Household names like Benetton and even BHS can be found on Vilnius’ largest shopping street, Gedimino Avenue. Home-grown stores like Nijole with its sumptuous furs (according to the locals) at number 3 and Mados Linija ‘fashion line’ at number 44 are located here too. The best bookshops in Vilnius, including a few selling English-language paperbacks, are also on Gedimino, Vaga at number 50 and Draugyste at number 2.

One or two hip brand names have a franchise presence in the Old Town, such as Hugo Boss (20 Didzioji Street), Adidas (8 Pilies Street) and Escada/Gianfranco Ferre (Didzioji 33).

Gift, souvenir and antique shops are dotted throughout the Old Town. For high-class antiques dating back a century or two, try Galerija Maldis (4a Basanaviciaus Street) or Senasis Kuparas (14 Domininkonu Street). Next door to Kuparas is a tiny shop selling wonderfully bizarre objects fashioned from coloured glass. Alongside the street market on Pilies Street there are shops selling handi-crafts, including the eclectic Sauluva (4 Sv Mykolo Street) which sells quirky ceramics and wacky miscellania like framed cockroaches! The best hand-made amber gifts are sold by Amber (9 Ausros Vartu Street) Amber Gallery (8 Sv Mykolo Street) and Juva (21 Ausros Vartu Street). Art lovers should check out the shop on the ground floor of the Contemporary Art Centre (2 Vokieciu Street) for eccentric paintings by upcoming artists.

Buy prize-winning Lithuanian beer (the brands Svyturys or Utenos) and vodka (try Senove or Gediminas) at the Europa shopping mall (7a Konstitucijos Avenue).