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Voykit pocket guide · Lithuania
Vilnius
Vilnius is a walking city: give the mornings to the Old Town, the afternoons to Užupis and the cafés, and keep a half day for Trakai by train or bus.
Vilnius has one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe, and it is small enough to cover on foot from one bed. The airport is about 6 km from the centre and cheap to reach. What goes wrong is cobbles and ice under wheeled bags, short winter days (about seven hours of daylight in December) and loud summer weekend nights around the bars. Four walking areas cover a first visit.
- Country
- Lithuania
- Best months
- Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
- Time zone
- Europe/Vilnius
- Stay
- 2 days: Old Town and Cathedral quarter, Užupis in the evening
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, including small cafés and taxis. Carry about €20 in small notes for market stalls, kiosks and public toilets.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–50 excl. bed · Mid €50–120 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a prepaid SIM at a Telia, Bitė or Tele2 shop in the centre (passport needed). Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés and hotels.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 112
- Plugs
- 230 V; two-pin European sockets (types C and F). Bring an adapter if you come from the US, UK, Canada or Australia.
- Tipping
- Round up or leave 5–10% in a sit-down restaurant if service is not already on the bill. Nothing is expected for a coffee or a beer at the bar. Round up for taxis.
- Water
- Tap water is safe to drink in Vilnius, though many locals filter it; bottled water is cheap.
- Toilets
- Cafés, shopping centres, museums and the Halės market hall; some public toilets charge a small coin fee.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (flat white in a café) | €2.50–4.00 |
| Half-litre of local beer | €3.50–6.00 |
| Breakfast in a café | €6–12 |
| Sit-down lunch, per person | €9–16 |
| Dinner main course | €12–22 |
| Cepelinai (potato dumplings) in a restaurant | €9–14 |
| Bus or trolleybus single ride | €1–2 |
| Ride-hail from the airport to the Old Town | €6–12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Vilnius Airport (VNO)
- VNO to the Old Town: one ride-hailing car or taxi, 15–30 minutes — the risk is not the ride but a small hotel desk that closes at night.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Vilnius Railway Station (Vilniaus geležinkelio stotis) | Trakai, Kaunas, Klaipėda, and the airport train | Walk 15 min to the Gates of Dawn; taxi 5 min |
| Vilnius Bus Station (Vilniaus autobusų stotis) | Long-distance coaches: Riga, Tallinn, Warsaw, Kaunas, Klaipėda | Walk 15 min to the Gates of Dawn; taxi 5 min |
| Vilnius Airport station (Oro uosto geležinkelio stotelė) | Airport train to the central station | Train about 7 min to the central station |
Typical fares
- VNO → Old Town, ride-hail
- €6–12, 15–30 min
- VNO → central station, train
- About €1–2 (check), about 7 min
- Vilnius → Trakai, train or bus
- About €2–5 (check), 35–45 min
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside the Old Town, use buses or a ride-hail car between areas, and take the train for Trakai and Kaunas. The city has buses and trolleybuses but no metro or tram.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | The Old Town, Cathedral Square, Užupis and Gedimino Avenue |
| Bus and trolleybus | About €1–2 a ride (check) | The station, the New Town, Žvėrynas and the TV Tower |
| Taxi and ride-hail | About €4–10 across the centre | Luggage, night and rain |
| Train (airport, Trakai, Kaunas) | About €1–2 to the airport, €3–5 to Trakai (check) | The airport and day trips |
| Bolt scooters and bikes | By the minute | Short hops on a dry day |
| Hop-on hop-off bus | About €15–25 | A first orientation loop |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass needed for a short stay: a few single rides or a day ticket cover the airport and the outer sights.
- Late at night
- Buses and trolleybuses stop late at night; ride-hailing runs all night.
See and do
01Gediminas TowerGedimino pilies bokštas
The best overview of the Old Town in under an hour: the roofs, the cathedral and the river from the top.
Hours: best Morning or an hour before sunset · Price: €5–8 · Time: 45–60 min · 54.6869, 25.2909
02Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral SquareVilniaus arkikatedra bazilika
The heart of the city and a free interior; stand on the Stebuklas tile.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 20–30 min · 54.6857, 25.2879
03Vilnius University courtyardsVilniaus universitetas
Arcaded courtyards, a Baroque church and a library in the oldest university in the Baltics.
Hours: best Weekday morning · Price: €3–6 · Time: 30–45 min · 54.6826, 25.2886
04Gates of DawnAušros vartai
The last city gate, with a pilgrimage chapel above the street.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 15–20 min · 54.6743, 25.2899
05Užupis and the AngelUžupio angelas
An artists' quarter with its own republic, a constitution wall and river cafés.
Hours: best Afternoon · Price: Free · Time: 45–60 min · 54.6803, 25.2955
06Museum of Occupations and Freedom FightsOkupacijų ir laisvės kovų muziejus
The KGB building with cells and an exercise yard; a serious, well-told visit.
Hours: best Morning · Price: €8–12 · Time: 60–90 min · 54.6896, 25.2681
07St Anne's Church and the Bernardine GardenŠv. Onos bažnyčia ir Bernardinų ansamblis
A Gothic brick church and a quiet river garden.
Hours: best Late afternoon · Price: Free · Time: 20–30 min · 54.6822, 25.2913
08Town Hall SquareRotušės aikštė
The old square for orientation and a coffee break.
Hours: best Any time · Price: Free · Time: 15–25 min · 54.6785, 25.2874
09Halės MarketHalės turgus
A cheap lunch and edible souvenirs in a market hall.
Hours: best Before 12:00 · Price: €5–12 · Time: 30–45 minHours: best Before 12:00 PM · Price: €5–12 · Time: 30–45 min · 54.6787, 25.2807
10Trakai Island Castle by train
A red-brick castle on a lake, 35–45 minutes from the centre.
