Vilnius is pretty much a required stop for those touring the Baltic countries, and like Tallinn and Riga, it’s pleasantly affordable. In fact, the farther south you get in this region, the cheaper things get, so this is a stand-out budget destination. Vilnius is noticeably less touristy than Tallinn or Riga, even though it had more of a grand look to it. This means most things are priced for locals, and finding good deals on meals and drinks is very easy.
Similar to most other second-tier former Soviet-bloc cities, there are few checklist attractions in Vilnius so it’s more about just wandering around enjoying the city center and then taking in the view from the castle tower. Many attractions are free and even those that charge admission tend to charge very little.
Population | 540,000 |
Area | 840,000 |
Timezone | UTC+2 |
Currency | Euro |
Airports | Vilnius Airport (VNO) |
Beer is the cheapest and most popular thing to drink here, and the local breweries seem to have above average reputations for quality. Vodka can also be quite cheap if you are willing to try the local stuff.
Budget breakfast | Your hotel or hostel will probably include breakfast, but if not you should be able to find some budget choices by following the locals. | $4.30 - $6.45 |
Budget lunch | There are plenty of budget lunch options in Vilnius, including some hearty dumplings as well as sandwiches. | $6.45 - $10.75 |
Budget dinner | Sit-down meals come in all price ranges so you have to search out the cheaper places, including pizza, kebabs, and Indian. | $8.60 - $16.13 |
Beer (.5L) | The local lager called Švyturys tends to be cheap on tap, and it comes in several styles. | $2.15 - $4.30 |
Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
---|---|---|---|
January | 26 | 16 | 1.5 |
February | 29 | 18 | 1.4 |
March | 38 | 25 | 1.5 |
April | 51 | 35 | 1.8 |
May | 65 | 46 | 2.1 |
June | 70 | 51 | 2.9 |
July | 72 | 54 | 3.1 |
August | 71 | 53 | 3.0 |
September | 62 | 46 | 2.6 |
October | 50 | 38 | 2.0 |
November | 38 | 30 | 2.0 |
December | 31 | 23 | 1.9 |
Typical of cities so far north, Vilnius tends to have nice summers and fairly harsh and frozen winters. Unfortunately, the warmest months are also the wettest months (by a bit), but you’d be pretty unlucky to have rainfall ruin your day at any time of year.
21 Mar | 6:19am | 6:34pm |
21 Jun | 4:42am | 10:00pm |
21 Sep | 7:02am | 7:20pm |
21 Dec | 8:40am | 3:54pm |
Hotel rooms and hostel beds are also wonderfully cheap (by European standards), so Vilnius might even be a good place for a little splurge for those who are on the road for extended trips. Three-star hotels offer very good value here, and 4-star hotels can be surprisingly cheap, especially outside of the high season.
The high season at Vilnius hotels and hostels is generally from May through September, with peak rates in July and August. The low season is October through April for the most part. During the low season you can get better deals at nicer hotels, while the cheaper places don’t discount much.
Rating | Price(USD) |
---|---|
18.28 - 29.03 | |
29.03 - 51.61 | |
33.33 - 74.19 | |
53.76 - 116.13 | |
86.02 - 145.16 |
Type | Price(USD) |
---|---|
Hostel Bed | 7.53 - 15.05 |