Transportation in Vilnius

Transportation in Vilnius

Your complete guide to getting around Vilnius - from airport transfers to local transport

Getting Around Vilnius

Vilnius runs on buses and trolleybuses. There is no metro. That matters less than you'd expect. The compact old town and most visitor destinations sit within easy walking distance of each other. Public transport is mainly useful for reaching neighbourhoods further from the historic core. The city card system (Vilniečio kortelė), available from ticket machines and some kiosks, loads credit for multiple journeys. It costs a fraction of buying single-ride paper tickets each time. Worth picking up if you plan to use buses more than once or twice. For door-to-door travel, Bolt dominates the ride-hailing market across the Baltics. It works reliably in Vilnius. Fares are moderate by western European standards. Increase pricing is rare outside weekend nights. Street taxis exist but are an unnecessary gamble. Unlicensed operators sometimes haunt tourist spots. The app removes all ambiguity about the fare before you're committed. From Vilnius Airport, the city centre is close. Regular public bus service connects the two throughout the day at budget-friendly prices. The ride takes under half an hour in ordinary traffic. A Bolt from the airport runs to a moderate fare. It is the right call when you're arriving late or travelling with luggage. Avoid unsolicited rides from drivers approaching you in arrivals. The legitimate options, bus or app, both outperform them on price and transparency.

Intercity Trains & Buses

Vilnius's main bus and train stations sit side by side just south of Old Town, so both modes are a short walk or local-transit ride from most hotels. Lithuanian Railways (LTG Link) runs frequent express trains to Kaunas, the fastest domestic rail link in the country, and slower services to Šiauliai and Klaipėda, though buses often match or beat train times to the coast. Carriers like Lux Express operate comfortable coaches on longer domestic and cross-border routes, connecting Vilnius directly to Riga, Warsaw, and Tallinn at fares well below what you'd pay to fly. For the coast or the Curonian Spit, the bus is generally the simpler option, with fewer transfers than rail. Schedules and operators shift seasonally, so check current departures on Omio before locking in a route.

Quick Transportation Tips

Use the Bolt app to book rides across Vilnius. It is the dominant ride-hailing service in the Baltics. Significantly cheaper than street-hailed taxis.

Bus No. 1 connects Vilnius Airport directly to the city center. A budget-friendly alternative to a taxi for the airport transfer.

Vilnius has no metro. The city runs entirely on buses and trolleybuses. Download Trafi to navigate routes and check real-time departures.

Load an electronic public transport card at station kiosks or ticket machines. Ride buses and trolleybuses without paying the higher single-ride cash fare.