The easiest ways into Kaunas are the train from Vilnius (the express takes from 59 minutes), an intercity coach from Riga, Warsaw or Tallinn, or a flight into Kaunas Airport or via Vilnius Airport. The railway and bus stations in Kaunas sit next to each other in the New Town, a couple of kilometres from the Old Town. Below: every main route, journey times, and what to do if you roll in late at night.
At a glance: where from and how
| From | Best option | Journey time | Where you arrive in Kaunas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vilnius | LTG Link train | from 59 min (express), usually 1 h 10–20 min | Railway station |
| Vilnius | Bus | about 1.5 h | Bus station, Vytauto pr. 24 |
| Vilnius Airport | Ollex direct bus | about 1 h 15 min | Circle K, Savanorių pr. 404B |
| Kaunas Airport | City bus 29 or taxi | taxi about 20 min | Centre, bus and railway stations |
| Riga | Lux Express, Ecolines, FlixBus | about 4 h | Bus station |
| Warsaw | FlixBus, or train with a change at Mockava | about 5.5 h by coach | Bus or railway station |
| Tallinn | FlixBus via Riga | about 9.5 h | Bus station |
From Vilnius: train or bus
Lithuania's two largest cities are about 100 km apart, and this is probably the easiest journey in the country. LTG Link trains run from Vilnius railway station to Kaunas railway station. Since late March 2026 a non-stop express has been running: it takes from 59 minutes and seats are reserved, so it pays to book ahead. Regular trains stop along the way and take about 1 h 10 min to 1 h 20 min. Tickets and timetables are on ltglink.lt.
Buses leave from Vilnius bus station (Sodų g. 22), right next to the railway station. Kautra and TOKS services to Kaunas run every 20–30 minutes, take about an hour and a half and arrive at Kaunas bus station, Vytauto pr. 24. FlixBus also runs this route. If you only have a day, our guide to a Kaunas day trip from Vilnius has a walking route. That said, evening Kaunas, with cafés on Laisvės alėja, cellar bars and concerts, often talks people into staying the night.
By air: Kaunas or Vilnius Airport
Kaunas Airport is in Karmėlava, about 14–15 km from the centre, with Ryanair and Wizz Air flights. There is no train, but city bus 29 runs from the terminal to the centre and on to the bus and railway stations. For the Old Town and Laisvės alėja, get off at "E. Ožeškienės g." Taxis wait right outside arrivals and take about 20 minutes to the centre. Timetables, late-night buses and ticket rules are in our guide Kaunas Airport to the Old Town.
Vilnius Airport has more routes, and the Ollex Airport Express bus goes straight from there to Kaunas in about 1 h 15 min, with departures timed to flights. Note that in Kaunas it stops not at the bus station but at the Circle K filling station, Savanorių pr. 404B, so you will need a taxi or Bolt into the centre. The alternative is the shuttle train to Vilnius station and a train on to Kaunas. All the options are in Vilnius Airport to Kaunas.
From Riga and Tallinn
Between Riga and Kaunas the coach is the practical choice. Lux Express, Ecolines and FlixBus all run the route. FlixBus leaves from Riga's central bus station (Prāgas iela 1) and arrives at Kaunas bus station, Vytauto pr. 24. The fastest services take about four hours, and FlixBus alone has several departures a day, including overnight ones. FlixBus also connects Kaunas with Riga Airport.
From Tallinn, FlixBus coaches run via Riga in about 9.5 hours. After a day like that, you won't want evening plans, just a quiet room and a shower.
From Warsaw and Poland
By coach. FlixBus links Warsaw and Kaunas several times a day; the fastest trip takes about 5.5 hours. In Warsaw it stops at several points, including Warszawa Zachodnia (West Station) and by the central railway station, and in Kaunas it arrives at the bus station. There are also services from Warsaw Airport.
