VILNIUS - In Your Pocket

74 shoPPing
Unless you’re Latvian or Polish, you probably didn’t come
to Vilnius to shop. However, shopping is fun, and, in the
case of certain products (notably Lithuanian alcohol, cigarettes
and amber) a hell of a lot cheaper than it is in the
West. The main shopping areas in Vilnius can be divided
neatly into the two areas of Old Town (antiques, amber,
books old and new and some nice pieces of art) and parts
of the city’s classiest street, Gedimino (designer clothes,
mobile phones and more books). The city’s markets are
also well worth a visit for an authentic, blast to the past
experience if nothing else, as indeed are the increasing
number of large shopping centres around the edge of the
city, where among other things you’ll find all the clothing
and footwear shops we’ve chosen not to list here.
Shopping centres
Akropolis G-1, Ozo 25, tel. 1588, www.akropolis.lt. A
huge place full of shops and the flocks that visit them. In case
shopping isn’t your thing, you can try ice-skating, bowling, or see
a film. There’s also a good range of restaurants and a constant
cacophonous argument between the cheap car alarms in the
enormous car park. Not very central, find it about 3km north of
the action. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00. PTAULXW
Europa H-3, Konstitucijos 7a, tel. (+370) 616 956 80,
www.pceuropa.lt. In the heart of the business district just
north of the river, find three floors of mostly clothes shops
plus a couple of restaurants and a handful of little pods for
drinking coffee in. QOpen 10:00 - 21:00, Sun 10:00 - 20:00.
PTALW
Gedimino 9 B-1, Gedimino 9, tel. (+370) 5 262 98 12,
www.gedimino9.lt. Located inside a grand 19th-century
building in the heart of the city, this bustling shopping centre
includes a wide range of retail outlets selling everything from
fashion to fish, some great antique stalls, restaurants and
cafés, a gallery and even a place for small business start-ups.
Best of all are the highly recommended Studio 9 restaurant
and the free wireless internet throughout.QOpen 10:00 -
20:00, Sun 11:00 - 18:00. PJAW
IKI Commercial Centre I-2, Žirmūnų 2, tel. (+370) 5
272 19 68, www.iki.lt. This three-floor shopping centre
features a large Iki supermarket at ground level, a handful of
average shops downstairs and up the escalators some fashion
outlets, a shoe shop, a Čili Kaimas restaurant and, at the time
of going to press, a small kiosk selling ready-made sushi. Also
at J. Jasinkio 16. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00. PAUL
Ozas H-1, Ozo 18, tel. (+370) 5 210 01 50, www.ozas.lt.
Opened in August 2009, the large Ozas shopping centre offers
more gargantuan shopping and restaurant services to the city.
Find inside a veritable cavalcade of shops selling everything
from designer clothes to food. The large Prisma supermarket
stocks one of the most extensive ranges of alcohol in Vilnius.
QOpen 10:00 - 22:00. PTAULXW
Panorama G/F-2, Saltoniškių 9, tel. (+370) 5 219
58 11, www.panorama.lt. Loads of retail outlets, entertainment
centres and restaurants close to the centre in
Žvėrynas. Many high street names, a top floor of restaurants,
the country’s first electric go-carting centre and smoking
rooms next to the public toilets. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00.
PTAULXW
Rimi Hypermarket G-4, Savanorių 16, tel. (+370)
5 246 12 00, www.rimi.lt. Not quite everything under
one roof (they don’t sell roofs for example), but not far
off it. A huge heated expanse offering electrical goods,
clothes, books, tools, toys and household essentials as
well as a fairly extensive collection of local and imported
foodstuffs. Also a few other shops inside the same building.
Also at Žirmūnų 64, Ateities 91. QOpen 08:00 - 23:00.
AL
VCUP H-3, Konstitucijos 16, tel. (+370) 5 273 15 15,
www.vcup.lt. Once colossal, this former flagship Soviet
shopping sensation looks more like a corner shop than an
experience these days. Limited retail and dining just north of
the river. QOpen 10:00 - 22:00. PAULW
Markets
Shopping in a Lithuanian market (turgus), although
perhaps not for the faint hearted, is an experience to
be savoured if at all possible when visiting the country.
Remember that many things can be haggled down in
price, and please watch your wallets, especially during the
weekends.
Akropolio Blusų Turgus G-1, Ozo 25, tel. 1588, www.
akropolis.lt. Catching on to the latest craze to sweep the
nation, this weekly flea market outside the vast Akropolis
shopping centre features a fairly decent selection of stalls
selling everything from old paintings to Soviet memorabilia.
QOpen Sun 09:00 - 16:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri,
Sat.
Collectors’ Club (Kolekcininkų Klubas) G-4, V.
M. Putino 5. What started out as a small gathering of
like-minded aficionados trading miscellaneous antiquities
in exchange for a bit of pocket money has slowly evolved
into a serious weekly event. Stretched out round two full
sides of the Trade Union Palace as well as inside, items
up for grabs include everything from Czechoslovakian
clarinets to furniture to WWII-era Nazi propaganda posters
in Lithuanian. QOpen 08:00 - 12:00. Closed Mon,
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun.
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