Now that the new eastern European members of the European Union are becoming much more accessible, weekend breaks to cities behind the old Iron Curtain become a real option. Flight prices are often at their lowest when the schools in western and central European countries have restarted in late August or early September for the autumn term. One ideal spot for a September break is the Lithuanian city of Vilnius, which is often at its best as summer slips imperceptibly into autumn. Particularly until the middle of the month, days are often pleasantly warm and sunny, so a real chance of an Indian summer.

From 10 to 18 September 2005, Vilnius hosts its annual Capital City days, a lively festival of arts, music and culture known locally as Sostines dienos.