Lithuania
Currency in Lithuania: what to use and how to exchange
Lithuania uses the euro (EUR), adopted in 2015, so there is no separate national currency to convert. Pay by card almost everywhere and withdraw cash from bank ATMs for markets and small towns; exchange leftover notes only at a bank or a marked bureau, never on the street. Bring a card, not a wallet of cash.
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GuideLithuania
Key facts
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €), in use since 2015
- Coins and notes
- 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and €1, €2; notes €5 to €500
- Cards
- Accepted almost everywhere, including contactless and mobile wallets
- Cash still useful for
- Markets, small cafés, rural buses, tips
- Best exchange route
- Bank branch or a clearly priced bureau de change; avoid street offers
- Typical ATM feecheck
- Local bank fees vary; your own bank may add a foreign-use fee (check)
- Prices
- 2026 estimate; Lithuania is mid-range for the euro area
Details
Lithuania joined the euro area on 1 January 2015, so prices, bank statements and card terminals are all in euros. The litas is long gone and no longer exchanges anywhere. If you are arriving from a non-euro country, treat Lithuania like any other euro destination: your home bank's exchange rate applies to card payments, and you can withdraw euros from any ATM.
Cards work almost everywhere: supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, train and bus ticket machines, and most taxis. Contactless and phone wallets are standard. Carry a small amount of cash anyway — a €20 note and some coins cover a market stall, a rural bus, a tip or a café that has a minimum card spend. Coins matter more than you expect: €1 and €2 coins are used constantly for lockers, vending machines and small purchases.
If you need to change cash, use a bank branch or a licensed bureau de change with the rate and commission posted. Rates at Vilnius and Kaunas airports and at main train stations are usually worse than in town. Never change money with someone approaching you on the street, and do not accept a rate that looks far above the official one — that is the standard street-exchange setup.
When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency instead of euros, decline it. That is dynamic currency conversion, and the markup is typically several percent. Choose to be charged in EUR and let your own bank convert.
| Situation | Best option | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants, hotels, shops | Card or phone wallet | Contactless is standard |
| Markets, small cafés, rural buses | Cash in euros | Keep coins for small amounts |
| Withdrawing money | Bank ATM in a branch or mall | Decline conversion to your home currency |
| Changing leftover cash | Bank branch or licensed bureau | Compare the posted rate and commission |
| Airport or station exchange | Only if you must | Rates are usually worse than in town |
| Street offers | Never | Counterfeit and short-change risk |
Tips
- Tell your bank you are travelling so a card block does not strand you.
- Carry two cards from different networks; one may fail on a small terminal.
- Withdraw larger amounts less often to cut per-withdrawal fees.
- Keep a €20 note aside for the day a terminal is down.
- Check your receipt before leaving the counter; short-changing is rare but happens in busy tourist spots.
- Prices in Lithuania are shown with tax included, so the shelf price is what you pay.
FAQ
Sources
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Lithuania?
The euro (EUR, €). Lithuania adopted it in 2015, replacing the litas, so all prices, cards and ATMs are in euros. You do not need to change money on arrival if you already hold euros or can use a card.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Lithuania?
A bank branch or a licensed bureau de change with the rate and commission posted, in a city centre rather than at the airport or train station. Avoid street offers entirely. If you only need a little cash, a bank ATM is simpler than any exchange counter.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Lithuania?
Use a card for almost everything and bring or withdraw a small amount of euro cash for markets, small cafés, rural transport and tips. Cards are accepted widely, including contactless, so cash is a backup rather than the main plan.
Can I pay in my own currency in Lithuania?
Some terminals and ATMs offer to charge you in your home currency. Decline it and choose euros instead — the conversion markup is usually several percent, and your own bank will give a better rate.
Do I need cash for tips in Lithuania?
Tipping is about 10% for good table service, and rounding up is common elsewhere. You can add a tip to a card payment in most restaurants, but carrying a few euro coins makes it easier at cafés and for drivers.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialEuropean Central Bank – Euro
- officialBank of Lithuania
- officialEuropean Commission – Lithuania and the euro
- secondaryWikivoyage – Lithuania