Major city · Lithuania
Šiauliai
Give Šiauliai one night, or a half-day stop: the Hill of Crosses 12 km north is the reason to come, the city museums fill 3–4 hours.Give Šiauliai one night, or a half-day stop: the Hill of Crosses 7.5 mi north is the reason to come, the city museums fill 3–4 hours.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (cold, wet, short days)
- Airports
- VNO · KUN · SQQ
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Treat the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian borders with R…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Baltic states ↗Treat the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian borders with Russia and Belarus as closed to your plans: crossings are restricted, change within hours, and sit under advisories on the far side.
- Baltic states ↗Book open-jaw flights (into Tallinn or Vilnius, out of the other) so the line runs one way; Riga is the biggest airport if you need a single hub.
- Baltic states ↗Midsummer (23–24 June) is the biggest holiday in all three countries: cities empty, many businesses close and island and coast transport sells out.
- Lithuania ↗Lithuania is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Lithuanian sources for your passport.
- Lithuania ↗Borders with Belarus and the Russian Kaliningrad region are not routes for casual travel; check your government's advice first.
- Lithuania ↗The Curonian Spit is a protected national park: cars pay an entry fee, and the Russian half of the spit is a separate border.
Šiauliai is Lithuania's fourth city and a rail junction where the Vilnius line meets the Klaipėda line, so it works as a break in a westward trip rather than a destination in itself. The Hill of Crosses, a pilgrimage mound 12 km north, is the one sight people travel for; the centre adds a cluster of small museums, a pedestrian street and a rooster clock. Most travellers see both in a single night.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Šiauliai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR).Lithuania-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelia, Bitė and Tele2 prepaid SIMs from Narvesen kiosks and Maxima supermarkets.Lithuania-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe.Lithuania-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10% for good service.Lithuania-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Lithuania-wide
- SafetyA calm, low-crime city; the practical risks are winter ice on pavements, unlit roads out at the Hill of Crosses and late-night bar bills…
- RestroomsPaid public toilets €0.30–1 (≈ US$1–2); free in malls and cafés for customers.Lithuania-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All emergency services (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany shops close early on Sunday; museums often close Mondays.Lithuania-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportVNO Vilnius Airport (The practical arrival point; train or bus onward to Šiauliai, 2–4 h.).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable: Vilniaus g is pedestrianised and the museums sit along it.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee€2–3.50 (≈ US$3–5)
- Sit-down mealRestaurant main course€9–16 (≈ US$11–19)
- BeerDraught beer, 0.5 l€3.50–5 (≈ US$5–6)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi, 5 kmTaxi, 3.1 mi€4–6 (≈ US$5–7)
- Metro or bus rideCity bus single ticket€1 (≈ US$2)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry€2–5 (≈ US$3–6)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person€18 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€70 (≈ US$85)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€110 (≈ US$130)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €35 (≈ US$45) · Mid €60 (≈ US$70) · High €110 (≈ US$130)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- VNO Vilnius Airport (The practical arrival point; train or bus onward to Šiauliai, 2–4 h.) · KUN Kaunas Airport (Budget flights; bus or train onward with a change.) · SQQ Šiauliai Airport (7 km southeast; military use, no commercial flights.)VNO Vilnius Airport (The practical arrival point; train or bus onward to Šiauliai, 2–4 h.) · KUN Kaunas Airport (Budget flights; bus or train onward with a change.) · SQQ Šiauliai Airport (4.3 mi southeast; military use, no commercial flights.)
Weather and climate
Šiauliai: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−1°C30°F
−6°C21°F
12 rd
Feb
−1°C30°F
−6°C21°F
10 rd
Mar
4°C39°F
−3°C27°F
10 rd
Apr
11°C52°F
1°C34°F
9 rd
May
18°C64°F
6°C43°F
9 rd
Jun
21°C70°F
10°C50°F
10 rd
Jul
23°C73°F
12°C54°F
11 rd
Aug
22°C72°F
11°C52°F
11 rd
Sep
17°C63°F
8°C46°F
11 rd
Oct
10°C50°F
4°C39°F
12 rd
Nov
4°C39°F
0°C32°F
13 rd
Dec
0°C32°F
−4°C25°F
13 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable: Vilniaus g is pedestrianised and the museums sit along it. City buses run about 05:00–23:00; single tickets are sold on board (adult €1, senior €0.50), while an e-card costs €1.50 upfront and €0.50 a ride, so it pays off from the third trip. Taxis are cheap; book through your hotel or an app.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Hill of Crosses (Kryžių Kalnas)
goDoor to door: About 1 h by bus (15 min ride plus the walk), 30–45 min by taxi
Bus towards Joniškis, get off at Domantai, then a 2 km walk; or taxiBus towards Joniškis, get off at Domantai, then a 1.2 mi walk; or taxi
Open 24/7 and free. Go early or late to avoid coach groups; the Franciscan hermitage 300 m northeast is worth the extra stop.
