When to Visit Vilnius, Lithuania?
The best time to visit Vilnius, Lithuania is from June to August, when the weather is nice and warm, making it great for you to explore the outdoors.
This period is considered to be the high season, but since the Baltic countries don't get as many tourists as other places in Europe, you do not have to worry about big crowds ruining your trip.
Other months outside of the peak season can be extremely cold in the Baltic countries, and many of the tourist attractions you might want to visit might not be open, so I highly recommend you stick with the summer months when planning a trip here.
How to Get to Vilnius, Lithuania?
To get to Vilnius, you will have to either fly into its international airport or catch one of the many buses that run between other cities in Europe to Vilnius via Poland from Western Europe or via Latvia from Northern Europe.
To find a flight to Vilnius, you have to search for flights that fly into Vilnius International Airport (VNO).
From the US, unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Vilnius. However, you can still fly into the city via one of the many transit flights that pass through cities like Frankfurt (Lufthansa), British Airlines (London), or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) from big cities in the US like New York, Boston, and Miami. The journey should take about 13 hours and cost 300 USD or more.
From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via local carriers such as British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa to Vilnius. You can also opt for low-cost airlines like Wizz and RyanAir, which often offer direct flights from major cities across Europe for as low as 12 USD.
From Asia, your only option is to fly into Vilnius via transit flights through big European cities like Frankfurt and Amsterdam, which can take anywhere from 17 to more than 24 hours, including transit time.
It's not ideal, but this is the only way to do it from Asia. A better way would be to visit Vilnius as part of your larger Europe trip, which is exactly what I did to make the long flight worthwhile.
To find a cheap flight to Vilnius, I would recommend using Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
Getting From Poland to Vilnius, Lithuania
To get from Poland to Vilnius, you will have to first get yourself to Bialystok, an industrial city near the border, either by train or bus. You can book a bus from Warsaw to Bialystok from here: Book Warsaw to Bialystok Bus. The journey should take about 3 hours and cost 5 USD per person.
Once you arrive at Białystok Bus Station, you can then catch a 9 AM bus operated by Lux Bus, which should take you to Vilnius in about 6.5 hours and for around 18 USD. You can book the bus from Białystok, Poland to Vilnius, Lithuania here: Book Białystok to Vilnius Bus.
As you can see, the bus from Bialystok to Vilnius runs pretty early, so make sure you get from Warsaw to Bialystok on an early bus or train that arrives 30 minutes prior to its 9:05 AM departure time.
How to Get Around Vilnius, Lithuania?
By Walk: Vilnius is pretty well concentrated when it comes to its tourist attractions, and you can easily travel between these places on foot.
By Intercity Bus: For attractions that are further away, like Trakai, you can easily catch an intercity bus that often runs between these places every 1 to 2 hours every day. All you have to do is visit Vilnius Bus Station and take the bus that goes to Trakai, and that's it.
By Train: You can also take a train from Vilnius to places like Trakai, but you will have fewer options when it comes to time. There is only one train that leaves from Vilnius Railway Station to Trakai at 8:04 AM. However, I find the bus to be much more comfortable.
By Tours: If you want a more deep-dive experience into Vilnius, going with an organized tour like this Soviet City Walking Tour or taking day trips to places like Trakai is also a great option too.
You will get more information about the city than when you explore by yourself, and you do not have to worry about the logistics of visiting other places. It should all be organized for you.
For more tours, you can join in Vilnius, click the link below:
How Many Days To Spend in Vilnius, Lithuania?
Two full days should be enough to see everything Vilnius has to offer, with some time to relax in between. Below is a rough itinerary of things to do in Vilnius for 2 days:
Day 1: Visit all the tourist attractions within Vilnius, such as Vilnius Cathedral, the Palace of the Grand Duke, St. Anne's Church, Uzupis, and climb up the Three Crosses Monument for a nice sunset before ending the first day.
Day 2: Visit Trakai for half a day and then spend the rest of your second day visiting museums or indulging yourself in local cuisine in the city.
How Much Money Do I Need For Vilnius, Lithuania?
With the rough itinerary above, we can calculate approximately how much you will spend in Vilnius, Lithuania as follows:
Accommodation: For 3 nights in Vilnius, you can expect to pay around 42 USD (35.57 EUR) for accommodation.
Food: Food costs about 7 EUR on average per meal, so for 2 days, you can expect to pay around 42 EUR per person for food.
Transportation: For transportation, you will only need to buy a round trip bus ticket to Trakai, which should cost around 4 EUR, and that is it for transportation.
Activities: For activities, you will have to pay the entrance fee to Gediminas Castle Tower (5 EUR), Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania Museums (7 EUR), and Trakai Castle (12 EUR). So, in total, you will pay around 24 EUR for activities in Lithuania.
Total Budget for 2 days in Vilnius: 105.57 EUR (124.61 USD)
Is it Safe in Vilnius, Lithuania?
Lithuania is generally quite safe, especially when compared to bigger cities like Paris and Barcelona. Petty thefts can still happen, but they are not as prevalent as in Western Europe.
That said, it is always a good idea to take precautions and be aware of your belongings and surroundings when you are traveling. Petty thefts, like bag snatching and pickpocketing, do still happen in big cities like Vilnius, especially in crowded areas. So, don't forget to keep your belongings near you when you are out and about at all times.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Lithuania?
There are 3 major carriers in Lithuania: Telia, Tele2, and Bitee, all of which offer pretty similar coverage. However, the best one to get is Ežys and Extra, a prepaid brand offered by Telia.
With Ežys by Telia, you can buy a SIM card for around 1.5 - 2 EUR, and then easily purchase top-up vouchers from Telia stores or various shops in Vilnius.
Regular data plans for Ežys by Telia should cost between 2.59 EUR for 2 GB and unlimited for 11.99 EUR, all with a duration of 30 days. The activation and top-up can be done entirely online, and you should be able to pay with an international credit card.
For more information about Lithuania's local SIM card: Lithuania's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, make sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling. This way, you can bypass any local Internet censorship you might encounter while in Lithuania.
What to Pack for Vilnius, Lithuania?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Lithuania:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
