Vilnius: The Baltics' Baroque Capital
Lithuania travel planning: Vilnius's baroque Old Town, the Hill of Crosses day trip, getting around by bus, and why it's one of the EU's least crowded capitals.
Vilnius has one of the largest baroque Old Towns in Europe, UNESCO-listed and still relatively undiscovered compared with Prague or Kraków — church spires and courtyard cafes without the queues. Outside the capital, the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai, a field covered in an estimated hundred thousand crosses left by pilgrims, is a genuinely strange and memorable day trip.
Getting around#
Vilnius's Old Town is entirely walkable, and the compact city centre beyond it is well served by buses and trolleybuses on a single contactless card. Trakai Castle, a red-brick fortress on a lake island, is a popular half-day trip about 30 minutes away by regular train or bus — no tour required, just a same-day return ticket.
For the Hill of Crosses, it's roughly a 2.5-3 hour drive or bus ride north to Šiauliai, with a short additional local ride to reach the site itself; renting a car for the day is the simplest option if not driving between cities anyway. For onward travel to the other Baltic capitals, Lux Express and Ecolines run several daily coaches to Riga (around four hours) with connections on to Tallinn — comfortable enough, with wifi and reclining seats, that most visitors skip a rental car for the inter-city legs.
When to go#
May-September gives the warmest, longest days for walking the Old Town's courtyards and sitting out at its cafes, and is when Trakai's lake and castle grounds are at their best. Lithuania doesn't have the extreme daylight swings of the Nordic countries further north, but winter is still notably darker and colder, and several outdoor-focused sights (Trakai's boat rentals, some Hill of Crosses tour operators) run reduced schedules outside the warmer months.
What a trip costs#
Lithuania is one of the more affordable EU countries to visit, and Vilnius in particular is often a step cheaper than Riga or Tallinn on accommodation specifically. A realistic mid-range daily budget, per person, is roughly $65-90, covering a comfortable hotel, sit-down meals and local transport — well below equivalent costs in Western Europe or the Nordic countries to the north.
What to know before you go#
Vilnius rewards wandering its Old Town's side streets and courtyards rather than following a fixed sight-to-sight route — much of its character is in the small artist quarter of Užupis and less-marked baroque church interiors, not a single headline attraction. On a first trip, it's worth resisting the urge to treat Vilnius as a one-night stop between Riga and the airport; a real two nights lets both the city and one day trip (Hill of Crosses or Trakai) fit without rushing either.
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Build a free itineraryFrequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Lithuania?+
Lithuania is an EU and Schengen member and has used the euro since 2015. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Check your specific nationality's requirements before booking.
Is the Hill of Crosses worth the trip?+
For most people, yes, precisely because it's unlike anything else on a typical Baltic itinerary — an open field with an estimated hundred thousand-plus crosses left by pilgrims over decades. It's roughly 2.5-3 hours from Vilnius by car or bus to Šiauliai, plus a short local ride to the site itself, so it works best as a full day trip rather than a quick stop.
How many days do I need in Vilnius?+
Two to three days covers the Old Town, a museum or two and a day trip (Hill of Crosses or Trakai Castle) comfortably. Lithuania rewards not rushing straight through to Riga or Tallinn — Vilnius has enough to fill a short trip on its own.
Is Lithuania cheap compared to Western Europe?+
Yes, and it's often the least expensive of the three Baltic capitals on accommodation specifically. A mid-range daily budget, per person, is roughly $65-90 including a hotel, restaurant meals and local transport.