Lithuania's capital: one of Central Europe's largest Baroque old towns (UNESCO), Gediminas Tower, the Cathedral and Bell Tower, the Gate of Dawn, the artists' 'Republic of Užupis', and the Museum of Occupations in the former KGB building. Trakai's island castle is about 30 minutes away by train and Kaunas about an hour. Cheaper than most European capitals and compact enough to explore on foot. No direct flights from UB — connect via MIAT to Frankfurt, or via Istanbul, Warsaw or Helsinki. Mongolian citizens need a Schengen visa; short-stay visas for Lithuania are taken by the Czech Embassy in UB (VFS Global).
🛂 Visa: Visa required · 90 days✈ Flight: 14h☀ Best months: May, June, July, August
#old town#UNESCO#Baroque#Trakai#affordable Europe#Schengen visa
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: May, June, July, August, September, December.
Things to see (12)
🧸 for kids
Vilnius Old Town and the Gate of Dawn
CityFree24 hours; the Gate of Dawn chapel is usually open from morning to evening
One of Central Europe's largest Baroque old towns (UNESCO): cobbled streets, courtyard cafés and more than 40 churches. The Gate of Dawn, the only surviving city gate, holds a chapel with a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary — walking Pilies Street from there to Cathedral Square takes about 20 minutes.
CultureTower €8, concessions €4, family (2+1–4) €20; funicular return €3, one way €2
Travel guide
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goLithuania has no embassy in Mongolia and is represented by the Czech Embassy for short-stay visas, so Schengen visas for Lithuania are taken by the Czech visa centre (VFS Global) in UB — no need to go to Beijing.+
1
Schengen visa: Czech Embassy, VFS Global
If Lithuania is your main destination, book an appointment at the Czech Joint Visa Application Centre (Embassy One building, 13th floor) and go in person to give fingerprints. Fee €90 (ages 6–12 €45, under 6 free) plus the VFS service fee. Processing usually takes 4–5 working days, or 30–60 days with extra checks. The Lithuanian VFS centre in the same building only takes long-stay visas and residence permits.
Tip: If you will spend more nights in another country such as Riga or Helsinki, apply where that country's visas are taken (the German Embassy for Latvia and Finland).
Medical insurance valid in all Schengen states with cover of at least €30,000 is mandatory. Attach the return ticket, hotel bookings, bank statements and employment letter; list any Trakai, Kaunas or Riga trips in your itinerary. Your passport must be valid for more than 3 months after you leave.
Instead of passport stamps, the EES system records your fingerprints and face at the Schengen border (fully live since 10 April 2026); the first entry may take longer. ETIAS is for visa-exempt travellers, so it does not apply to Mongolians with a Schengen visa.
🛬Landing and getting to the cityVilnius Airport is very close to the centre — the train, buses and Bolt are all cheap.+
1
By train or bus
The LTG Link train reaches Vilnius Central station from the airport in ~7 minutes for €0.90 (LTG Link app or the platform machine), but runs only a few times a day. Buses 88 and 3G (to the Old Town) and 1 and 2 (to the railway station) run frequently; a 30-minute ticket is €1.00, 60 minutes €1.25.
Tip: With lots of luggage or children, a Bolt taxi is the easiest and still cheap.
If you land in Frankfurt with MIAT, Schengen passport control happens there and you arrive in Vilnius like a domestic flight. Flying Turkish Airlines from Istanbul, passport control is in Vilnius. If you land late at night, use night bus 88N or Bolt.
If your phone supports eSIM, buy and install a travel eSIM from Airalo, Holafly or similar before you leave — it works as soon as you land. A Europe-wide plan also covers Frankfurt, Riga and Warsaw.
Tip: Download Google Maps offline before heading to Trakai or the Hill of Crosses.
2
Lithuanian prepaid SIM
Tele2 (Pildyk), Telia (Ežys) and Bitė (Labas) prepaid SIMs are sold in their shops, Narvesen kiosks and Maxima; plans are very cheap and unlimited data is common. Since 2025 you register with your passport. EU 'roam like at home' rules mean it also works in Latvia, Poland and elsewhere.
🚇Getting aroundThe Old Town is small, so walk most of it; take buses or trolleybuses to the TV Tower and the KGB museum.+
1
Bus and trolleybus tickets
A 30-minute ticket is €1.00, 60 minutes €1.25, 24 hours €7.50 and 72 hours €13.50. Pay with the Trafi app, a Vilniečio kortelė card or a contactless bank card; always validate when you board — inspectors issue fines.
LTG Link trains reach Trakai in ~30–35 minutes and Kaunas in ~1 hour, both from Vilnius Central station. Buses to Trakai are frequent too. Buy tickets in the LTG Link app or from station machines.
Bolt and Uber taxis are cheap and show the price up front — don't take taxis waiting on the street. E-scooters are slippery on Old Town cobbles; don't put children on them.
Lithuania uses the euro. Visa, Mastercard, contactless and phone payments work almost everywhere; cash is handy at Halės market and small stalls. In restaurants people leave around a tenth as a tip for good service.
Tip: If the card reader offers to charge you in tögrög, say no — choose euros.
2
How to save
Weekday set lunches (dienos pietūs) are far cheaper than dinner. Compare the Vilnius Pass, which covers museums and transport, with your itinerary. Many museums are free on certain days of the month.
Non-EU visitors who spend above a minimum amount in a shop showing the 'Tax Free' sign can reclaim the VAT. Ask the shop for the form and have it validated by customs at the airport where you leave the EU.
