In short: Kaunas bus and railway stations sit in the New Town, about 2–2.5 km from the Old Town. With light luggage, walk – most of the way is along Laisvės alėja. The quickest public transport is trolleybus 7 to the "Vilniaus g." or "Kauno pilis" stop, and the easiest ticket is the Žiogas app. With heavy cases or late at night, take a taxi or Bolt to the door. All three MyKaunas stays have self check-in, so a late train will not upset your plans.
Plenty of visitors reach Kaunas not by plane but by train from Vilnius or by coach from Riga, Warsaw and beyond. Both routes end in the same part of town, the south-eastern corner of the New Town. The Old Town, with Town Hall Square and the castle, is at the other end of the centre. It is not far, but distance feels different with a suitcase than with a backpack. Here is every way to cover it and how to pick the right one.
Where exactly you arrive
Kaunas railway station is at M. K. Čiurlionio g. 16. LTG Link trains from Vilnius arrive here, including the non-stop express, as does the connection from Poland with a change at Mockava. Kaunas bus station is at Vytauto pr. 24, right next door, served by Kautra, TOKS, FlixBus, Lux Express and Ecolines. The two are only a few hundred metres apart, and the city stops are simply named "Geležinkelio stotis" (railway station) and "Autobusų stotis" (bus station).
To the junction where Laisvės alėja ends and pedestrian Vilniaus gatvė begins, it is about 1.9 km from the bus station and about 2.5 km from the railway station. Town Hall Square is roughly another kilometre on. For getting to Kaunas from other cities, see our guide how to get to Kaunas; this one is about the last few kilometres.
| Option | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| On foot | Backpack or small case, daytime | About 2–2.5 km to the edge of the Old Town, mostly along Laisvės alėja |
| Trolleybus 7 | The Old Town and the castle area | "Vilniaus g." and "Kauno pilis" stops, about ten minutes |
| Trolleybus 1, bus 29 | The Laisvės alėja / Vilniaus gatvė junction | Handiest for the return trip to the stations |
| Taxi, Bolt, eTaksi | Heavy luggage, Old Town addresses, night | A short ride; the app shows the price before you book |
On foot: Laisvės alėja as your way into town
If your bag is light and the weather kind, walk – it is the best first introduction to Kaunas. From the stations head north towards the centre until you reach Laisvės alėja, a pedestrian boulevard about 1.6 km long, lined with lime trees, cafés and interwar façades. Its eastern end is closed by the white dome of St Michael the Archangel's (Garrison) Church; its western end is the junction with Vilniaus gatvė, where the Old Town begins. The boulevard is flat and wide, so a wheeled case rolls easily.
The shortest route to the Old Town cuts through New Town streets; walking the full length of Laisvės alėja is a little longer but far nicer. Any maps app will show you both.
If you are staying at Underground Kingdom Boutique, the walk could hardly be simpler: it is at Savanorių pr. 1, right where Laisvės alėja ends, so you go from station to door on smooth paving without touching the Old Town cobbles. The rooms are set in the vaulted cellars of a 1908 building below street level. You reach them down a flight of stairs, and down there it is quiet, even with the city centre overhead. There are no windows, which means deep sleep after a long journey, and every room has its own shower and WC.
Beyond that point things change: Vilniaus gatvė and its side streets are cobbled. A kilometre to Town Hall Square is a pleasant stroll with a backpack and a real test with a big suitcase.
By trolleybus and bus
Kaunas runs red buses and green trolleybuses. The most convenient from the station to the Old Town is trolleybus 7: board at "Geležinkelio stotis" or "Autobusų stotis" and it runs via "Griunvaldo g.", "Gedimino g.", "Nacionalinis Kauno dramos teatras" and "Muzikinis teatras" to the "Vilniaus g." stop (about ten minutes by the timetable), then a few minutes later to "Kauno pilis". The first stop suits the Laisvės alėja / Vilniaus gatvė junction, the second the western Old Town by the castle and the confluence of the rivers.
Trolleybus 1 and bus 29, which also serves Kaunas Airport, link the stations with the centre too. They are particularly handy on the way back: from the "E. Ožeškienės g." stop near the junction, both go straight to the bus and railway stations. The Trafi app shows where the nearest trolleybus is, and every timetable is on stops.lt.
Tickets: Žiogas, bank card or cash
- The Žiogas app is the cheapest option. Install it, link a bank card and top up, then scan the QR code by the driver when you board. A single e-ticket includes a free transfer to another bus or trolleybus within 30 minutes. The Žiogas e-ticket card works the same way.
- Contactless bank card. Since August 2025 you can simply tap a Visa or Mastercard, or a linked phone, on the validator. The ticket is valid for one passenger to the end of the route, with no transfers, and an inspector will ask to see the same card or phone.
- Cash from the driver – the most expensive, but a fallback if your phone has died.
Set up Žiogas on the train: it takes a few minutes and saves you juggling a phone and a suitcase at the stop. More on ticket rules in our guide Kaunas Airport to the Old Town.
Taxi and Bolt
With several cases, children, rain or a late arrival, a car to the door is simplest, and the ride from the station to the Old Town is short. Bolt is the most widely used ride-hailing app in Lithuania and shows the price before you confirm. The eTaksi app connects traditional taxi firms, and you can also call a taxi by phone. In a regular cab, ask the driver to switch on the meter or agree the fare before you set off.
A taxi makes most sense if you are staying deep in the Old Town. No trolleybus reaches Picturesque Old Town Apartment on M. Valančiaus gatvė, and the cobbled walk with a case is long, so a car will drop you right outside. In the evening its balcony looks down on the Old Town street as the lights come on – a fine reward after a day of travel.
