Vilnius to Kaunas

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

Planning this trip? Currency converter · Jet-lag calculator · Trip budget · Compare routes

Kaunas, Lithuania's second city and interwar "temporary capital," is close enough to Vilnius to make an easy day trip or a worthwhile overnight stop — fast trains cover the distance in around an hour, and buses run just as often for those whose starting point in Vilnius suits the bus station better.

The fastest way: LTG Link trains

LTG Link, Lithuania's passenger rail operator, runs frequent direct services between Vilnius railway station and Kaunas railway station, with the fastest trains covering the route in around 1 hour, and slightly slower services taking closer to 1h15. Trains run at least hourly through most of the day, making this one of the easiest short rail hops in the Baltics — there's rarely a long wait for the next departure.

Seat reservations aren't required for this short regional route; simply buy a ticket at the station or through the LTG Link app and board. Kaunas railway station sits a short tram or bus ride from the historic Old Town, or a walkable distance for those happy to stretch their legs after the journey.

The bus

Buses also run frequently between Vilnius and Kaunas, taking a broadly similar time to the train, around 1 hour to 1h20 depending on traffic and the number of stops. Coaches depart from Vilnius's central bus station, next to the railway station, and arrive at Kaunas bus station, which sits close to the Old Town — a genuinely convenient alternative if a train departure doesn't line up with your plans, since buses run at a similarly high frequency throughout the day.

Driving

Kaunas is about 100 km west of Vilnius via the A1 motorway, a fast and well-maintained road that makes the drive around 1 hour to 1h15 in normal traffic — one of the quickest and easiest intercity drives in the Baltics. Driving suits visitors who want to combine Kaunas with stops along the way, or who plan to continue further west toward the coast at Klaipėda or the Curonian Spit afterwards. Parking is available around the edges of the Old Town, though the historic centre itself is best explored on foot.

Flying: not worth considering

There is no scheduled passenger flight route between Vilnius and Kaunas — at just 100 km apart, with a fast motorway and frequent trains and buses between them, there has never been a meaningful case for one. Kaunas does have its own international airport, but it serves as an alternative gateway to Lithuania in its own right, particularly for low-cost carriers, rather than a connection to Vilnius.

What to see once you're there

Kaunas's Old Town, at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers, is smaller and quieter than Vilnius's but has its own distinct character, centred on a long cobbled square lined with cafés and the striking white Kaunas City Hall, nicknamed the "White Swan." The Kaunas Castle ruins nearby mark the city's medieval origins as a defensive outpost.

Kaunas is also known for its exceptional collection of interwar Modernist architecture, a legacy of the two decades between the world wars when the city served as Lithuania's provisional capital while Vilnius was under Polish control — the district around Laisvės Alėja, the city's long pedestrian boulevard, is UNESCO-recognised for this architectural heritage. The Ninth Fort, a former Tsarist-era fortress used as a Nazi execution site during the Second World War, is a sobering and important museum on the city's outskirts, reachable by local bus.

For something lighter, the Devil's Museum houses an eccentric collection of devil-themed folk art and curiosities gathered over decades, a quirky and memorable stop unique to Kaunas.

Timing your visit

Kaunas is a pleasant destination in any season, with its compact centre making it manageable even on a shorter winter day. Summer brings outdoor café life along Laisvės Alėja and riverside walks at the meeting point of the two rivers, while a visit to the Ninth Fort feels especially fitting on a quieter, greyer day given its subject matter. A half day is enough to cover the Old Town and City Hall square, while a full day allows time for the Ninth Fort and the Modernist architecture district as well — an overnight stay is worth considering if you want to see all three without rushing.

Which should you choose?

For most visitors, the train is the simplest and fastest option, and frequent enough to need almost no planning. The bus is an equally good substitute if it suits your starting point in Vilnius better. Driving makes sense if you want to continue west afterwards, toward the coast or elsewhere in Lithuania. If you're arriving in Lithuania from elsewhere in the Baltics, see our guide to Vilnius to Riga, or for a shorter day trip from the capital, Vilnius to Trakai covers the island castle. For the wider region, the Baltics by train and the Baltic states overland give the fuller picture.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Vilnius to Kaunas?

By the fastest LTG Link train, around 1 hour. The bus takes a similar time, roughly 1 hour to 1h20 depending on traffic, and driving takes about 1 hour to 1h15 on the A1 motorway.

Do I need to book the train to Kaunas in advance?

No, this short regional route doesn't require seat reservations, and trains run at least hourly, so you can generally buy a ticket and board the next departure.

Is Kaunas worth visiting as a day trip from Vilnius?

Yes — with journey times of around an hour each way, the Old Town, City Hall square and Ninth Fort are comfortably covered in a full day, though an overnight stay allows a more relaxed pace.

Can I fly between Vilnius and Kaunas?

No scheduled flight route connects the two cities, and given the fast motorway and frequent trains and buses over just 100 km, there's no practical reason to look for one.