Hours: best A dry morning · Price: €3–5 fare plus entry · Time: 4–5 h
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Trakai | Train or bus about 35–45 min | Half day |
| Kernavė | Car or tour about 45–60 min | Half to full day |
| Kaunas | Train or bus about 1.5 h | Full day |
| Paneriai Memorial | Train about 10–15 min | 2–3 h |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town self-service Lithuanian cafeteria | Self-service Lithuanian lunch · Old Town | €4–9 | Budget |
| Halės Market Hall | Market hall lunch and snacks · Halės market | €5–12 | Budget |
| Supermarket meal deal | Sandwich, drink and snack · Any Maxima, Iki or Lidl | €3–6 | Budget |
| Bakery | Pastry and coffee · Old Town and Užupis | €3–6 | Budget |
| Bernelių užeiga (traditional Lithuanian inn) | Cepelinai and a beer · Near the Bernardine church | €15–28 | Mid-range |
| Lokys (Lithuanian and game restaurant) | Game and Lithuanian classics · Stiklių street | €20–35 | Mid-range |
| Užupio kavinė (café in Užupis) | Soup, café lunch or wine · Užupis | €6–14 | Mid-range |
| Old Town craft-beer taproom | Craft beer and snacks · Old Town | €10–20 | Mid-range |
| A modern Baltic tasting menu | Seasonal tasting menu · Old Town (confirm locally) | From about €50–90 (check) | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Addresses change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | €14–25 dorm bed · €45–70 double | Old Town, near the station | Hostels, guesthouses |
| mid | €80–150 | Old Town, Gedimino Avenue | 3–4 star hotels, apartments |
| high | €150–250 | Old Town, Gedimino Avenue | 4–5 star hotels |
| splurge | €250–450+ | Old Town | Five-star and heritage hotels |
Per room per night in euro, 2026 estimate; summer weekends and Christmas add 20–60%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | LabasLAH-bahs |
| Goodbye | Viso geroVEE-soh GEH-roh |
| Thank you | AčiūAH-choo |
| Please / you are welcome | Prašauprah-SHOW |
| Excuse me / sorry | Atsiprašauaht-see-prah-SHOW |
| Cheers | Į sveikatąee sveh-ee-KAH-tah |
| Toilets (women / men) | Moterims / VyramsMOH-teh-rims / VEE-rahms |
| Exit | Išėjimasee-SHAY-ee-mahs |
| Airport | Oro uostasOH-roh WOH-stahs |
| The bill, please | Sąskaitą, prašauSAHS-kai-tah, prah-SHOW |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Churches: Cover shoulders and knees, remove hats, keep voices low and do not photograph services.
- Tipping: Round up or leave 5–10% in sit-down restaurants if service is not on the bill; not expected for a beer.
- Language: Say hello in Lithuanian (labas); English is fine after that. Do not assume Russian is welcome: ask first.
- History: Lithuanians take the Soviet occupation and the Holocaust seriously: avoid jokes and do not call the country a post-Soviet or Eastern bloc destination casually.
- Queues: Orderly at counters and kiosks; do not push in.
- Homes: Take your shoes off if you are invited to a home.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people; no photos of services or of the KGB museum's restricted areas.
Red lines
- Churches: cover shoulders and knees, remove hats, keep voices low, and do not photograph services.
- Do not step on the memorial paving or flower beds in the squares.
- Tap water is drinkable; do not drink from public fountains.
Scams and watch-outs
- Overpriced drinks and menus without prices in bars aimed at visitors: check the price of a beer before you order.
- Unmarked cars offering a lift at the airport or station: use the taxi rank or a ride-hailing app.
- Currency exchange kiosks with a great headline rate and a hidden fee: use a bank ATM instead.
- Petty theft on crowded Old Town streets and in bars: keep your phone in a front pocket.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover or a day before a coach. Skip: The KGB museum, Trakai and Užupis if the day is short.
- 08:308:30 AMGediminas Tower
- 10:0010:00 AMVilnius Cathedral
- 11:0011:00 AMUniversity courtyards
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch at a canteen or Lokys
- 14:002:00 PMGates of Dawn and Town Hall Square
- 16:004:00 PMUžupis and the Angel
- 19:007:00 PMDinner and a taproom
2 days
The usual Vilnius stay. Skip: Trakai unless you add a third day.
Day 1 — Old Town and the hill
- 08:308:30 AMGediminas Tower
- 10:0010:00 AMVilnius Cathedral
- 11:0011:00 AMUniversity courtyards
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch at Lokys
- 14:302:30 PMTown Hall Square and Halės market
- 18:006:00 PMTaproom
Day 2 — Užupis and Gedimino Avenue
- 09:309:30 AMUžupis and the Angel
- 10:4510:45 AMSt Anne's and the Bernardine Garden
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch at a café in Užupis
- 14:002:00 PMMuseum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
- 18:006:00 PMDinner on Gedimino Avenue
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Go Vilnius (city tourism): www.govilnius.lt/
- Wikivoyage — Vilnius: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Vilnius
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Vilnius
Prašau nuvežti mane šiuo adresu
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Gedimino pilies bokštasGediminas Tower
- Vilniaus arkikatedra bazilikaVilnius Cathedral
- Vilniaus universitetasVilnius University courtyards
- Aušros vartaiGates of Dawn
- Užupio angelasUžupis Angel and the Republic of Užupis
- Okupacijų ir laisvės kovų muziejusMuseum of Occupations and Freedom Fights (KGB Museum)
- Police, ambulance, fire112
Most embassies are in Vilnius; write your own embassy's 24-hour line below.
English is spoken in hotels, cafés and museums; Lithuanian is the main language and Russian is also spoken. Show the street name to a driver.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/vilnius). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.