In short: Kaunas and Vilnius are about 100 km apart. The fastest option is the non-stop LTG Link express, from 59 minutes; regular trains take about 1 h 10 min to 1 h 20 min, buses around an hour and a half, and the drive along the A1 motorway roughly an hour. The trip is so short that a day seems enough for Kaunas. But evening is often the best part of the day here, and the last train does not wait for it. That is why many people stay the night and catch a morning train back to Vilnius.
Kaunas and Vilnius, Lithuania's two largest cities, are linked by one of the most convenient routes in the country. Trains, buses and the motorway all run centre to centre, so the choice is not between good and bad, but between different kinds of convenient. This guide covers how the options differ, how to buy tickets, what to know when driving, and how to plan the return so an evening in Kaunas does not end with a sprint to the station. Coming from further afield? Start with how to get to Kaunas; for a timed one-day itinerary, see Kaunas day trip from Vilnius.
At a glance: three ways to compare
| Option | Journey time | From – to | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTG Link express | from 59 min, non-stop | Vilnius railway station – Kaunas railway station | Saving time, a reserved seat |
| Regular LTG Link train | about 1 h 10 min – 1 h 20 min | Same stations, with intermediate stops | Flexible travellers, when the express time doesn't suit |
| Bus (Kautra, TOKS, FlixBus) | about 1 h 30 min | Vilnius bus station (Sodų g. 22) – Kaunas bus station (Vytauto pr. 24) | When train times don't fit, travelling with big luggage |
| Car via the A1 | about 1 h in free-flowing traffic | Door to door | Families, groups, onward trips around Lithuania |
By train: express or regular
Since 29 March 2026 a non-stop LTG Link express has run between Vilnius and Kaunas. The journey takes from 59 minutes – station to station, that is quicker than driving once you count city traffic. The express has first and second class, seats are reserved and fares are dynamic: the earlier you book, the better your chance of a good price. The on-board food and hot drinks selection has been expanded, too.
Regular trains make between three and fifteen stops – Lentvaris, Vievis, Kaišiadorys, Palemonas and others. They usually take about 1 h 10 min to 1 h 20 min, with up to fifteen trains a day. Engineering works on parts of the line can lengthen the trip, so always check your train in the journey planner on ltglink.lt.
Trains arrive at Kaunas railway station, M. K. Čiurlionio g. 16, about 2.5 km from the Old Town. On foot, most of the way follows Laisvės alėja; trolleybus 7 runs to the "Vilniaus g." and "Kauno pilis" stops. Every option is covered in our guide from Kaunas station to the Old Town.
By bus: the most departures
Buses leave frequently from Vilnius bus station (Sodų g. 22, right next to the railway station), from early morning into the evening. Kautra, TOKS and FlixBus all serve the route, and the journey takes about an hour and a half. You arrive at Kaunas bus station, Vytauto pr. 24 – a few hundred metres from the railway station and about 1.9 km from the edge of the Old Town.
The bus is a little slower than the train but has its own advantages: with so many departures, if you have just missed one, the next is usually not far behind. Luggage goes in the hold, and when the train timetable is awkward, a bus often fills the gap.
By car: the A1 motorway
The A1 motorway links Vilnius and Kaunas; the cities are about 100 km apart, roughly an hour's drive in free-flowing traffic. The Vilnius–Kaunas section has a dynamic speed control system: electronic signs show the current limit and raise or lower it according to weather and traffic. From 1 November to 31 March the general motorway limit in Lithuania is 110 km/h, but on the A1 you follow the signs – in good conditions they may allow more, and in poor visibility they bring the limit down. Cars do not need a vignette in Lithuania.
Once in Kaunas, parking takes more time than the motorway. Street parking in the Old Town zone is charged around the clock, a low-emission zone fee applies on entry, and cheaper zones and free parking across the Vytautas the Great Bridge are a short walk away. Zones, payment apps and spaces near each of our stays are in the Kaunas Old Town parking guide. Planning a glass of wine with dinner? Leaving the car until morning is one more reason to stay.
Tickets: how and when to buy
- Train. Tickets are sold on ltglink.lt and in the LTG Link app. The app keeps all your tickets in one place, alerts you to important changes and lets you change or refund a journey yourself. Book the express in advance – seats are reserved and fares are dynamic.
- Bus. Tickets are sold on autobusubilietai.lt and on operators' websites; FlixBus sells through its own app and site. Friday evening and Sunday departures are worth booking ahead.
- The return. If you are staying the night, don't buy a same-day return "just in case" – go straight for a morning or late-morning departure the next day.
