Vilnius on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes: Vilnius is easy on a budget, with a realistic minimum of about €60 per person per day (bed €25, food €20, sights €10, transport €3). Lunch specials, free churches and cheap trains to Trakai keep costs low.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €25 | €55 | €110 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €35 | €70 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €25 | €40 |
| Local transport | €3 | €8 | €20 |
| Per person, per day | €58 | €123 | €240 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Vilnius day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Cathedral Square and the 'stebuklas' tile of the 1989 Baltic Way
- The Gates of Dawn chapel and its icon
- St Anne's Church and the walk along Didžioji Street
- Užupis and its constitution on Paupio Street
- Literatų Street's wall of small artworks
- Hales Market for browsing
Cheap eats
- Weekday lunch special, about €6–9
- Cepelinai (potato dumplings), about €7–10 outside the main tourist streets
- Kibinai pastries in Trakai, a few euros each
- Šaltibarščiai (cold pink beetroot soup) in summer, about €4–6
- Black rye bread, smoked meats and cheese from Hales Market
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Old Town hostels near Didžioji Street, inside the walls and about 10 minutes from the station, at about €35–60 for a private double; dorm beds are cheaper.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the Old Town; buses and trolleybuses cost about €1 for 30 minutes via the Trafi or m.Ticket apps. From the airport, bus 88 or the train takes 10–20 minutes. Trains and buses to Trakai cost €2–3.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Cathedral Square and Gediminas Tower (about €8–10)
- Lunch: Lunch special, about €8
- Afternoon: Gates of Dawn, St Anne's Church and Užupis (free)
- Evening: Cepelinai and a beer in an Old Town cellar, about €14
- Total: about €60 including a hostel double share
More ways to save
- Visit in May–June or September for long days and pleasant weather without peak prices.
- Use free walking tours that start in the Old Town.
- Go to Trakai after 16:00 or on a weekday morning to avoid coach groups.
- Buy a 24- or 72-hour transport ticket if you will ride several times a day.
- Check museum free days before visiting.
- Carry a refillable bottle; tap water is good.
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Common questions
Can you visit Vilnius on a budget?
Yes: about €60 a day per person with hostels, lunch specials and free sights.
How do I get from the airport?
Bus 88 or the train takes 10–20 minutes; a Bolt taxi costs about €8–12.
What is free in Vilnius?
Cathedral Square, the Gates of Dawn, St Anne's Church, Užupis and Literatų Street.