Vilnius
🇱🇹 The capital of Lithuania 🇱🇹
Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population
of 588,412 as of 2021. The population of Vilnius's functional urban
area, which stretches beyond the city limits, is estimated at 706,832
(as of 2019), while according to the Vilnius territorial health
insurance fund, there were 732,421 permanent inhabitants as of October
2020 in Vilnius city and Vilnius district municipalities combined.
Vilnius is in southeastern Lithuania and is the second-largest city in
the Baltic states. It is the seat of Lithuania's national government and
the Vilnius District Municipality. Vilnius is classified as a Gamma
global city according to GaWC studies, and is known for the architecture
in its Old Town, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Before
World War II, Vilnius was one of the largest Jewish centres in Europe.
Its Jewish influence has led to its nickname "the Jerusalem of
Lithuania". Napoleon called it "the Jerusalem of the North" as he was
passing through in 1812.
In 2009, Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture, together with
Linz, Austria. In 2021, Vilnius was named among top-25 fDi's Global
Cities of the Future – one of the most forward-thinking cities with the
greatest potential in the World.