Lukiškės Prison 2.0
A century-old Vilnius prison reborn as a cultural hub — guided history tours by day, spooky adults-only tours by night, plus bars, concerts and events inside the cell blocks.
- ✓A working prison until 2019, now a buzzing centre for arts, music, history and nightlife inside the old cell blocks.
- ✓Guided tours are the main draw — engaging storytellers cover prison history and the site's strange second life.
- ✓Choose a family-friendly historical day tour or an intense, adults-only night tour.
- ✓Recognisable as a 'Stranger Things' filming location, with on-site bars, concerts and events year-round.
Lukiškės Prison 2.0
Lukiškių kalėjimas 2.0 is one of Vilnius's most unusual attractions: a century-old prison complex, operational until as recently as 2019, repurposed into a bustling centre for arts, music and history. The site now hosts bars, concerts, exhibitions and events, creating a fascinating juxtaposition between its grim past and its lively present. It sits just west of the Old Town near Lukiškės Square, at Lukiškių skg. 6.
The main reason to visit is the guided tours, which visitors overwhelmingly praise. Engaging guides bring the prison's history to life with humour and compelling stories, walking you through the cell blocks, the yard and the corridors. You can choose a historical day tour suitable for all ages, or an intense, spooky night tour reserved for adults (18+) — a very different experience after dark. English-language guided tours typically run around 1.5 to 2 hours; booking ahead is recommended, as night tours in particular fill up.
Film and TV fans may recognise the complex as a shooting location used for productions including 'Stranger Things'. Beyond the tours, the site runs a packed programme of live music, performances and seasonal markets, so it functions as much as a nightlife and culture venue as a heritage site. Hours, tour times and ticket prices change with the season and the events calendar, so check the official site before you go.
Where it is
Lukiškės Square — The largest square in Vilnius, beside the former prison, used for events and civic gatherings.
Map pins
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Tiles © OpenFreeMap
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