Getting around Lithuania
Lithuania is compact, flat and easy to travel. You can cross the whole country in a few hours, and public transport is cheap, clean and reliable. Here is how to get from A to B without stress.
Intercity trains
The national rail operator LTG Link runs comfortable, modern trains between major cities. The busiest route is Vilnius to Kaunas, taking about 1 hour 20 minutes for roughly 5-8 euro. Trains also serve Klaipeda (the coast) and Siauliai. Buy tickets at the station, from machines, or in the LTG Link app, where advance fares are often cheaper. Trains are punctual and rarely crowded outside rush hour.
Intercity buses
Buses cover far more towns than trains and are the backbone of intercity travel. Kautra and TOKS are the main operators, and the booking site autobusubilietai.lt lets you compare and buy tickets online. Vilnius to Kaunas by bus is frequent (every 30 minutes) and costs around 6-9 euro. For coastal trips to Palanga or Nida, buses are usually the best option.
City transport
Neither Vilnius nor Kaunas has a metro, but both have excellent bus and trolleybus networks.
- In Vilnius, use the Vilniečio kortele card or pay contactless with a bank card straight on the validator. A single ride is about 1 euro.
- The Trafi app shows live timetables and routes for Vilnius and works brilliantly for planning.
- Kaunas runs trolleybuses and buses on a similar tap-and-go system.
Taxis and ride apps
Ride-hailing is widespread and affordable. Bolt is the dominant app and usually cheaper than street taxis; Uber also operates in Vilnius. A short city ride costs 4-7 euro. Bolt also offers e-scooters and shared cars in the bigger cities.
Car rental and driving
Renting a car makes sense for the countryside, the Curonian Spit or castles like Trakai. Major firms operate at Vilnius Airport. Roads are good and well signed, drive on the right, and headlights must be on at all times, year-round. Winter tyres are mandatory from November to March. Parking in city centres is paid and zoned; pay via app or meter.
Practical tips
- Validate every ticket, even contactless, or risk a fine.
- Trains and buses both connect well to Vilnius Airport.
- For day trips (Trakai, Kaunas) buses run all day and need no booking.
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