Lithuania (LT)

Lithuania is the largest and most southerly of the three Baltic states, a semi-presidential EU republic celebrated for its remarkably preserved Baroque capital Vilnius (UNESCO World Heritage), dramatic coastal dunes at Neringa (also UNESCO), vibrant startup and fintech ecosystem (home of Revolut HQ, Vinted, Nord Security, and Hostinger), rapidly rising living standards, and a resilient population with deep cultural roots stretching back to one of the last pagan civilisations in Europe to adopt Christianity.

Capital: Vilnius

Region: Europe

Language: Lithuanian

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Affordable (index 47)

Emergency: 112

Getting Around

Transport options for living in Lithuania.

Public Transport Overview

Vilnius has a comprehensive bus and trolleybus network operated by Vilniaus viešasis transportas (VVT). Kaunas similarly has buses and trolleybuses. Klaipėda has a bus network. Public transit is inexpensive — a single ticket costs around €1. Contactless bank card payment was introduced across Vilnius buses and trolleybuses making payment seamless. The e-ticket system (judu.lt) allows monthly passes. Vilnius does not yet have a metro — a light rail (tramvajus) project is in active planning for 2027–2030. Night buses operate in Vilnius on weekends.

Main operators:

VVT (Vilniaus viešasis transportas) — Vilnius city buses and trolleybusesKAUNO Autobusų parkas — Kaunas city busesKlaipėdos autobusų parkas — Klaipėda city busesLTG Link (formerly Lietuvos geležinkeliai) — national railwayToks / Transregio — intercity bus operatorsLux Express — premium intercity buses

🎫 Transit Passes

JUDU Card monthly pass (Vilnius) €38/month (standard 30-day full pass)

Unlimited travel on all VVT buses and trolleybuses in Vilnius within the selected zone

💡 Register at judu.lt with your asmens kodas. Load credit or monthly passes onto the JUDU card. Tap on boarding. Substantial discount vs. single tickets for regular commuters.

Single ticket (Vilnius) €1 with card tap / €1.10 from driver

One trip on any VVT service. Valid for 60 minutes with transfers.

💡 Pay by contactless bank card (tap on reader), JUDU card, or cash to driver. Contactless bank card payment is the most convenient option.

LTG Link train tickets €5–15 (Vilnius–Kaunas), €10–25 (Vilnius–Klaipėda)

National rail network including Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda main line and regional routes

💡 Buy online at ltglink.lt or at station ticket machines. Advance booking recommended for InterCity trains. Regular trains are cheaper and slower.

Taxi & Rideshare

Taxis are affordable by Western standards. Bolt (formerly Taxify) dominates the Vilnius market and is the go-to app — generally €5–12 for trips within the city. Gett and inDriver also operate. Traditional metered taxis are more expensive. Uber launched in Vilnius in 2022 and is growing. Always use app-based services to get fixed prices before booking. Vilnius Airport to city centre: €15–20 by Bolt.

Rideshare (Long-distance)

BlaBlaCar is popular for intercity travel between Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda — significantly cheaper than train/bus. Bolt also operates carpool features. For airport transfers, pre-booked Bolt or Gett is reliable and cheap.

Cycling

Cycling infrastructure is growing rapidly in Vilnius. The city has invested heavily in dedicated cycle lanes (dviračių takai), particularly along major corridors. Cyclocity bike-sharing (Vilnius) provides rental bikes across the city — register at cyclocity.lt. The riverside cycling paths along the Neris and Nemunas rivers are excellent. Cycling culture is not as developed as in Western Europe but is growing, especially among younger residents.

Intercity Trains

LTG Link operates Lithuania's national rail network. The main corridor is Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda (coast), with the Vilnius–Kaunas journey taking 70 minutes on the fast train (Rail Baltica high-speed line is under construction and will eventually reduce this). Other routes serve Šiauliai, Panevėžys, and smaller towns. International trains: Vilnius–Minsk (suspended due to political situation), Vilnius–Warsaw via Kaunas (night train). Rail Baltica — the new high-speed rail project connecting Tallinn–Riga–Vilnius–Warsaw — is under construction with completion expected in the late 2020s.

Driving

Lithuania drives on the right. The road network is generally good, with excellent motorways (automagistralės) connecting Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, and major towns. A10 (Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda) is the main highway. Speed limits: 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on regional roads, 110 km/h on expressways, 130 km/h on motorways (120 in winter). Winter driving requires winter tyres (mandatory from November 10 to March 31). Drink-driving limit is 0.4‰ (stricter for new drivers: 0.2‰). Parking in central Vilnius is challenging — use paid parking zones or park & ride facilities.

Airports

Vilnius International Airport (VNO) is the main airport, located 6 km from the city centre. Served by most major European airlines plus Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Lufthansa. Bus route 1 connects the airport to the city centre (€1 ticket, ~20 minutes). Train from Vilnius station to airport (direct link): ~5 minutes, running regularly. Bolt/taxi: €15–20 to city centre. Kaunas International Airport (KUN) serves Ryanair and some budget routes. Palanga Airport (PLQ) serves Klaipėda region. Vilnius airport expansion projects ongoing.