in the forest. Catholic and Orthodox church spires dot the skyline. All the while, cutting-edge artists and punk musicians keep Vilnius at the forefront of modernity. Outside the city, visit Trakai, the ancient capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with its Castle Museum, the Hill of Crosses, and Rundale Palace.