Budget · Vilnius · Lithuania
Vilnius on a budget
What a trip to Vilnius really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Vilnius is affordable for most international visitors. Budget roughly $45–$80 per person per day on a tight budget, $100–$170 mid-range and $240–$550 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and October–November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $45–$80 a day
- Mid-range
- $100–$170 a day
- Luxury
- $240–$550 a day
- Local currency
- EUR
- Free sights
- 11
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $45–$80 | $135–$240 | $225–$400 | $315–$560 |
| Mid-range | $100–$170 | $300–$510 | $500–$850 | $700–$1,190 |
| Luxury | $240–$550 | $720–$1,650 | $1,200–$2,750 | $1,680–$3,850 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Vilnius, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Single bus or trolleybus ticket | about €1–€1.50 |
| Coffee in a café | about €2.50–€3.50 |
| Weekday lunch menu | about €6–€9 |
| Plate of cepelinai | about €7–€11 |
| Half-litre local beer | about €3.50–€5.50 |
| Dinner main course, mid-range restaurant | about €12–€22 |
| Museum ticket | about €5–€12 |
Money-saving tips
- Eat your main meal at lunchtime, when weekday menus cost far less than dinner.
- Many of the city's highlights are free: the churches, the Gate of Dawn, Užupis, the Hill of Three Crosses and the riverside parks.
- Ride-hailing apps are inexpensive and show the fare upfront, so they often cost little more than a bus for two people.
- Trains to Trakai and Kaunas are inexpensive; buy tickets online or at the station.
- Visit outside July and August and the Christmas period for the lowest hotel rates.
Free things to do
- Old Town walk: Pilies street to the Gate of Dawn — A walk south from Cathedral Square along Pilies and Didžioji streets passes the Town Hall Square, baroque churches such as St Casimir's and the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, and side lanes such as Literatų gatvė, whose wall is covered with small artworks dedicated to writers.
- Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square — Rebuilt in neoclassical style by Laurynas Gucevičius at the end of the 18th century, the cathedral has a temple-like portico and, inside, the baroque Chapel of St Casimir.
- Gate of Dawn — Built in the early 16th century as part of the city walls, the Gate of Dawn (Aušros vartai) is the only one of the original gates to survive.
- Užupis — The 'Republic of Užupis' was declared by local artists on 1 April 1997 and has its own flag, president and a constitution whose articles, such as 'Everyone has the right to be happy', are displayed on mirrored plaques in dozens of languages on Paupio street.
- St Anne's Church — A late 15th-century masterpiece of Flamboyant Gothic, St Anne's facade is built from more than 30 different shapes of brick in a lacework of arches and pinnacles.
- Church of St Peter and St Paul — Plain from outside, this late 17th-century church in Antakalnis is filled inside with more than 2,000 white stucco figures of saints, angels, battles and allegories by Italian craftsmen.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for couples, solo travellers and culture
Užupis
Bohemian 'republic' of artists' studios and riverside cafés across the Vilnia
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and nightlife
Naujamiestis
Former industrial 'New Town' near the stations, with converted factories and good-value stays
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and couples
Žvėrynas
Leafy riverside district of wooden villas, a Karaite prayer house and Vingis Park nearby
Eating well for less
- Kibinai — Trakai's Karaim restaurants, and kibinai bakeries and cafés in Vilnius.
- Fried rye bread — Bars and pubs throughout the city.
- Black rye bread — Bakeries, markets and restaurant bread baskets.
- Curd pancakes — Cafés and breakfast menus across the city.
Getting around for less
Public-transport period tickets
Tickets valid for 24 hours and longer give unlimited bus and trolleybus travel.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Vilnius cost?
About $500–$850 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $225–$400 on a tight budget.
+Is Vilnius expensive?
It is affordable for international visitors. Eat your main meal at lunchtime, when weekday menus cost far less than dinner.
+How much money do I need per day in Vilnius?
Roughly $45–$80 on a budget and $100–$170 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Vilnius?
Usually in January–March and October–November.