Shopping in Vilnius

Whilst Vilnius is not exactly Milan or London, it does offer infinitely more opportunities for retail therapy than it did during the Soviet years. The most popular souvenir item is Baltic amber, available in outlets such as Amber, Ausros Vartu 9 and the Amber Museum-Gallery, Mykolo 8. Although Vilnius has followed the trend for big shopping malls such as Europa, Konstitucijos 7a, the old town is also home to a pleasing myriad of small-scale niche shops. Some of the most interesting include the newly opened Cognac Boutique, Etmonu 4, with its world class treasure trove of fine cognacs, Antikvaras, Pilies 32-4, with its array of bric-a-brac and antiques, and Yzzy Fashion House, Gaono 10, with its interesting and offbeat attire. Shops in general open quite late around 1000 or 1100 and don't close their doors until 1800 or 1900, though at weekends opening hours can be more limited.