With a suitcase: practical tips
- Arriving before 15:00? The railway station has self-service luggage lockers, but you can only use them during station opening hours. At the bus station, bags are stored at the parcel terminal. Check prices and hours on ltglink.lt and kautra.lt.
- Old Town cobbles. Small suitcase wheels tire fast on stone. If your bag is heavy, ride to the door rather than to the nearest stop.
- Stairs and lifts. The Underground Kingdom rooms are reached by stairs. Old Town Pearl Suite (Šv. Gertrūdos g. 51A) is in a new building with a lift, about 250 m from Kaunas Castle, so trolleybus 7 to "Kauno pilis" plus a short walk works well.
- Save the address. Note your exact address and stop on the train – it is harder to do in a busy station.
If your train or bus arrives late
An evening train from Vilnius or a coach from Riga or Warsaw held up in traffic is no problem in Kaunas, as long as your bed does not depend on a reception desk. All three MyKaunas stays have self check-in from 15:00: we send access instructions before your trip, so you just let yourself in. Late in the evening a taxi or Bolt from the station is easiest. Please keep quiet hours, 22:00 to 08:00, in mind when you arrive.
Even after an evening arrival it is worth heading out for a little while: Laisvės alėja and Vilniaus gatvė stay lively late, and in the Old Town cellars the evening is only getting started. Addresses are in our guide Kaunas cellar bars and nightlife, and the story of the 1908 vaults at the crossroads is in 1908 vaults at the Kaunas crossroads.
Getting back to the station
Check-out is by 11:00. If your train or coach leaves later, ride to the station, leave your case in a locker or at the storage counter and head back into town with free hands. To get to the stations, trolleybus 1 or bus 29 from the "E. Ožeškienės g." stop is the easiest. For two days in town there is a ready-made plan in Kaunas Old Town in 48 hours; drivers will want our Old Town parking guide, and if you fly via Vilnius, see Vilnius Airport to Kaunas.
Book direct
After a train or coach, the best bed is one a couple of kilometres away with nobody to wait for at the door. Our guide where to stay in Kaunas Old Town helps you choose the area – and an evening in Kaunas after the journey often persuades people to stay longer than planned.
Routes and timetables change, so check stops.lt or the Trafi app before you travel, and luggage storage terms on ltglink.lt and kautra.lt. Header photo: Kaunas railway station. Photo: Nenea hartia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Kaunas station from the Old Town?
The bus station (Vytauto pr. 24) and the railway station (M. K. Čiurlionio g. 16) stand a few hundred metres apart in the New Town. To the junction where Laisvės alėja meets Vilniaus gatvė and the Old Town begins, it is about 1.9 km from the bus station and about 2.5 km from the railway station. Town Hall Square is roughly another kilometre along Vilniaus gatvė.
Which public transport goes from the station to the Old Town?
Trolleybus 7 is the most convenient. It stops at "Geležinkelio stotis" (railway station) and "Autobusų stotis" (bus station), and in the centre at "Muzikinis teatras", "Vilniaus g." and "Kauno pilis" (Kaunas Castle). The timetable puts "Vilniaus g." about ten minutes away. Trolleybus 1 and bus 29 also link the stations with the centre. The Trafi app shows live vehicle positions; timetables are on stops.lt.
How do I pay for a bus or trolleybus in Kaunas?
The cheapest way is the Žiogas app: link a bank card, top up, and scan the QR code by the driver when you board; that ticket includes a free transfer within 30 minutes. You can also tap a contactless bank card or phone on the validator (valid to the end of the route, no transfers) or buy a ticket from the driver in cash.
Is it worth walking with a suitcase?
With a backpack or a small wheeled case, yes, especially by day: most of the way runs along Laisvės alėja, a wide pedestrian boulevard. It gets harder in the Old Town, where the streets are cobbled. With several large cases, children or late in the evening, a taxi or Bolt to the door is simpler.
Where can I leave luggage if I arrive before check-in?
The railway station has self-service luggage lockers, but you can only put bags in and take them out during station opening hours. At the bus station, luggage is accepted for storage at the parcel terminal, also during its working hours. Check prices and hours on ltglink.lt and kautra.lt, then explore the city unburdened until 15:00.
Can I check in if I arrive on the last train or bus?
Yes. All three MyKaunas stays (Underground Kingdom, Picturesque and Old Town Pearl Suite) have self check-in from 15:00, and we send access instructions before your trip, so your arrival time does not depend on a reception desk. Late at night a taxi from the station is easiest; please keep quiet hours, 22:00 to 08:00, in mind.
Which stay suits arriving by train or bus?
If you want to walk, Underground Kingdom Boutique (Savanorių pr. 1) sits where Laisvės alėja ends, so the route from the station never crosses cobblestones. Old Town Pearl Suite (Šv. Gertrūdos g. 51A) is close to the "Kauno pilis" stop, in a new building with a lift. Picturesque (M. Valančiaus g. 12) is in the heart of the Old Town with a balcony; with luggage, a taxi to the door is simplest.
How do I get back to the station on departure day?
From the "E. Ožeškienės g." stop, next to the junction of Laisvės alėja and Vilniaus gatvė, trolleybus 1 runs straight to the "Autobusų stotis" and "Geležinkelio stotis" stops; bus 29 stops there too. Check-out is by 11:00, so if your train is later, leave your case in a station locker and enjoy your last hours in town.