The last train, and why evenings in Kaunas make you stay
The last trains and buses to Vilnius leave in the evening. The exact time depends on the day of the week and the timetable in force, so check ltglink.lt and autobusubilietai.lt on the day. The catch is that Kaunas warms up just when you would need to head for the station: the cafés on Laisvės alėja stay busy late, the Old Town cellar bars are only getting going, and concerts and games at Žalgiris Arena finish when the choice of trains is already thin.
Build a day around the last train and the evening turns into clock-watching. A night in Kaunas simplifies the equation: an unhurried dinner, a walk across Town Hall Square after dark, and an easy morning train or bus back to Vilnius. For where to go after dark, see Kaunas cellar bars and nightlife; for what's on in the coming weeks, events in Kaunas.
Where to stay: three places you can walk into at any hour
A late arrival or a long evening is no problem when you don't have to beat a reception desk closing. All three MyKaunas stays have self check-in from 15:00: we send access instructions before your trip, so the door opens whenever suits you.
For couples and two travellers, the natural choice is Underground Kingdom Boutique at Savanorių pr. 1 – right where Laisvės alėja ends and the Old Town begins. The rooms sit in the vaulted cellars of a 1908 building, below street level, each with its own shower and WC. There are no windows, so after a night out it stays dark and quiet until morning, even with the centre of Kaunas overhead. From the station you walk here along Laisvės alėja, without a single stretch of Old Town cobbles.
If you want a view, there is Picturesque on M. Valančiaus street in the heart of the Old Town, with a balcony from which you can watch the street light up in the evening. For a distinctive apartment, Old Town Pearl Suite on Šv. Gertrūdos street is in a new building with a lift, close to Kaunas Castle. To compare areas and stays in more detail, read where to stay in Kaunas Old Town; for a two-day plan, see Kaunas Old Town in 48 hours.
Check-out is by 11:00. If your train back is later, leave your bag in the railway station's self-service lockers (accessible during station opening hours) or at the bus station's left-luggage point, and enjoy a few more hours in town without it.
Book direct
Kaunas is only an hour from Vilnius, but its real character comes out in the evening. Instead of counting minutes to the last train, let yourself stay and head back in the morning. Looking for ideas for two? Have a look at our romantic weekend in Kaunas guide.
Timetables and road conditions change, so check ltglink.lt, autobusubilietai.lt and the 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 between Kaunas and Vilnius?
The non-stop LTG Link express, which runs station to station from 59 minutes. Regular trains take about 1 h 10 min to 1 h 20 min, buses about an hour and a half, and a car on the A1 motorway roughly an hour in free-flowing traffic. City traffic and finding a parking space add time to the drive; on the train, only engineering works do.
Where do I buy train and bus tickets between Kaunas and Vilnius?
Train tickets are sold on ltglink.lt and in the LTG Link app, which keeps your tickets on your phone and lets you change or refund a journey yourself. Express seats are reserved and fares are dynamic, so it pays to book ahead. Bus tickets are sold on autobusubilietai.lt and on the operators' own websites.
Where do the train and bus from Vilnius arrive in Kaunas?
Trains arrive at Kaunas railway station (M. K. Čiurlionio g. 16), buses at the bus station (Vytauto pr. 24). The two stations stand side by side in the New Town, about 2–2.5 km from the Old Town. You can walk along Laisvės alėja, take a trolleybus or hop in a taxi.
Will I make the last train after a concert or dinner in Kaunas?
The last trains and buses to Vilnius leave in the evening, and the exact time depends on the day and the timetable in force, so check ltglink.lt and autobusubilietai.lt on the day. Concerts, games and dinners often run later than planned, which is why many visitors stay the night in Kaunas and take a morning train back.
Where can I park in Kaunas when driving from Vilnius?
Street parking in the Old Town zone is charged around the clock, and a low-emission zone fee applies when you drive in. Cheaper zones start nearby, and across the Vytautas the Great Bridge, on Marvelės street, parking is free. Zones, payment apps and spaces near our apartments are all in our Kaunas Old Town parking guide.
Can I check in if I arrive in Kaunas late at night?
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. A late train or a long evening will not cost you your bed; just keep the quiet hours of 22:00–08:00 in mind.
Which place suits two people staying one night?
Couples usually go for Underground Kingdom Boutique (Savanorių pr. 1): rooms in the vaulted cellars of a 1908 building, each with its own shower and WC, and no windows – so it stays quiet even in the city centre. For a balcony over the Old Town, choose Picturesque (M. Valančiaus g. 12); for a distinctive apartment, Old Town Pearl Suite (Šv. Gertrūdos g. 51A).
What time is check-out if I head back to Vilnius the next day?
Check-out is by 11:00. If your train is later, you can leave luggage in the self-service lockers at the railway station (accessible during station opening hours) or at the bus station's left-luggage point, and spend a few more hours in town hands-free.
