Vilnius has introduced 10 places where visitors can try forest bathing, a nature-based practice that requires neither a swimsuit nor a towel. Known in Japan as Shinrin-yoku, the practice encourages people to slow down and experience the forest through their senses.
The routes were selected by Liudas Basiulis, a forest-bathing specialist, for “Neakivaizdinis Vilnius”, an initiative presenting experiences in the Lithuanian capital. The locations allow residents and visitors to try the practice without leaving the city.
The list consists of 10 separate trail routes rather than one continuous itinerary. Each is approximately 2–4 kilometres long, but visitors are encouraged to spend at least 2–3 hours on the route instead of focusing on distance or step counts.
The trails are not specially prepared or marked. Anyone using them should therefore follow the published links and coordinates. The routes can be explored independently, without a guide.
The activities are designed to shift attention away from the pace of city life and towards the five senses. Suggested practices include smelling moss, touching tree bark, listening to birds and other natural sounds, wading in a stream, hugging an oak tree and even “talking” to a stone.
The locations were chosen to show the variety of Vilnius’s urban forests, parks and nature areas. Ribiškės, Ancučiai and Pavilniai are known for their hills and ravines. Verkiai and Kalnų Park are associated with a strong historical landscape.
Bukčiai Forest offers opportunities to observe the forest’s natural resources, while Karoliniškės provides views over the Neris River. The pine forests of Valakupiai are notable for their nearby beaches. Each setting has its own atmosphere and has been paired with different sensory practices.
A conventional walk or hike usually has a destination, with participants measuring kilometres, steps or time. Forest bathing has no such target. Movement is deliberately slow, and the emphasis is on noticing the environment rather than completing a route quickly.
Basiulis says modern people often bring the rhythm of the city into the forest through music, phones and work-related thoughts. Forest bathing offers time to do nothing and move from constant thinking towards direct sensory experience.
The practice is rooted in the Japanese Shinrin-yoku tradition, but the organisers also see parallels with older Lithuanian culture, in which the relationship with the forest was important and meaningful.
Sonata Griškienė, head of “Neakivaizdinis Vilnius”, says the city’s forests, protected areas and parks make it possible to experience nature therapy without travelling outside Vilnius. Basiulis adds that the city has unusually varied and hilly forests.
According to the specialist, focusing on a tree’s texture or a bird’s song can push urban noise into the background. He also points to research showing that time in forests reduces stress hormones, slows heart rate and strengthens immunity.
Visitors can choose one of the 10 routes and follow the published coordinates and practice instructions independently. The main purpose is not to cover the distance, but to spend unhurried time engaging with the forest.
How long are the forest-bathing routes in Vilnius?
The 10 separate routes are approximately 2–4 kilometres long, but visitors are encouraged to spend 2–3 hours completing the suggested practices.
Do the routes require a guide or special equipment?
No. The routes can be explored independently and require no special equipment, but they are not specially marked, so visitors should follow the published links and coordinates.
Where are the forest-bathing locations?
The locations include Ribiškės, Ancučiai, Pavilniai, Verkiai, Kalnų Park, Bukčiai Forest, Karoliniškės and the pine forests of Valakupiai.
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Šaltinio patikra
Maršrutų skaičius, vietovių pobūdis, praktikos ir savarankiško lankymo sąlygos sutikrintos pagal pateiktą savivaldybės pranešimą.
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Patikrinta, kad pristatoma 10 atskirų miško maudynių takų.
Patikrinta nurodyta maršrutų trukmė ir ilgis – apie 2–4 km bei 2–3 valandos.
Patikrinta, kad takai nėra specialiai pažymėti ir keliaujant reikia naudotis koordinatėmis…
Patikrinti straipsnyje minimi ekspertai ir „Neakivaizdinio Vilniaus“ atstovė.
SourceVilniaus miesto savivaldybė
ScopeVilnius
Updated2026-07-28 13:58
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Article contextPeople & topics#2#Neakivaizdinis Vilnius#Shinrin-yoku