A Baltic State ... in a Baltic Winter!

Before parenthood, Becky and Rob visited a lot of countries throughout the world and having their two beautiful sons hasn't deterred them in the slightest! Their eldest son Archie (3), has been on many an adventure, not least to explore some of Europe's finest cities. This latest journey was with Archie and his little brother Harris (18m) to experience - what better place for a February break than Lithuania's fascinating capital, Vilnius? Despite the 'Baltic' warnings of temperatures dropping to below freezing for most of their time, Becky, Rob and their children were excited to go out exploring in the depths of winter - when few tourists venture out and the city could be explored minus the summer's hustle and bustle.

Upon their return, they were kind enough to work with me to put together a bit of an 'interview' on how they found the city - in general and with two young children. Here's what they thoughts:

Where have you just been and have you been there before? We've just been to Vilnius in Lithuania for the first time with our two young boys.

How would you rate it out of 10 as an all-round destination? 6/10

And out of all the European cities you have visited, how does this one compare? Quite similar to other Eastern European cities. It seemed more spread out than some and the Old Town was difficult to distinguish from other areas.

Was there enough for the children? If so, what did you do altogether as family activities? The Akropolis Centre (10 minute taxi ride from city centre) was good for the children as it has an ice rink and large soft play area. It also has a good range of shops. In the centre there is the castle and funicular railway which was unfortunately closed for refurbishment during our visit, but would have been great!

How would you rate The Artis Hotel, which you stayed in for 4 nights (quality/standard/location)? We were really pleased with the accommodation. The room was huge and the pool was a hit with the boys. Breakfast included a good range of food (both hot and cold options).

Any extra tips or recommendations for others who may want to visit? A day trip to Trakai is a must. There you will find a fantastic castle in the middle of a lake! It looks incredible - most of the rooms are open to be explored and contain some great exhibits.

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Thanks to Becky and Rob for their account of Vilnius and some top tips for where to head to when you visit. Don't forget - if you need any more ideas, just ask!