Lithuania Transport

Lithuanian public transport is fairly efficient and the country's roads are of a high standard, making getting around quite easy.

Take note of public holidays which may dsirupt timetables.

Domestic trains run between Vilnius and a few key cities such as Kaunas, Klaipeda, and Trakai. The trains are well maintained. First class apartments are available between Vilnius and Klaipeda but for most part coach style seating in second class is comfortable enough. Purchase tickets before you board at the station.

International trains run from several main cities, including Vilnius to Moscow, Riga, St Petersburg, and Warsaw. Buy international tickets in advance at the designated window at the train station. Vilnius's train station can be found at Gelezinkelio 16. Although you should be able to get by in English, German or with the aid of a map in Vilnius, if travelling by train between more rural locations it is useful to have the basic time and destination requirements written down in Lithuanian. You cannot pay for tickets with a credit card on board any train.

Buses are the better way to travel around Lithuania as they serve more destinations, are comfortable and faster than trains. Eurolines buses run all the international routes to major European cities such as Brussels, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Copenhagen, London, Paris, Stuggart and Vienna. They also go to Gdansk, Krakow, Warsaw, Kiev, Minsk, Prague, Riga, and Tallinn. Don't expect working toilets or food service, but drivers do stop for breaks at rest stops where you can stock up on food. Buy tickets from a travel agent in any city or at the Eurolines ticket office at the Vilnius Bus Station, Sodu 22. Buy domestic bus tickets at the bus station before travelling or from the conductor upon boarding.

Lithuanian roads are the region's best - wide, well paved, and uncrowded. In rural areas, drivers should still be wary of pedestrians, horses, cyclists, and tractors. Rental agencies arrange authorisation letters and insurance, and usually charge by the day rather than by the mile. International agencies rents cars from LTL175 per day and can be found at the airport and in Vilnius city centre.

Points to remember:

The Vilnius International airport is 5km south of the capital. The national carrier is Lithuanian Airlines, which flies between Vilnius and Amsterdam Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Kiev, London, Moscow, Stockholm, Tallinn, and Warsaw. International carriers such as Austrian Airlines, Finnair, Lufthansa, LOT, SAS offer long haul, international flights via connections in Western Europe.

Domestic flights run to Palanga, a beach resort in the north with Lithuanian airlines in the summer. All schedules are reduced during winter. The usual need to arrive to the airport early is unnecessary in Vilnius. An hour is usually enough time to check in, pass through security and browse the airside duty-free kiosks. Airline offices are usually only open during check-in times. All the car rental agencies have desks at the airport.

There is no departure tax for Lithuania.

Ferries and hydrofoils depart from Klaipeda harbour. Tickets can be purchased at travel agencies or directly from the shipping line's website. Ferries run between Kiel and Sassnitz, Germany and Karlshamn, Sweden. Buy ferry tickets at Klaipeda Hotel ticket office, Perkelos 10. Tel: +370 (8)2-39-5050.

Local ferries run between Klaipeda and the Curonian Spit. The ferry runs every 30 mins during the summer months, and every hour at other times. Cost: LTL32 for a car. Pedestrians ride for LTL1.50.