Vilnius started developing faster in the middle of the 19th century when the rail line St. Petersburg – Vilnius was built. New industrial, trading and residential developments were established next to the Old Town. A new central street of the city, Georgij Avenue was built. The names of the avenue changed with the change of governing authorities. Later, the avenue had the names of A. Mickiewicz, Stalin, Lenin, and in 1989 it was known as Gediminas Avenue. Buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries were built next to the avenue, currently housing central government authorities and public institutions, as well as trading and catering companies. Gediminas Avenue connects the historical city center, Cathedral Square with the Seimas Palace.

Gediminas Avenue is the city centre’s main artery, starting at Cathedral Square and running all the way to the Lithuanian Parliament. It’s a lively street with a lot going on: key governmental institutions can be found right beside various cultural centres and theatres, as well as entertainment and shopping hotspots. A part of the avenue transforms into a pedestrian street by night and on weekends, but with many restaurants and bars lining both sides of the street, the buzz never stops. Look around while walking down Gediminas Avenue and spot the architectural transition from one end to the other – it’s just a bit longer than 1,8 km but the changes are quite noticeable.