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An awesome location, surrounded by the Old Town’s spires and cobbles, a stone’s throw from the Gates of Dawn, the lavish Europa Imperial is draped in quality. Each of the rooms has a special character, but all are warm and relaxing. For a dose of exercise to make up for the delicious chocolates on the feather pillow when you arrive, ask for mobile fi tness equipment to be sent to the room. There’s wireless Internet access throughout the hotel and a PC available for anyone without a laptop. Try the Royal Suite on the top fl oor with a panoramic view of the Old Town and a massive round bed, to enjoy the view from every angle.
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The luxurious Narutis is Vilnius’ top-ofthe-range hotel, a 16th-century building in an unbeatable location with sumptuous French furniture and frescoes in many of the rooms. This part of the Old Town is mostly car-free, so the hustle and bustle of the street market and outdoor cafés below provide plenty of entertainment. Lots of chains have wanted to snap it up, but the Narutis has fiercely maintained its independence. No coincidence, then, that the 1918 Lithuanian Declaration of Independence from Russia was signed in this very building.
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‘For those who like the romantic past’ runs the Stikliai’s motto. That’s been enough to attract Royals from Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Monaco and Norway, and many other celebs and politicos. That and the fact that, despite pretty stiff competition, the five-star Stikliai has managed to maintain its reputation as Lithuania’s most acclaimed hotel since it opened at the tail-end of Perestroika. Take dinner in the ornate winter garden or the vaulted old tavern. A stay here is an experience, with expensive décor, accomplished employees, four-poster beds and frescoes, but can be almost too carefully poised.
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Recently overhauled by the successful pan-Baltic Reval Hotels chain, the four-star Reval Lietuva is a white, multi-balconied, 22-storey block, which makes the views from the top-fl oor Skybar among the best in the land. But its size doesn’t dehumanise this friendly, welcoming hotel. Tastefully and plushly renovated, it sits snugly between the grassy banks of the River Neris and Vilnius’ burgeoning business district. The conference centre’s 15 multifunctional rooms can take up to 1,200 people. Some of the guest rooms on the top fl oor have private saunas, while down below there’s a casino, fi tness club, sauna, massage, solarium and beauty salon. Pamper yourself.
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It’s not only Shakespeare who’s in residence, but 30-odd other famous pen-pushers. Each room is [name]d after a writer of repute. But candles, rugs, books, parquet floors, armchairs and soft lighting make every one of them perfectly cosy. The restaurant and bar have the softest sofas in Vilnius so that when the bill comes your chin won’t hit the floor. They also have WiFi, but if you forget your laptop the ever-smiling staff will lend you theirs.
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