During the 2026 festive season, the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius will be organising the Slowest Christmas Marathon. Tourists and locals alike are invited to join and to discover the city at a slower pace through a selection of city tours.
Although the holidays may be the ultimate time of the year to enjoy the company of family and friends, it can also be a stressful period. In the run-up til Christmas, people tend to hurry around, trying to find the perfect gifts while also planning a festive dinner and wrapping up their work for the year.
Vilnius’s Slowest Christmas Marathon offers a great way to calm down and escape the rush. The city’s tourism board is inviting everyone to take part in the unique event and to discover the Lithuanian capital in a unique way.
“Christmas has become a season of rushing from one thing to the next. We wanted to turn that idea on its head. In Vilnius, you can take your time – the city is compact, the distances are short, and there is no need to hurry. It offers sparkling lights of its UNESCO-listed Old Town, warm cafés tucked into historic courtyards, and the magical glow of the tree in Cathedral Square. So why not make the slowest marathon possible?” said Eglė Girdzijauskaitė, Head of Communication at Go Vilnius.
The main event of the Slowest Christmas Marathon will take place during the weekend of 12 and 13 December. Those who wish to take part can do so for free and without registering – the only thing they need to decide is whether they opt for the 3, 10, 21, or 42.195-kilometre option. During the main weekend, selected stops will offer small surprises and perks, with prizes waiting for those who complete their route along the required stops.
Those who are not available on 12 or 13 December, or those who want a second chance to try the routes, however, will be able to find the dedicated route maps online until 3 January 2027.
“The Slowest Marathon ties into our Christmas campaign, which borrows the style of a nature documentary to introduce a newly discovered human species: the Christmas Walkerus. They look like everyone else, but their behaviour is distinctive. They walk slower, notice more, and choose the interesting route over the shortest one. And the best part? You’re not born a Christmas Walkerus. You become one simply by coming to Vilnius and allowing yourself to slow down,” commented Eglė Girdzijauskaitė.
The Slowest Christmas Marathon is part of Vilnius’s wider Christmas campaign, ‘Christmas in Vilnius’, which will be kicked off on 28 November with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. The Christmas Market, located on the city’s Cathedral Square, will run from 28 November to 27 December.
Alongside Vilnius’ main Christmas attractions, the routes will lead visitors to lesser-known corners of the city. Stops include Senatorių Pasažas (Senators’ Passage), a historic courtyard with a popular cinnamon bun, and the Užupis Cat, a small sculpture in the city’s bohemian district. Even the streets have surprises, with routes passing through Žiemos (Winter), Šerkšno (Frost), Sniego (Snow), and Elnių (Deer) streets.
The launch of the Slowest Christmas Marathon comes at a moment when an increasing number of travellers are showing interest in experience-based tourism. This Autumn, so-called race-cations in particular are proving very popular, with people looking to combine sports and fitness with their travel goals.
