Major city · Lithuania
Panevėžys
One night, or skip: Panevėžys is a functional stop between Vilnius and Riga, not a destination. Two nights only if you want the narrow-gauge railway and parks.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (cold, wet, dark by 16:00)avoid Nov–Mar (cold, wet, dark by 4:00 PM)
- Airports
- VNO · KUN · RIX
- 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.
Panevėžys is Lithuania's fifth-largest city, an industrial town midway on the Vilnius–Riga highway. Its centre was rebuilt in the 1960s and 70s, so the draw is not architecture but a handful of museums, four churches, riverside parks and a preserved narrow-gauge railway. Most travellers pass through; a single night breaks the Vilnius–Riga run without a detour.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Panevėžys, 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 riverside paths after dark and unposted bar tabs…
- RestroomsPaid public toilets €0.30–1 (≈ US$1–2); free in malls and cafés for customers.Lithuania-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All services (police, fire, ambulance) (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 (145 km southeast on the A7 dual carriageway; usually the easiest arrival with the widest budget-flight choice.).VNO Vilnius Airport (90 mi southeast on the A7 dual carriageway; usually the easiest arrival with the widest budget-flight choice.).
- Getting aroundMost sights sit within walking distance of the centre.
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)
- Beerdraught in a bar / can in a shop€3–5 (≈ US$4–6)€1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi3.1 mi taxiApp fare; night rates higher.€6–10 (≈ US$7–12)
- Metro or bus rideCity bus single ticket€1 (≈ US$2) (check)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€8–15 (≈ US$10–18)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry€2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person€20 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€80 (≈ US$95)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €40 (≈ US$50) · Mid €70 (≈ US$85) · High €130 (≈ US$160)
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 (145 km southeast on the A7 dual carriageway; usually the easiest arrival with the widest budget-flight choice.) · KUN Kaunas Airport (106 km south; budget flights, then bus or car north.) · RIX Riga Airport (160 km north in Latvia; one daily bus runs from the airport via Riga city to Panevėžys, about 2 h 15 min.)VNO Vilnius Airport (90 mi southeast on the A7 dual carriageway; usually the easiest arrival with the widest budget-flight choice.) · KUN Kaunas Airport (66 mi south; budget flights, then bus or car north.) · RIX Riga Airport (99 mi north in Latvia; one daily bus runs from the airport via Riga city to Panevėžys, about 2 h 15 min.)
Weather and climate
Panevėžys: 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
2°C36°F
9 rd
May
18°C64°F
7°C45°F
10 rd
Jun
21°C70°F
11°C52°F
11 rd
Jul
23°C73°F
13°C55°F
11 rd
Aug
22°C72°F
12°C54°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
Most sights sit within walking distance of the centre. City buses are mapped on Stops-Lt; bus 6A runs hourly from Janonio g and the railway station through downtown and east to Dembava. Taxis book through the eTAKSI app. A car helps for the Flax Museum and the bunker park.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h 30 min by train
Four trains daily, about 90 min; buses also run
The Hill of Crosses is the region's main sight; a long half-day or an overnight in Šiauliai.
Anykščiai
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus or car southeast, about 1 h
Summer narrow-gauge trains run the Anykščiai–Rubikiai section; check the operator's timetable first.
Ukmergė
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus on the A7 corridor, about 1 h
Small town with a hillfort and old centre; worth it only if you are already heading south.
Door to door: About 2 h
Hourly buses, about 2 h; train requires a change
Too far for a comfortable return day; treat it as the next stop, not a day trip.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Centre around Laisvės Square
Walking distance to the museums, cathedral and bus station; best for one night without a car.
Senvagė riverside
Quieter, next to the central park and the old mill hotel; 10–15 min walk to the square.
Near the railway station
Cheap rooms and easy train access, but a 20-min walk from the sights and little around it.
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 × €80 | €80 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €70 | €140 |
| Bus Vilnius → Panevėžys, one way2 × €12 · check | €24 |
| City bus single ticket2 × €1 · check | €2 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €10 | €20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €27 |
| Trip total≈ €147 per person per day, bed included | €293≈ US$350 |
2026 estimate in euro; intercity transport excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | €2–3.50 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Lunch of the day (daily special) | €6–10 (≈ US$7–12) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can in a shop | €3–5 (≈ US$4–6) / €1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3) |
| 5 km taxiApp fare; night rates higher. | €6–10 (≈ US$7–12) |
| City bus single ticket | €1 (≈ US$2) (check) |
| Museum entry | €2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €8–15 (≈ US$10–18) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Museum of the Soviet Occupation annexe has been closed; check before you plan around it.
- The Flax Museum interior is closed for restoration — the windmill outside is still a picnic stop.
- The bus station is an open square with no shelter; in rain or cold wait in the nearby mall or café.
- Shop alcohol sales stop at 20:00, and 15:00 on Sundays.Shop alcohol sales stop at 8:00 PM, and 3:00 PM on Sundays.
Emergency numbers
- All services (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
PanevėžysPanevėžys
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
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Į šį adresą, prašauTo this address, please
Emergency
- All services112
Embassy
No embassies in Panevėžys; most countries keep embassies in Vilnius and some consulates in Kaunas. US citizens: US Embassy Vilnius.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Vilnius → Panevėžys: about €10–14 (≈ US$12–17), 2 h (check)
- Train Šiauliai → Panevėžys: about 90 min, four daily (check)
- Taxi across the centre: €4–7 (≈ US$5–9)
Say or show
- Laba diena — Hello (laba DYEH-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-LEH)
- Kur yra autobusų stotis? — Where is the bus station? (koor EE-ra au-to-BOO-soo STO-tis)
112 works in English. Keep the museum and hotel numbers saved offline.
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 Panevėžys. 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, dark by 16:00) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 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 contracts for VNO, KUN and RIX: last bus and train departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Laisvės Square and the museums, the churches loop, Senvagė and Skaistakalnis parks, the railway station quarter.
- Place pages with verified hours and prices (Regional History Museum, Civic Art Gallery, Cathedral, narrow-gauge railway) and eat pages with last orders.
- Summer narrow-gauge excursion dates and the bunker park's seasonal hours as fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialPanevėžys city official site
- officialLTG Link (Lithuanian railways)
- officialAutobusubilietai (bus timetables and fares)
- officialStops-Lt Panevėžys city bus routes
- officialAukštaitija narrow-gauge railway
- officialPanevėžys Regional History Museum
- secondaryWikivoyage: Panevėžys, revision 5118634 (CC BY-SA 4.0)