My Vilnius is a series of interviews that introduce you to people who call Vilnius their home. It’s all about the ordinary lives of extraordinary people and vice versa. Xenia is a Vilnius-based photographer and Instagram creator whose work captures the city through an intimate, documentary lens, focusing on everyday moments, neighbourhoods, and the beauty often overlooked by visitors and locals alike.
VP: Could you tell us more about your story?
Xenia: I grew up spending a lot of time in nature. I was always a village girl, even though I was born and raised, for the most part, in Vilnius. But as a kid, I never wanted to be in the city. The only things that interested me were foraging for chanterelles and lying on the grass with my dogs. I think that experience shaped me a lot.
At school, I was always interested in different forms of art. I tried a little bit of everything, and I was sure I’d tie my life to music. But I ended up studying philology and business communications, and then working for a while as a copywriter, although I’m not a big fan of talking about work.
Finishing my studies was very important to my mum, so I finished everything as soon as I could, without taking a gap year. After that, I started travelling; that was my real education. One of my favourite stories is “Teddy” from Nine Stories by Salinger; it’s about a boy named Teddy who shares his view on life and its concepts with an adult. That story motivated me even more to go out, explore, and look at things through my own eyes.
Photos courtesy of Lukas Juzenas
At some point, I ended up working at a hostel in Japan for a few months. That’s where I spent even more time reading literature and watching East Asian films. I believe they have their own way of looking at things, something deeper, in a way, and different from Western art. I fell in love with Wong Kar-wai’s films; I think they taught me a lot about slowing down, noticing details, and simply feeling things. More recently, my favourite film has been Perfect Days, set in Japan, about finding beauty and peace in the ordinary.
I think all of this is what led me to just grab my camera and go explore the Vilnius neighbourhoods, capturing ordinary moments and sharing them with others, saying: there’s beauty in this too. This is our life, so who decided the frame of what’s worth capturing, what’s beautiful by conventional standards, and what isn’t? I love the Old Town of Vilnius; it’s obviously beautiful, without debate, but when I want to capture something more than just a pretty frame, I go back to the streets I used to walk as a child.
VP: What was life like growing up in Vilnius?
Xenia: I was born in Vilnius, but I lived abroad until I was six. When I came back, my mum and I often walked around the Old Town; Trakų Street was always our favourite. We used to go to a café called Šviežios Bandelės for cocoa and dessert, and it still exists in the same spot today. Another thing that stuck with me was waiting for the trolleybus at the Reformatų stop—it always felt like an eternity.
I remember having to cross the whole city on my own to get to different classes, like music school somewhere in Viršuliškės, and swimming lessons at the iconic Lazdynai pool, which no longer exists. And nobody worried about a seven-year-old walking home alone at 9 p.m. in winter. Public transport already worked well, but it still took much longer than it does now. I do miss the old way of validating paper tickets, though—the older ones, with the mechanical punch-hole composter. I hope I’m explaining that well. It was always such an interactive little experience!
On Sundays, we always went to the opera and ballet theatre. Afterwards, we’d go to Čili Pizza, which back then was almost the only option. It was incredibly delicious; I still remember the chocolate ice cream. Čili Pizza isn’t the same now, but these days we have an unbelievable number of places to eat or grab a coffee. And honestly, you don’t even need to think that far back—even in the last five years, so many new restaurants have opened, and the scene has become incredibly competitive.
VP: What led you to make your hometown and its local life the main subjects of your photography?
Xenia: The story is simple. I’ve always been into travel and documentary photography, but I never posted much. After living and travelling abroad and constantly hearing “so, where are you from?” I decided to film a bit of my city to show my friends because everything I saw online wasn’t exactly how I see my hometown. That’s how it all started. Suddenly, one of my videos about Vilnius trolleybuses went viral, and some people who are now good friends of mine saw potential in my work and motivated me to keep going.
And I’m truly in love with Vilnius. It’s true that every day I walk around and every day I take pictures, sometimes even of the same place over and over again, but every time, something is slightly different. It all comes naturally.
VP: You’ve built a strong following on Instagram. What has surprised you most about being so visible online?
Xenia: I never expected or planned to grow such a community. That was a surprise for me—that I’d get so much support from strangers, some of whom would become my friends, while people I thought were actually my friends stayed silent or were even negative about what I do. I’m very happy I started creating this content, because thanks to it, I’ve met so many incredible people and gotten to experience Lithuania in ways I didn’t know before.
VP: As an avid traveller, what has been the most memorable moment you’ve captured in recent years?
Xenia: It’s very hard to choose just one. I’m not the best at expressing my feelings and thoughts verbally; I do it better through photography. But let’s go with my trip to Cuba last year. I spent many days wandering through Havana, just observing. Life there is an endless balance, a constant fight for survival.
For some reason, the moment that stays with me is when I photographed a man selling cigarettes one by one. He looked so elegant, like a university professor. But in his eyes, same as in the eyes of most Cubans, you could read an experience of life you won’t find anywhere else in the world. It is one of the rare places I dream of coming back to.
VP: How would you describe Vilnius to a first-time visitor?
Xenia: I’d describe Vilnius as a perfect blend of old streets and modernity. You can be walking through a cobblestoned alley in the Old Town, feeling like you’re taking part in a historical movie, and just a few minutes later find yourself in a contemporary bar hidden inside a former prison.
It’s also incredibly walkable. You don’t need a car, or even public transport, to fall in love with it. You can cross most of the city centre on foot, and every corner gives you a reason to stop if you pay enough attention to notice the details.
There’s a sense of slow living here, too. People don’t rush; they spend a lot of time over coffee and conversation, or walking in the parks that are everywhere. And greenery is around every corner. Vilnius is one of the greenest capitals in Europe, so even in the middle of the city, you’re never far from a park or a river to sit by.
At the same time, it’s dynamic and full of life. There’s always something happening—a festival, a market, live music. So, if I had to sum it up for a first-time visitor: come for the Old Town, stay for how easy it is to just live and breathe here.
VP: What are your top five camera-worthy spots in Vilnius?
Xenia:
Lazdynai: I truly see this district as one of the most beautiful in the city—full of nostalgia and a place that resonates with many of us. The pedestrian alley overlooking the TV Tower is the perfect spot to capture the neighbourhood’s everyday life.
Literatų Street: One of the most beautiful streets in the city. You can turn around a dozen times, and every corner is still worth capturing.
Swing Terrace Bar: Probably one of the best views of the city, taking in all the iconic landmarks. I especially love watching the planes come in over the skyline from up there.
The Neris River: Taking a boat trip and seeing the city from the water gives you a completely different perspective. You really notice how active and dynamic it is.
Markučiai: I love the blend of old and new here. The nature is stunning, too. Markučiai Park is a must-visit in autumn, when the trees turn gold, and the whole park seems to glow. October mornings are the best—the mist makes everything feel magical.
VP: Last but not least, what the future has in store for you? Any exciting projects on the horizon?
Xenia: I’ve been expanding into other cities and towns, and Kaunas has really grown on me—I love its compact layout, architecture and growing selection of interesting places. Together with Neakivaizdinis Vilnius, we’re also planning to showcase Vilnius neighbourhoods in the form of a guide.
VP: Where can we find you online?
Xenia: You can find me on Instagram or Facebook, where I share hidden gems and everyday moments from Vilnius and beyond. And next time you’re in Lithuania, skip Vilnius for a day and explore somewhere like Dzūkija instead—you might be surprised!
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