By train. In 2026 two trains a day connect Warsaw and Vilnius with a change at Mockava: a PKP Intercity train takes you there, and the LTG Link train on to Vilnius calls at Kaunas railway station. The change is across the same platform. Tickets and timetables: ltglink.lt and intercity.pl.
By car
From Vilnius, the A1 motorway takes you to Kaunas in about an hour (around 100 km). From Warsaw and Riga you arrive on the E67 Via Baltica, which runs through Kaunas. Passenger cars need no vignette in Lithuania. The real puzzle starts on arrival: Old Town streets are narrow and parking is zoned and paid. Where to leave the car and how to pay is in our guide to parking in Kaunas Old Town.
From the station to the Old Town
Kaunas railway station (M. K. Čiurlionio g. 16) and the bus station (Vytauto pr. 24) stand side by side in the New Town; their city bus stops are only about 400 m apart. To the edge of the Old Town it is about 2.5 km from the railway station and about 1.9 km from the bus station. With a light backpack you can walk it; with a suitcase a taxi or Bolt is easier. It's a short ride, and the app shows the fare before you book.
The budget option is city bus 29: it stops at both stations and runs to "E. Ožeškienės g.", about 150 m from the junction where Laisvės alėja meets Vilniaus g. and Savanorių prospektas. Right there, at Savanorių pr. 1, is Underground Kingdom Boutique, set in vaulted 1908 cellars that stay quiet even in the city centre. For Picturesque or the Old Town Pearl Suite, deep in the Old Town, a taxi to the door is simplest with luggage.
Arriving late in the evening
A late train, a delayed coach from Warsaw or a late flight is no problem in Kaunas, as long as your stay doesn't depend on reception hours. All three MyKaunas stays have self check-in: we send the door instructions before your trip, so you simply let yourself in. Taxis and Bolt run at night. Please keep the quiet hours (22:00–08:00) in mind when you arrive. Coming for a concert or a game? See events in Kaunas and our plan for 48 hours in Kaunas Old Town. To compare neighbourhoods, read where to stay in Kaunas.
Timetables change; check ltglink.lt, ollex.lt and the coach operators' websites before you travel. Header photo: Kaunas railway station. Photo: Nenea hartia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way from Vilnius to Kaunas?
The LTG Link non-stop express, which takes from 59 minutes. Regular trains take about 1 h 10 min to 1 h 20 min, buses around an hour and a half, and driving on the A1 motorway roughly an hour.
Is there a train from Riga to Kaunas?
The practical direct option from Riga is the coach. Lux Express, Ecolines and FlixBus run the route, and the fastest services take about four hours.
How do I get from Warsaw to Kaunas?
FlixBus runs several coaches a day; the fastest takes about 5.5 hours. By rail you change at Mockava: a Polish train takes you there, and the LTG Link train on to Vilnius calls at Kaunas.
Are the Kaunas train and bus stations close to each other?
Yes. Both are in Naujamiestis (New Town), side by side: the city bus stops "Autobusų stotis" and "Geležinkelio stotis" are about 400 m apart.
How do I get from the station to the Old Town?
A taxi or Bolt is the easiest, and it is a short ride. On foot it is about 2.5 km from the railway station and about 1.9 km from the bus station to the edge of the Old Town. City bus 29 links both stations with the "E. Ožeškienės g." stop by Laisvės alėja.
Do I need a vignette to drive a car in Lithuania?
No. Passenger cars do not pay a road toll in Lithuania. The bigger question is parking in the Old Town, which we cover in a separate guide.
I arrive late in the evening. Can I still check in?
Yes. All three MyKaunas stays have self check-in and we send the door instructions before your trip, so there is no reception desk to reach before it closes.
Which MyKaunas stay is easiest to reach by public transport?
Underground Kingdom Boutique is at Savanorių pr. 1, where Laisvės alėja begins, close to the "E. Ožeškienės g." stop served by bus 29. Picturesque and the Old Town Pearl Suite are right in the Old Town; with luggage a taxi to the door is simplest.
