Vilnius International Airport

Vilnius Airport (VNO) serves Vilnius, Lithuania's capital and largest city with one of Europe's largest Baroque old towns. Located just 7 km south of the city center, it's the main gateway to Lithuania and increasingly popular for budget European travel.

The airport has a single terminal that underwent modernization. Efficient and handling growing traffic from low-cost carriers.

Key airlines: Ryanair (largest), Wizz Air, airBaltic, Lufthansa, LOT, and various European carriers.

VNO is close to the city:

• To Vilnius Old Town: 7 km, 15-25 minutes
• To Cathedral Square: 7 km, 15-20 minutes
• To Gediminas Avenue: 7 km, 15-20 minutes
• To Trakai Castle: 35 km, 40-50 minutes

Bolt (popular throughout Baltics) and Uber both operate.

• To Old Town: €10-15 (~$11-16 USD)
• To Cathedral Square: €10-15

Bolt is widely used and often cheaper.

Taxis from the rank:

• May cost more than apps; use Bolt

Train

Train connects to central Vilnius:

• Route: Airport → Vilnius Railway Station
• Journey time: 8 minutes
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes
• Cost: €1

Very convenient and cheap.

Bus

Bus 1 and 2 connect to the city:

• Journey time: 20-30 minutes
• Frequency: Every 10-20 minutes
• Cost: €1

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
P1 (Terminal)	€24/day	Adjacent
P2 (Long-term)	€12/day	Free shuttle
P3 (Economy)	€8/day	Budget option

VNO has adequate dining:

Terminal:

• Lithuanian restaurant
• Cafés
• Fast food
• Duty-free shop café

Network: VNO Airport WiFi

• Cost: Free
• Speed: Good
• Easy connection

SIM cards from:

• Shops in arrivals
• Carriers: Telia, Bitė, Tele2
• Prices: €5-15 for prepaid with data

ATMs in the terminal.

Currency: Euro (€)

Cards widely accepted; Lithuania is modern and digital-friendly.

• Duty-free
• Lithuanian products (amber, linen, chocolate)
• Travel essentials

Business Lounge

• Access: Priority Pass, business class, or €25 walk-in
• Amenities: Food, drinks, WiFi

Hotels in Old Town or along Gediminas Avenue. The city center is just 15-20 minutes from the airport.

Vilnius is the Baroque beauty of the Baltics—a UNESCO Old Town, alternative republic, and increasingly hip destination:

Vilnius Old Town (UNESCO, 20 min from airport):

• Cathedral Square: Heart of the city, Gediminas Tower above
• Gediminas Tower: Remaining castle tower, panoramic views
• Vilnius Cathedral: Neoclassical masterpiece
• Gates of Dawn (Aušros Vartai): Holy icon, pilgrimage site
• St. Anne's Church: Gothic gem, Napoleon allegedly wanted to take it to Paris

Unique Vilnius:

• Užupis: 20 min—"Republic" of artists, bohemian quarter with its own constitution
• Literatai Street: 25 min—art tiles honoring writers
• KGB Museum (Genocide Museum): 20 min—sobering Soviet history
• Jewish Heritage: Vilnius was "Jerusalem of the North"

Beyond Old Town:

• TV Tower: 30 min—panoramic views, site of 1991 Soviet violence
• Bernardine Garden: Beautiful restored park
• Verkiai Palace: 30 min—19th-century manor, nature park
• Green Lakes: 15 min—swimming in summer

Day trips from Vilnius:

• Trakai Castle: 40 min—island castle, Karaite culture, stunning
• Kernavė: 45 min—UNESCO site, ancient Lithuanian capital
• Kaunas: 1.5 hours—Lithuania's second city, interwar modernist architecture
• Hill of Crosses: 2.5 hours—pilgrimage site with thousands of crosses

Food & drink:

• Cepelinai: Huge potato dumplings with meat—national dish
• Šaltibarščiai: Cold pink beet soup, summer specialty
• Kibinai: Karaite pastries from Trakai
• Rye bread: Dense and essential
• Craft beer: Excellent local scene
• Lithuanian honey: With mead (midus)

Local tips:

• Užupis: Declared "independence" in 1997—quirky constitution posted in 27 languages
• Very affordable: One of Europe's best-value capitals
• Walking city: Old Town is compact and walkable
• Soviet legacy: Museums document the occupation well
• Jewish history: 95% of Lithuanian Jews were killed in the Holocaust
• Basketball: National obsession; catching a game is fun
• Amber: Lithuania is famous for Baltic amber
• Weather: Cold winters, pleasant summers; dress accordingly
• Vilnius was a multicultural city (Polish, Jewish, Russian) historically
• The city is increasingly popular as a weekend break destination