For EU citizens, a valid national ID card or passport is generally enough to enter Lithuania. Since Lithuania is part of the Schengen Area, travel within the EU is usually straightforward.

• For EU citizens: a valid national ID card or passport.
• For children: every child needs their own travel document.
• For non-EU travelers: before booking, check visa rules, allowed length of stay and passport validity.

Vilnius Airport is very close to the city, so arrival is not complicated. City buses run to the center, with lines 88 and 3G being especially useful for visitors. If you do not have much luggage, public transport is often practical enough.

• To the center: around 20 minutes by buses 88 or 3G.
• Frequency: 3G runs roughly every 10 minutes, while lines 1, 2 and 88 run roughly every 20–30 minutes.
• At night: line 88N connects the airport and the center roughly between 22:30 and 5:30.
• Ticket: a 60-minute ticket can also be bought with a contactless card on the validator inside the vehicle.

Lithuania does not have as dense a rail network as some larger European countries, but the main connections are very useful. The most practical routes are from Vilnius toward Kaunas, Trakai, Klaipėda and Šiauliai.

• Vilnius–Kaunas: the fastest connections take around 1 hour.
• Vilnius–Trakai: around 34 minutes, but the station in Trakai is not right by the castle, so allow time for a walk or local transport.
• Vilnius–Klaipėda: around 4 h 30 on the fastest connections.
• Vilnius–Riga: around 4 hours by direct train, useful if you are continuing a Baltic route.
• Practical: check the timetable directly with LTG Link, because works or seasonal changes can affect connections.

LTG Link

Between the main cities, you can do most of the route by train or bus. A car starts to make more sense when you want to connect the coast, the Curonian Spit, the Hill of Crosses, national parks or more scattered places.

• Without a car: Vilnius, Trakai, Kaunas and Klaipėda are doable by train or bus.
• With a car: it is easier to connect the Curonian Spit, the Hill of Crosses, Anykščiai, Aukštaitija and smaller stops.
• Buses: they fill the gaps well where the train is not the most practical option.
• Best compromise: public transport for cities, a car for 2–4 days of countryside or coast.

Vilnius has buses, express buses and trolleybuses. For a first visit, the best combination is walking and public transport, especially if you stay near the old town or close to a good connection toward the center.

• 30 minutes: a standard ticket costs €1.00.
• 60 minutes: a standard ticket costs €1.25.
• 1 day: a day ticket costs €7.50.
• 3 days: a 72-hour ticket costs €13.50.
• Contactless: you can buy a 60-minute ticket on the validator; it activates automatically.

JUDU ticket prices

The Curonian Spit is one of the most beautiful parts of Lithuania, but it does require a little more logistics. From Klaipėda, you first take the ferry to Smiltynė, then continue toward Juodkrantė, Nida or other places on the spit.

• Old ferry: more useful for pedestrians and cyclists.
• New ferry: also useful for cars and buses.
• Car on the ferry: according to the Smiltynės perkėla price list, a return ticket for a passenger car is €23.20.
• Entry to Neringa: for a passenger car, the ecological fee is €50 between 20 June and 20 August, and €10 during the rest of the year.
• Recommendation: if you go to Nida, do not do it as a quick trip from Vilnius; it is better to sleep by the coast.

Klaipėda–Smiltynė ferry
Entry to Neringa

In Lithuania, traffic drives on the right. Roads between the main cities are useful, but on rural sections and in winter it is smart to expect a slower rhythm. If you rent a car, also check whether you are allowed to take it into Latvia, Estonia or onto a ferry.

• Built-up areas: usually 50 km/h.
• Outside built-up areas: often 70–90 km/h, depending on the road and signs.
• Expressway: often 110 km/h.
• Motorway: up to 130 km/h, often reduced to 110 km/h in winter.
• Lights: dipped headlights or daytime running lights are mandatory even during the day.
• Tolls: for regular passenger cars up to 3.5 t, classic motorway tolls are generally not the main issue; check e-vignettes for vans, freight vehicles and vehicles with more than 8 seats.

E-vignettes and tolls

When driving in Lithuania, it is good to know the basic rules that visitors often underestimate. Seat belts are mandatory for front and rear passengers, and using a phone without a hands-free system while driving is prohibited.

• Seat belt: mandatory for the driver and passengers in both front and rear seats.
• Children: the appropriate child seat or restraint system must be used.
• Phone: using a phone in your hand while driving is not allowed; use a hands-free system.
• As a guide: fines for not wearing a seat belt start at around €30, while fines for using a phone while driving start at around €60.
• Practical: with a rental car, a fine can also come with an administrative fee from the rental company.

The European Health Insurance Card is a good base for a temporary stay in Lithuania, but it is not a replacement for travel insurance. It is useful with providers contracted with Lithuania’s territorial health insurance funds.

• EHIC: helps with emergency or necessary healthcare in the public system.
• In Lithuania: show your European Health Insurance Card and an identity document at the doctor.
• It does not cover: trip cancellation, lost luggage, private healthcare or transport back home.
• For an active trip: extra insurance makes sense, especially for cycling, hiking or driving through the countryside.

Lithuania uses the euro, and card payments are widely accepted. Still, some cash is useful for smaller places, markets, parking or situations where a card terminal is not working.

• Currency: euro.
• Payments: card + a little cash is the safest combination.
• Phone: within the EU, roaming usually works like at home, but still check your data limits.
• Electricity: 230 V, 50 Hz; European plug types C and F are used.
• Practical: prepare an offline map of Vilnius and Lithuania before the trip for navigation and public transport.

Lithuania is generally easy and safe for visitors, but save the emergency number before the trip. The European number 112 works for police, firefighters and emergency medical help.

• 112: single emergency number — police, firefighters and ambulance.
• In the city: normal care with documents, phone and wallet is enough.
• On the coast: Baltic weather can change quickly, so take a windbreaker even in summer.
• In nature: check distances, signal and last transport connections, especially outside the main cities.

Lithuania has its most pleasant travel rhythm from late spring to early autumn. Summer is best for the coast and longer days, while spring and autumn are good for cities, museums, walks and fewer crowds.

• May–June: a good time for Vilnius, Kaunas, Trakai and green day trips.
• July–August: the best time for the Curonian Spit, Nida and the coast, but also the busiest.
• September: a very pleasant compromise for cities, the coast and fewer crowds.
• Winter: shorter days, colder weather and a different, quieter Baltic feeling.