Looking for travel tips for Vilnius, as well as a walking guide, a list of the best things to do, tours, restaurant recommendations, and tips on getting around and packing? And, even better, all these on a budget? You’ve come to the right place!
Vilnius is one of the coolest places I’ve ever been! I knew next to nothing about Lithuania when I hopped on a bus and headed to this city, but I soon learned that it is truly a special place. It was unlike anywhere I had ever been in Europe before. I was exploring the Baltics, and it quickly went to the top of my list for favorite cities in the surrounding countries! While I tried to squeeze everything into one day, I really should’ve stayed for at least two days, potentially three if you’re wanting to take a day trip to Trakai Castle! I hope you enjoy this travel guide to Vilnius, Lithuania, on a budget!
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Exploring the Baltics? Don’t Miss…
How To Prepare For Your Trip
Grab a Guide Book!
Lonely Planet has a really great book that will get you around Lithuania and the surrounding countries and has lots of great tips on what to do, history, and so much more!
Be Sure You Have a Travel Adapter
I have ended up without a charger more times than I can count! Make sure you have an adapter that works for Europe! I linked a great one below!
If You’re Staying in a Hostel, Make Sure To Have These!
These are some of my favorite items to have when living out of a hostel and my backpack!
Guide to Vilnius on a Budget
Stay in a Hostel Instead of a Hotel!
There are a number of great hostels to stay in around Vilnius, but I linked the one I stayed in below! Instead of paying 300+ euro for a hotel room, spend 15-20 euro on a cozy hostel bed for the night!
Take Public Transportation Instead of Taxis!
The public transportation in and around Vilnius is great. There are a number of buses around the city that can take you right where you need to go! Use the apps Google Maps and CityMapper to find the buses you need! You can pay with card on the bus, which makes it super convenient. I also found this useful tip online: “Buses and trolleybuses run from around 5:30 a.m. to midnight every day. A single ticket for either one of these buses costs EUR 1 if purchased from the driver, or EUR 0.65 for 30 minutes if you have the Vilniečio kortelė (Vilnius Citizen Card). These cards cost EUR 1.50 each, and can be purchased and topped up with cash at kiosks, “PayPost” outlets, post offices, and “Maxima” supermarkets. Please note that for every bus ride, you need to validate your tickets/cards using the machine near the driver. Note: Buses and trolleybuses may have the same numbers but the routes are completely different. Check their website for routes and timetables.”
Save Money By Cooking!
Cook at your hostel rather than eating out for every meal! When I was in Lithuania, I spent 20 euro on groceries for three days and saved hundreds of dollars by not going to restaurants for every meal! While you definitely can go out to eat, I prefer to save money by buying groceries and cooking so that I have enough funds to continue exploring for longer!
Best Place To Stay
One of my favorite hostels I’ve ever stayed at was Downtown Forest Hostel & Camping in Vilnius! It’s so cute and clean, and they have all sorts of events (like DJs, games, and more)! They have hammocks and a bar outside and an incredible kitchen and staff!
Walking Tour of Vilnius
If you’d rather have a guided walking tour, click HERE for a great option!
- Start your day off by visiting Halė Market Place, which is right on the edge of the Old Town. I stumbled upon this huge market, and it ended up being one of my favorite things I saw! It has rows and rows of every kind of food, spice, produce, and everything else you could dream of!
- Next, head to the Gate of Dawn, which is the entrance to the Old Town! From there, you can wander the streets and see the incredible architecture, shops, and buildings!
- You’ll soon pass St. Casimir’s Church and the Town Hall Square: two more magnificent spots!
- After that, you’ll see St. John’s Church, where you can climb the bell tower to get an incredible view of the city. You can only climb it from May to September, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and it’s €2.50 to enter.
- You HAVE to explore Pilies Street, which is in the heart of the Old Town. It connects Cathedral Square to Town Hall Square, and is full of shops, cafes, traditional Lithuanian spots, cobblestone streets, and so much more! It’s definitely a cultural experience!
- You can check out the Presidential Palace grounds while near Pilies Street.
- Walk all the way down the street to Cathedral Square and the Vilnius Cathedral, as well as the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.
- You can then climb the hill up to see Gediminas Castle and get an incredible view of the city!
- From Gediminas Castle, you can head down to Bernardine Garden to explore!
- Last but not least, check out my favorite churches I’ve maybe ever seen: the Churches of St. Anne and Bernardine!
- If you have time at the end of the day, climb the Hill of the Three Crosses for another mind-blowing view of Vilnius!
- Depending on where you are, I recommend Monstro Pizza Bar for dinner!
- To end the day, head to the live music bar Estradà!
While using this walking tour to explore, keep your eyes peeled for the countless other fascinating and random buildings, cars, cafes, and restaurants around the city. I’m pretty sure I walked around gaping at all of the brightly colored streets for 90% of the day! Take this guide with a grain of salt, and make the adventure your own!
Day Trips From Vilnius
Visit Trakai Castle
One of my biggest regrets was not taking an extra day to visit Trakai Castle. It’s an incredible spot right down the road from Vilnius; make sure not to miss it!
See Vilnius From Above!
You can take a hot air balloon ride above Vilnius and Trakai Castle… so epic. Click HERE to book!
Go on a Pilgrimage to the Hill of Crosses
This is a big pilgrimage spot within Lithuania, where over 150,000 crosses sit up on a hill. It’s worth a visit if you have extra time.
Thanks For Reading!
Thank you so much for continuing to read and support this blog! You guys are the GREATEST! Travel blogging is my passion and my dream, and I hope that this post helps you get a deeper sense of adventure, culture, and all the good things waiting in Vilnius for you! Hopefully this was a helpful guide to Vilnius, Lithuania on a budget!
If you go to Vilnius, let me know! Drop a comment about things you loved or recommend!
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