Lithuania

Airports in Lithuania: which one to fly into

Fly into Vilnius (VNO) for a first trip: it is 8 minutes by train from the centre, with buses and Bolt as backup. Choose Kaunas (KUN) only if a low-cost fare saves real money, and Palanga (PLQ) only for the coast in summer. Check each route before booking.

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Updated Sep 20263 min read

GuideLithuania

Key facts

Best airport for most trips: Vilnius (VNO) — closest to the centre, train in about 8 minutes
Cheapest farescheck: Kaunas (KUN) — low-cost carriers; about 1 h to Kaunas, 1 h 30 to Vilnius by road
Best for the coast: Palanga (PLQ) — closest to Palanga, Klaipėda and the Curonian Spit
Vilnius airport to city: Train about 8 min; bus and Bolt also run
Airport transfer costcheck: Train or bus €1–2; Bolt €4–10 across Vilnius
US nonstop flightscheck: None — connect via a European hub
UK routescheck: London and regional UK links exist; frequency varies by season

Details

Lithuania has three airports with scheduled passenger flights. Vilnius (VNO) is the main gateway and the only one with a rail link to the city. Kaunas (KUN) handles much of the low-cost traffic and sits between the two biggest cities. Palanga (PLQ) is a small seasonal airport on the coast.

Vilnius airport is about 6 km south of the centre. The train runs roughly every 30 minutes and takes about 8 minutes; buses 1, 2 and 3G also serve the terminal, and Bolt is cheap. Allow 20–30 minutes by road in traffic. For a first trip, land here: the parent guide's default plan (3 nights Vilnius, 1 Kaunas, 2 on the Curonian Spit in summer) starts and ends easily from VNO.

Kaunas airport is about 14 km north of Kaunas and roughly 100 km from Vilnius. There is no train to the terminal; use the bus to Kaunas, a direct coach to Vilnius, or Bolt. If a low-cost fare is much cheaper, the extra transfer time can still be worth it — but add the transfer cost and an hour or more of travel to the comparison.

Palanga airport is about 3 km from Palanga and roughly 30 km from Klaipėda, the ferry port for the Curonian Spit. It is the right choice for a coast-first trip in summer. Winter service is thin, so check schedules before booking a coastal arrival.

All three are small, so security and baggage are usually quick. None has nonstop flights to the US; you connect through a European hub such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Warsaw or Riga. From the UK, London and some regional airports have direct links, with frequency changing by season.

Details
Airport	Code	Best for	To the city
Vilnius	VNO	First trips, Vilnius and the east	Train about 8 min; bus; Bolt €4–10 (check)
Kaunas	KUN	Low-cost fares, Kaunas and central Lithuania	Bus or Bolt; about 1 h to Kaunas, 1 h 30 to Vilnius (check)
Palanga	PLQ	The coast, Palanga, Klaipėda, Curonian Spit	Bus or Bolt; about 10 min to Palanga, 30 min to Klaipėda (check)

Transfer times are estimates; check current schedules before you book.

Tips

Book the airport that matches your first two nights, not the cheapest fare alone. A €20 saving into Kaunas can cost more than that in transfer time and taxi fare if you are heading straight to Vilnius.

Buy Vilnius public transport tickets before boarding — the parent guide notes controllers fine. The train to the airport is the exception: buy at the station or on board as posted.

Use Bolt rather than street taxis; the app price is fixed and cheap across Vilnius.

In summer, coast trains and buses fill on Fridays and Sundays. If you land at Palanga on a peak weekend, book the onward leg in advance.

Winter tyres are required from November to March if you hire a car, and headlights must be on at all times.

Land at VNO for Vilnius, Trakai and the east.
Land at KUN only when the fare gap is large.
Land at PLQ for Palanga, Klaipėda and the Curonian Spit in summer.
Allow 2–3 hours between a flight and a long onward train or coach.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Which airport should I fly into for Lithuania?

Vilnius (VNO) for most trips — it is closest to the centre and has a train in about 8 minutes. Pick Kaunas (KUN) if a low-cost fare saves real money, and Palanga (PLQ) for a coast-first summer trip.

How do I get from the airport to the city in Lithuania?

From Vilnius, the train takes about 8 minutes and buses and Bolt also run; a Bolt across the city is roughly €4–10. Kaunas and Palanga have no airport train — use the bus or Bolt, about 1 hour to Kaunas and about 10 minutes to Palanga.

Which airlines fly to Lithuania from the US and UK?

There are no nonstop US flights; connect through a European hub such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Warsaw or Riga. From the UK, London and some regional airports have direct links, with frequency changing by season. Check routes before booking.

Deep dive

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