Telšiai
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Train towards Klaipėda
Samogitian hill town with a lake and a small old centre.
Klaipėda
overnightDoor to door: Just under 2 h
Train on the Šiauliai–Klaipėda line
A port city with the Curonian Spit ferry; sleep there rather than doubling back.
Riga
goDoor to door: About 2 h by train (check the timetable)
The daily Vilnius–Riga–Tallinn train, or a bus
One train a day each way: check the departure before planning the day.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre (Vilniaus g / Tilžės g)
Hotels, museums, cafés and the bus station within a 15-minute walk; best for one night.
Around the railway station
The station is central and the bus station is next door; a walkable base for the centre (check).
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €35–55 (≈ US$45–65) excl. bed
- Mid
- €55–90 (≈ US$65–110) excl. bed
- High
- €90 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €70 | €70 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €60 | €120 |
| City bus single ticket, one ride2 × €1 | €2 |
| Taxi to the Hill of Crosses and back1 × €30 | €30 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €10 | €20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €24 |
| Trip total≈ €133 per person per day, bed included | €266≈ US$350 |
2026 estimate in euro; travel to Šiauliai excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | €2–3.50 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Canteen lunch (soup and main) | €6–10 (≈ US$7–12) |
| Restaurant main course | €9–16 (≈ US$11–19) |
| Draught beer, 0.5 l | €3.50–5 (≈ US$5–6) |
| Museum entry | €2–5 (≈ US$3–6) |
| City bus single ticket | €1 (≈ US$2) |
| Taxi, 5 km | €4–6 (≈ US$5–7) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Hill of Crosses has no shelter and no café: take water and rain cover, and wear shoes for a 2 km lane.The Hill of Crosses has no shelter and no café: take water and rain cover, and wear shoes for a 1.2 mi lane.
- Buses to the hill drop you at Domantai, 2 km from the site — check the return times before you walk up.Buses to the hill drop you at Domantai, 1.2 mi from the site — check the return times before you walk up.
- Museum opening days vary and several close on Mondays; confirm before you build a day around one.
- Shop alcohol sales stop at 20:00 (15:00 on Sundays) nationwide.Shop alcohol sales stop at 8:00 PM (3:00 PM on Sundays) nationwide.
Emergency numbers
- All emergency services
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
ŠiauliaiŠiauliai
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Į šį adresą, prašauTo this address, please
Emergency
- All emergency services112
Embassy
No embassies in Šiauliai; most countries keep theirs in Vilnius — check the address before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Šiauliai → Vilnius: about 2 h 15 min; check the fare on LTG Link
- Train Šiauliai → Klaipėda: just under 2 h
- Bus to Domantai for the Hill of Crosses: about 15 min, hourly
- Taxi around town: flagfall plus a per-km rate; confirm the meter
Say or show
- Laba diena — Hello (laba DEE-na)
- Ačiū — Thank you (AH-choo)
- Prašau — Please (pra-SHAU)
- Kiek kainuoja? — How much is it? (kyek kai-NOO-oya)
- Ar galima mokėti kortele? — Can I pay by card? (ar ga-LEE-ma mo-KEH-ti kor-teh-LE)
- Kur yra autobusų stotelė? — Where is the bus stop? (koor EE-ra au-to-BOO-soo sto-teh-LEH)
112 works from any phone, including a locked one.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Šiauliai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, wet, short days) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for VNO and KUN: last train and bus times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Two walking clusters with rescue anchors: Vilniaus g museums and Rooster Clock Square; the cathedral, history museum and botanical garden.
- Hill of Crosses page with verified bus times from the station, the Domantai walk and a taxi fare band.
- Eat pages with last orders for the centre canteens and taverns.