ESSENTIAL CITY GUIDES
Europe’s leading publisher of locally produced
city guides
Arrival & Transport
Arriving in and getting around Vilnius are fairly simple affairs once you understand the basics. Accordingly, travelling further afield is relatively painless if you’re prepared to do your research beforehand and use some sign language when using buses and trains. Car rental is relatively cheap by Western standards, a reality that has nothing to do whatsoever with the creative style of driving as favoured by many of the locals. The facts that both Hertz and life seem cheap are in no way connected. Bon voyage.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
-
Public transport
You haven’t really experienced Vilnius until you’ve run the gauntlet of its public transport system, made up of city and private buses, minibuses
Read on
Latest Comments
Hi, the major trick with taxis at the airport and the rest of the city is to *never* get in one right off the street. You will be charged tripple or more. Call from a local pay-phone (or better yet, your cell with a local phone card) and dial a[...]
I was just robbed at the Vilnius bus station. I don't even understand how it happened! I used the ATM in the bus terminal after arriving from Riga. PLEASE watch out for criminals. I'm still not sure how they even figured out my code, but[...]
G'day,As a regular visitor to Vilnius who's neither sufficiently cashed up to rent a car nor suicidal enough to attempt to drive one, I now catch the train instead of the bus to and from the airport. Despite the ridiculously high step to each carriage, the train is a much better option than lugging a suitcase onto a crowded trolley bus, spending 30 mins on the Lithuanian equivalent of a Disneyworld ride without face planting, then attempting alight at the right stop with all limbs intact.In comparison, the train is uncrowded, its ride smooth, the journey only takes 7 min and costs a meager 2.50 LTL. A timetable is printed in the most recent edition of VNYP.
Thanks for your comments Harry, although I should point out there are no trolleybuses running from the airport, just plain old buses. The train certainly is a good option, although if you're not staying near the train station you'll still need to hop on a bus or trolleybus to complete the journey. Ed.
[...]
Hello, much though I love coming to Vilnius and speak Litho - almost enough to pretend I'm not really an Aussie - I've never paid less than 45 litai to get from/to the airport, usually more; so now I just hire a car (info on your site) for a hassle free pick up for 50 litai; just like getting the relos to collect you.
Hi Egle, thanks for your comments. You're right about the taxi fare. VIYP were entertaining the Guardian newspaper from the UK last week and their man took a taxi from the airport to Old Town and paid 52Lt. Ed.
[...]
Actually , if you travel on them , you will find that private buses are more expensive than city buses, which can be identified by "VilnausAP " them. Basic colour is blue/yellow, but there are variations ,such as the articulated 7000 class Volvos , which are silver.Try riding on them!
Hi David, thanks for your comment. We're actually just udpating this information at the moment as the prices have just changed again. Actually, the prices are now the same for a ride on a private bus or on a city bus if you buy a ticket from a kiosk... ie. 1.80Lt. Ed.
[...]
There have been improvements at the Hauptbahnhof in Vilnius - good-but this does not hide the fact that the timetable of most services isnot at all useful , being little different from those used in communist days. EG the service to/from T[...]
I really do not care for the "heavies" ie security men who lurk aboutwearing dark glasses and big shoes at the out-of -town bus station. . They are threatening and unpleasant . Is anybody there to hijack the motley collection of rolling stock that we still see in Lithuania - I don't think so!
Hi David. Their main job is to deter the alcoholics who used to keep warm in the bus station and make travellers, especially foreign travellers, uncomfortable. Ed.
[...]