Lithuania
Trains in Lithuania: tickets, passes and routes
Yes — for Vilnius–Kaunas and the summer run to Klaipėda the train is the best value option, and you should buy in the LTG Link app before boarding. Skip a rail pass: point-to-point tickets cost €5–25 and a pass rarely pays off in a country this small.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideLithuania
Key facts
- Operator
- LTG Link (Lithuanian Railways passenger arm)
- Vilnius–Kaunas
- About 1 h, €5–25
- Vilnius–Klaipėda
- About 4 h, daily
- Vilnius–Riga
- About 4 h, daily
- Vilnius–Warsaw
- Through ticket available
- Rail pass needed
- No — buy single tickets; passes rarely beat €5–25 fares
- Buy where
- LTG Link app or station ticket office
- Summer coast trains
- Weekend services to Klaipėda fill; book ahead
- Vilnius airport link
- Train from the airport to the centre in about 8 minutes
Details
Lithuania's rail network is small and centred on Vilnius. The line that matters most for visitors is Vilnius–Kaunas, roughly an hour with frequent departures through the day. From Kaunas, connections continue west toward Klaipėda and the coast, and south toward the Polish border for onward travel to Warsaw.
The Vilnius–Klaipėda run takes about four hours and is the practical way to reach the Curonian Spit without a car: get off at Klaipėda, take the Old Ferry across to Smiltynė, then a bus down the spit to Nida. International services reach Riga in about four hours and Warsaw with a through ticket.
Tickets are sold in the LTG Link app, at station ticket offices and, on some regional routes, on board. Seat reservations come with the ticket on longer routes. Trains are modern on the main corridors, cheap by Western European standards, and the main stations in Vilnius and Kaunas are walkable to the centre.
| Route | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vilnius–Kaunas | About 1 h | €5–25 | Frequent; the backbone of any trip |
| Vilnius–Klaipėda | About 4 h | €5–25 | Daily; weekend summer trains fill |
| Vilnius–Riga | About 4 h | €5–25 | Daily international service |
| Vilnius–Warsaw | Through ticket | €5–25 | Book the through fare, not two separate legs |
| Vilnius Airport–centre | About 8 min | Low fare (check) | Train beats road traffic at peak |
Fares are 2026 estimates in the €5–25 band; check the app for your date.
Tips
- Buy in the LTG Link app before boarding — it is the fastest way and avoids queueing at the ticket office.
- Book summer weekend trains to Klaipėda and Palanga ahead; they sell out when the coast is busy.
- For Warsaw, ask for a through ticket rather than buying two separate legs.
- The train from Vilnius Airport to the centre takes about 8 minutes — often quicker than a taxi at rush hour.
- Regional trains may allow on-board purchase, but do not count on it; buy first.
- Compare with the intercity bus (Kautra, Lux Express, FlixBus) on the same routes — buses are sometimes cheaper and equally fast.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is the train a good way to get around Lithuania?
Yes for the main corridors. Vilnius–Kaunas takes about an hour and is cheap and frequent; Vilnius–Klaipėda takes about four hours and is the easiest car-free route to the coast. For smaller towns and the lakes, buses or a hire car work better.
Do I need a rail pass for Lithuania?
No. Fares are €5–25 point to point, so a pass rarely pays off. Buy single tickets in the LTG Link app as you go, and only consider a pass if you are also travelling widely in neighbouring countries.
How far in advance should I book trains in Lithuania?
For Vilnius–Kaunas, same-day is usually fine. Book a few days ahead for Vilnius–Klaipėda and international services to Riga or Warsaw, and earlier for summer weekends when coast trains fill.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialLTG Link (Lithuanian Railways)
- officialLithuania Travel (official tourism)
- secondaryWikivoyage – Lithuania