🍜FoodLithuanian food is built on potatoes, meat, sour cream and rye — hearty food Mongolians tend to like.+
1
What to eat
Cepelinai — potato dumplings stuffed with meat, served with sour cream and bacon; šaltibarščiai — a bright pink cold beetroot soup with kefir, served with hot potatoes; kibinai — the meat pastries of Trakai's Karaim people; dark rye bread, fried bread sticks (kepta duona) and local beer. For dessert, the tree-shaped šakotis cake.
Tip: Try šaltibarščiai in summer — Vilnius holds a festival for it in June.
2
Markets and groceries
Maxima, Iki, Rimi and Lidl for groceries; Halės market (Halės turgus) for smoked meats, cheese, fruit and food stalls. Alcohol is sold from age 20 and shop sales hours are restricted.
Ambulance, fire and police — all 112, free, 24 hours, answered in English (and usually Russian). Emergency care for adults and children is at Santaros Clinics.
On the main Old Town streets, at the Gate of Dawn and around the train and bus stations, wear your bag in front. At night don't follow strangers' invitations into bars, always check the price list, and only book taxis through an app.
3
Winter cold and medicines
In winter pavements are icy — bring grippy shoes, a hat and gloves. Pharmacies (vaistinė) such as Benu and Eurovaistinė are everywhere; many medicines need a prescription, so bring regular medicines with theirs.
Lithuanians can seem reserved at first but are friendly. 'Labas' (hello) and 'Ačiū' (thank you) go down well. Many understand Russian, but starting in English comes across as more polite.
2
In churches
Vilnius has many Catholic churches: keep quiet during services, remove hats and cover shoulders and knees. At the Gate of Dawn chapel, don't get in the way of people praying to take photos.
The Soviet occupation and the events of 13 January 1991 are sensitive subjects for Lithuanians. Be quiet and respectful at the KGB museum and the TV Tower memorial.
Trafi — Vilnius bus and trolleybus tickets and routes. LTG Link — trains to the airport, Trakai and Kaunas. Bolt — taxis and scooters. Google Maps works well in the city.
Buy TV Tower, Palace of the Grand Dukes and Trakai Castle tickets in advance on their official sites. Go Vilnius covers events and the Vilnius Pass. Google Translate's camera translates Lithuanian menus.
Take the ~7-minute train from Central station or buses 88, 3G, 1 or 2; trains are infrequent, so check the timetable in advance. Allow plenty of time for security, the EES exit check and the customs stamp for Tax Free. If you connect to MIAT in Frankfurt, allow for delays.
Leave the Schengen area no later than the date on your visa — EES records your exit day automatically, and an overstay will hurt your next application. Amber, linen, šakotis cake and Lithuanian chocolate make good gifts; show Tax Free goods to customs before check-in.
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
Funicular daily 10:00–20:00; tower hours vary by season
The red-brick tower of the Upper Castle, the symbol of the city. It has a small National Museum exhibition, and the top looks over the whole Old Town and the Neris river. Walk up the hill or take the funicular, which children love.
CultureCathedral free; bell tower €6, pupils €4Bell tower Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00; cathedral daily, keep quiet during services
The white neoclassical cathedral and its free-standing bell tower — climb it for a view over the square. On the square, spin around three times on the 'Stebuklas' (miracle) tile and make a wish. In December one of Europe's most famous Christmas trees is lit here.
CultureRoutes I–III €16; single route €4–81 Sep–31 May: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 10:00–18:00, Thu 10:00–20:00, Sun 10:00–16:00, closed Mon; longer in summer
The rebuilt palace of the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania behind the cathedral: castle ruins on the lower level, then Renaissance and Baroque halls, arms and costumes. The best museum for understanding Lithuanian history.
CultureFree (donations)Usually daily in daytime; limited during services
An intricate Gothic church built from 33 kinds of brick — legend says Napoleon wanted to carry it back to Paris in the palm of his hand. The Bernardine church and gardens are right behind it.
The artists' quarter across the Vilnia river declared itself a 'republic' in 1997: its own flag, the Angel of Užupis statue and a playful 'Constitution' on a wall in many languages (Mongolian included). Galleries, cafés and riverside walks.
Three white crosses on a wooded hill above Kalnai Park. The best viewpoint over the Old Town, Gediminas Tower and the red roofs, especially at sunset. About a 15-minute climb.
Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights (former KGB)
Culture€6; concessions €3; family €9–15Wed–Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 10:00–17:00; closed Mon and Tue
A museum in the former Soviet KGB headquarters: the basement prison cells, interrogation and execution rooms, the Lithuanian partisan war and deportations to Siberia. Emotionally heavy, so not suitable for young children.
KidsObservation deck €18, children €9, family €45; glass-floor 360° deck €33Daily; check times on tvbokstas.lt
The 326 m tower's observation deck and revolving restaurant at 165 m look over the whole city. On 13 January 1991 Soviet troops killed civilians here, and a memorial exhibition is on the ground floor.
A 14th–15th-century red-brick castle on an island in Lake Galvė, reached by a wooden bridge. 30–40 minutes from Vilnius by train or bus. In summer rent a boat or SUP on the lake and try the Karaim 'kibinai' pastries.
CityTrain about €6–9 each way; Old Town freeTrains roughly hourly, ~1 hour
Lithuania's second city and interwar temporary capital: Kaunas Castle, Town Hall Square in the Old Town, UNESCO-listed modernist architecture, the Devils' Museum and the Ninth Fort. Children enjoy Laisvės Avenue and the Žaliakalnis funicular.
A pilgrimage hill north of Šiauliai covered in more than 100,000 crosses and rosaries — bulldozed several times in Soviet times, it always came back. 2.5–3 hours from Vilnius by car, so a full-day trip; or take the train to Šiauliai and then a bus or taxi.
