See & Do

Centre for Civil Education (Valstybės pažinimo centras)

A free, interactive museum inside the Presidential Palace where tablets and augmented reality bring Lithuanian statehood and civics to life — engaging for adults and children alike.

Updated Jun 20262 min read·2 sections

A wide shot of the Neris River in Vilnius surrounded by dense green forests under a cloudy sky, with the Vilnius TV Tower visible in the far distance.

The short version

✓Free admission inside the Presidential Palace complex
✓Interactive exhibits using tablets and augmented reality
✓Rotating temporary shows plus hands-on cultural workshops
✓Weekdays need advance registration; weekends are walk-in

A modern take on Lithuanian civics

The Centre for Civil Education (Valstybės pažinimo centras) is a modern, hands-on museum housed within the Presidential Palace complex, with its visitor entrance on Totorių Street. Rather than glass cases, it hands you a tablet with augmented-reality features and lets you explore highly interactive exhibits on statehood, history and culture — an approach that works just as well for curious adults as for children. Staff are warmly praised, and admission is free.

Vilnius Oldtown Aerial — Vilnius, Lithuania — BigHead · CC BY-SA 4.0

Beyond the permanent displays, the centre runs rotating temporary exhibitions — for example 'NATO20', built around authentic artefacts from the 2023 Vilnius summit — and hands-on cultural workshops such as traditional Lithuanian straw-garden (sodai) weaving. A visit can also give you a look at the Presidential Palace courtyard and garden.

Tablet-guided, augmented-reality exhibits on Lithuanian statehood
Free for all visitors
Rotating temporary exhibitions and cultural workshops
Closed Mondays

Things to do in Vilnius

Browse the full See & Do section.

Museums in Vilnius

More of the city's museums and collections.

Best things to do in Vilnius

Our editor's pick of the city's highlights.

Senamiestis (Old Town)

The historic quarter around the Presidential Palace.

Good to know

Because the centre sits on Presidential Palace grounds, weekday visits (Tuesday to Friday) require advance registration and a photo ID for security; on weekends it is open for walk-ins without registration. It is closed on Mondays. Always confirm current opening hours and book your weekday slot before you go.