First time · Vilnius

First time in VilniusVilnius

Vilnius is a walking city: give the mornings to the Old Town, the afternoons to Užupis and the cafés, and keep a half day for Trakai by train or bus.

Everything here is a short version of the Vilnius guide. Prices and hours are estimates: check before you rely on them.

The honest verdict

Vilnius has one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe, and it is small enough to cover on foot from one bed. The airport is about 6 km from the centre and cheap to reach. What goes wrong is cobbles and ice under wheeled bags, short winter days (about seven hours of daylight in December) and loud summer weekend nights around the bars. Four walking areas cover a first visit.

From the airport

Vilnius Airport (VNO)

Fastest: Ride-hailing car or taxi to the door · about 15 min · about €15 (≈ US$18)
Cheapest: City bus from the airport to the railway station or Old Town, then a short walk · about 25 min · about €1 (≈ US$2)

Typical ride times and fares, 2026 desk estimates (check). Last services and night options are on the gateway page.

Airport-to-bed timings →

How long to stay

2 days: Old Town and Cathedral quarter, Užupis in the evening
3 days: Four areas on foot, one slow afternoon
5 days: Four areas + Trakai half day + one slow day

Itineraries by length →

Three mistakes to avoid

Churches: cover shoulders and knees, remove hats, keep voices low, and do not photograph services.(Survive · red lines)
Winter ice: wear shoes with grip and walk on the cleared side.(Survive · safety)
Do not step on the memorial paving or flower beds in the squares.(Survive · red lines)

Scams and safety →

Money and SIM

Budget day: €30–50 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
Cash: Cards work almost everywhere; keep about €20 (≈ US$25) in small notes for markets and kiosks, and use bank ATMs rather than stand-alone machines.

Money, SIMs and apps →