Travel in Vilnius

Vilnius airport

Vilnius airport is just five km from the centre of the city, so getting to town is quick and inexpensive.

Getting through immigration and customs is also very quick. Once you’ve been released into the arrivals hall, turn hard-right to find an ATM against the wall which will happy issue Lithuanian litas in inconveniently large denominations.

The nearby Lietuvos Spauda kiosk (open 06:00 - 18:30 weekdays, 08:00 - 15:00 weekends) is a little further along and is great not just for picking up phone cards, sweeties, and the latest copy of Vilnius In Your Pocket, but also for giving you enough change to make getting into town a bit easier. (Try handing a 200Lt note to a bus or taxi driver and see what happens.)

Left luggage (open 24hrs) is at the opposite (left) end of the arrivals hall, as is lost luggage (open 10:00 - 15:30). A two-minute exploration will also reveal a Vilnius Bank currency exchange (open 24hrs), public telephones (see the Mail & Phones section of our printed guide for instructions) and car rental kiosks.

Getting to town from Vilnius Airport

A taxi to Old Town will cost about 25-30Lt, depending on the time of day and mood of the driver. Only one taxi company, Martonas, has been granted a licence to allow its drivers to squabble over newly arriving passengers at the airport. While they are by no means the cheapest taxi company, they are supposed to have reliable drivers who are supposed to be able to speak English. To save a little money, you could call any of the other taxi companies listed in our Getting Around section , but for most foreigners the amount saved will not be worth the bother.

If you’re on a budget, get on a bus. The bus stop is just to the left as you exit the arrivals hall. From here you can take bus 1 to the train station as late as 23:05 or bus 2 to Lukiškių Square as late as 22:35 on weekdays and 22:37 on weekends. You can buy tickets from the driver on the bus for 1.40Lt, but don’t expect much English to be spoken.

Arriving by train

The renovated train station is a bit less abysmal than the bus station located across the street. On the first floor is a Hansa Bank currency exchange and Information office (Open 09:00 - 18:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 16:00). The 24-hour left luggage and Lietuvos Spauda kiosk (Open 06:00 - 21:00) is located downstairs in the basement. Public telephones can be found scattered throughout the station.

Getting to town from the train station

You're more or less in it. Walk to the Old Town in seven minutes by sauntering to your right as you exit the station and either taking a left down Pylimo street, or hopping on bus 26 or trolleybus 1, 2, 5 or 7, all of which head off to different destinations via the city centre. Buy a ticket from the driver for 1.40Lt. Minibuses 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 or 62 go via the city centre, tickets cost 2Lt.

Arriving by bus

When the bus station was renovated the vagrant riff-raff who hang around it were left alone, ensuring a trip here will increase your vocabulary of Russian swear words. The Lietuvos Spauda kiosk (Open 06:00 - 21:00), left luggage (Open 05:30 - 21:00, Sun 07:00 - 21:00) and public telephones are located in the main building. A few ATMs and kiosks can also be found, where you can purchase among other things, snacks and maps.