Tired of Being Tired? Rest in Vilnius – European Sleep Capital

With 53% of Gen Zers citing anxiety and difficulty sleeping, Vilnius, the European Sleep Capital, offers relief through citywide rituals: five-senses treatments, hot-cold thermal circuits, and master-led saunas.

Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has been named the top European city for sleep tourism, backed by a study of 300 cities, measuring air quality, light pollution, green space, nightlife, rainfall, and nighttime temperatures. In the city, 61% of the urban area is green, trees cover 48% of the city, and 95% of locals live within 300 meters of greenery.

While 34% of adults worldwide struggle with falling asleep, and over half of Gen Zers list anxiety as a factor affecting their sleep, Vilnius is distinguished as one of Europe’s most relaxing capitals. Its serene environment and everyday wellness rituals are what’s needed to support better rest.

“In Vilnius, I always find ways to relax, no matter the time of the year. During the warm season, I enjoy spending time outdoors in Vilnius’ numerous green spaces or the nearby forests and lakes. In winter, relaxing walks around the Old Town improve my sleep, while the city’s numerous spas and saunas help me unwind after a long day or week,” said Madu Melo, Brazilian expat and marketing professional, living in Vilnius for 5 years now.

With Lithuania already recognized as the World’s Best Wellness Destination by the ITB Health Tourism Awards 2025, Vilnius’ accolade as the European Sleep Capital makes the Lithuanian capital an emerging hub for restful vacations.

Here are five unique wellness rituals, integrated into city life, that help Vilnius locals and guests sleep tight.

1. Baltic five-senses ritual (PACAI SPA, Old Town)

Delivered in the vaulted cellar of the renewed 17th-century Pacai Palace, this multi-sensory ritual incorporates Lithuania’s coasts and forests into a calm treatment. The experience begins with a four-hand full-body massage and a gentle chime of Old Town bells, blended with the Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon soundscape (a nod to the UNESCO-listed dunes). The visitors are then invited to taste natural birch sap, smell the handpicked linden, chamomile, and clover, as well as witness the beauty of Lithuanian nature for a complete sensory relaxation.

2. Cloud9 thermal circuit (Bokšto SPA, Bokšto Square)

Set underneath the Bokšto Square complex in restored medieval cellars, this circuit builds heat and recovery in deliberate steps. The 25-meter, four-lane pool sets the pace for cycles of classic sauna, salt sauna, and hammam, with short cold plunges in between. The signature element is Cloud9, which is a short vibro-acoustic session on a softly rocking bed that helps the nervous system unwind.

3. Master-led sauna ritual (Ivãnas Muša Gongã, Kalvarijų Street)

In a compact boutique setting on Kalvarijų Street, just a few minutes from the city centre, groups stay small, so the sauna master can set the right tempo. Guests can expect timed garas (steam waves), traditional birch or oak vanta whisking, aroma infusions of natural smells, and simple breath-work, with contrasting cold-water dips sealing each round.

4. Contrast ritual (Vytautas Muša Gongã, Lukiškės Prison)

A temporary igloo-shaped outdoor sauna will open after the New Year inside the courtyard of the former Lukiškės Prison, now a cultural venue. This sauna alternates short heat sets with cold-water bath. Small groups and thick walls of the igloo make it very quiet, so the hot–cold contrast feels stronger, and it’s easy to focus on breathing and pace.

5. Three-hour heritage sauna (Pilaitė Mill Bathhouses)

Next to Sudervėlė stream, by a 1923 windmill, three bathhouses – the Old, the Great, and the Small – host unhurried, master-guided rituals. Over roughly three hours, measured steam dosings and vanta whiskings are paired with applications of honey and salt, complete with calm intervals by the pond or river. The forest setting and preserved wooden buildings do the rest, helping guests switch off without leaving the city.

Transitioning from relaxation to science, the conversation about wellness and sleep will continue in Vilnius on November 22 at the Sleep Fest. The event will bring in international voices, such as Dr. Daniel Amen, Leslie Kenny, and others, who turn sleep science into simple routines that everyone can apply in their daily lives to lower anxiety and improve sleep.

“Sleep Fest is about bridging the gap between science and real-life challenges. We’re trying to show that better sleep and calmer minds aren’t luxuries, but necessities anyone could have through building everyday habits that help to improve the overall wellbeing,” said Diana Augunaitė, the organizer of the Sleep Fest.

Vilnius’ recent honors, such as the European Green Capital and European Christmas Capital 2025, underline the city’s environment, which is prioritising calmness: abundant green spaces, traditional stress-free Christmas, and more.

Easily accessible through Frankfurt, Copenhagen, or Helsinki, Vilnius is perfect for an extended European wellness tour or just a one-stop “sleepcation”.