In short: Žalgiris Arena sits on Nemunas Island (Karaliaus Mindaugo pr. 50) in the heart of Kaunas, so on game day the best base is one you can walk to and from. Couples do well in the quiet rooms of Underground Kingdom Boutique under 1908 vaults at the start of Laisvės alėja, groups of friends in Picturesque Old Town Apartment with its Old Town balcony, and a special weekend calls for Old Town Pearl Suite. All three have self check-in, so there is no rush after the final buzzer.
Basketball in Lithuania is close to a religion, and Kaunas is its cathedral city. A Žalgiris home game is not just forty minutes of play: it is a day that starts with a train or a flight, runs through dinner in the Old Town and fifteen thousand fans in green, and ends in the cellar bars of Vilniaus gatvė where the result gets argued over long after midnight. Fans travel in from Poland, Germany and well beyond. Here is how to plan the trip so you are not sprinting for the last bus.
Before you go: schedule and tickets
Žalgiris plays in the EuroLeague and the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), with home games at Žalgiris Arena. Dates and tip-off times are published on zalgiris.lt, along with links to official ticket sales. Buy from the organiser only: EuroLeague nights frequently sell out, so do not wait. Travelling as a bigger group? Ask the club about group tickets.
The arena itself is one of the largest in the Baltics, seating 15,415 for basketball. Doors open one to two hours before the start, and the arena’s own Baras 11 opens an hour ahead of big events. More on the venue, parking and the cloakroom in our Žalgiris Arena guide.
Getting to the arena
From Vilnius Airport. For most visitors from abroad this is the gateway. The direct Ollex bus, timed to arrivals, reaches Kaunas in about 1 hour 15 minutes; you can also take the train via Vilnius station. Every option is in Vilnius Airport to Kaunas.
From Kaunas Airport. City bus No. 29 runs from the airport through the centre and ends at the bus and railway stations. Last departures and taxi options are in Kaunas Airport to the Old Town.
From the train and bus stations. Trains from Vilnius are run by LTG Link; coaches arrive from Riga and Warsaw. Kaunas railway and bus stations stand side by side in Naujamiestis. To the arena, take a taxi or Bolt, or a city bus to the “Gedimino g.”, “Studentų skveras” or “Griunvaldo g.” stops – from there it is just minutes on foot over the bridge to the island. All routes into the city are in how to get to Kaunas.
By car. On big event days the arena car park only admits drivers with a pre-booked space. If you stay in the centre, leave the car at your accommodation and walk – you skip the exit queue as well. Zones and free spots are in our Old Town parking guide.
A tip: arriving on game day with luggage? Drop it at your accommodation first. Check-in starts at 15:00, and you walk to the arena travelling light.
Before the game: dinner in the centre
Eat in the centre, then walk over. For Lithuanian food on Town Hall Square try Medžiotojų užeiga; for house-brewed beer with dinner, Avilys on Vilniaus gatvė sits in 18th-century cellars. When the arena is full, so are the restaurants – book a table. More places, sorted by time of day, in where to eat in Kaunas Old Town.
After the game: getting back and Kaunas by night
When a full arena empties, thousands of people leave at once. Traffic from the arena and the neighbouring Akropolis car park can be held for 30–40 minutes, so taxis take a while – order one a little away from the arena. After big events special ŽA buses serve different parts of the city; the event page says whether they run. If you are staying in the centre, walking is easiest: over the bridge and you are back in town.
And the city is not ready for bed. Vilniaus gatvė leads to Town Hall Square, where the cocktail bar Klimas, under historic vaults, stays open until 03:00 at weekends. Avilys is open until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and beer lovers will find more than 100 beers at Hop Doc in the Old Town. Every venue with opening hours is in Kaunas cellar bars and nightlife.
Where to stay for a match weekend
For couples: quiet rooms under 1908 vaults
After a loud night in the stands, what you want most is silence. Underground Kingdom Boutique is a small hotel in 1908 brick vaults where Laisvės alėja meets Vilniaus gatvė. The arena is a short walk away, and so are the Old Town bars. The rooms lie below street level with no windows, so no street noise either: you sleep soundly even while the city is still celebrating a win. Each room has a double bed, its own shower and WC, air conditioning, a fridge and a kettle, and you enter through a separate door straight from the street.
For a group of friends: Picturesque with a balcony
Coming with mates? Picturesque Old Town Apartment is on M. Valančiaus street in the heart of the Old Town, with two separate bedrooms, a full kitchen and a balcony over a cobbled street. The morning after: coffee on the balcony and an unhurried breakfast. For larger groups, or if every couple wants its own door, see group accommodation in Kaunas.
For a special weekend: Old Town Pearl Suite
If the game is the reason for the weekend rather than the whole of it, choose Old Town Pearl Suite: a spacious apartment in a new building with a lift near Kaunas Castle, two bedrooms and a balcony looking over the centre and the river. Minimum stay is two nights.
Why book early
On EuroLeague nights and for the big LKL derbies Kaunas fills up with fans, and the central places within walking distance of the arena go first. Book as soon as zalgiris.lt announces the date and you have your tickets. Plans changed? Underground Kingdom rooms can be cancelled free up to one day before arrival, Picturesque and Old Town Pearl Suite up to 5 days before. Other big nights at the arena are in events in Kaunas and concerts at Žalgiris Arena, and a comparison of neighbourhoods in where to stay in Kaunas.
Book direct
Games finish late, and sometimes the best part comes after the final buzzer: the walk back over the bridge, a night in the Old Town and a slow morning with no train to catch. That is reason enough to stay the night in Kaunas.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Žalgiris Arena and can I walk there from the centre?
Žalgiris Arena stands on Nemunas Island at Karaliaus Mindaugo pr. 50, right in central Kaunas. From Laisvės alėja and the Old Town you walk there – every route ends with a bridge onto the island. From Underground Kingdom Boutique at the start of Laisvės alėja it is a short walk.
How do I get to the arena from Vilnius Airport?
Most international flights land in Vilnius. The direct Ollex bus, timed to flight arrivals, reaches Kaunas in about 1 hour 15 minutes; trains run from Vilnius station too. In Kaunas, drop your bags at your accommodation first – all three MyKaunas stays have self check-in from 15:00 – and walk to the arena from the centre.
How do I get back after a late game?
On foot, if you stay in the centre: while cars queue at the car parks, you are already across the bridge. After big events the arena runs special ŽA buses to different parts of the city – the event page says whether they operate. Taxis need patience: traffic around the arena and the Akropolis car park can be held for 30–40 minutes, so order your ride a little away from the arena.
Where do I buy Žalgiris tickets?
Buy only through the club’s official channels – the schedule and links to ticket sales are on zalgiris.lt. EuroLeague nights often sell out, so buy as soon as a game is announced. For larger parties the club also offers group tickets.
Can I check in late, after the game?
Yes. Underground Kingdom Boutique, Picturesque Old Town Apartment and Old Town Pearl Suite all have self check-in: we send access instructions in advance, so there is no reception desk to reach in time. Coming back after the game, please keep to quiet hours from 22:00 to 08:00.
Where can I park on match day?
During big events the arena car park only admits drivers who booked a space in advance. It is simpler to leave the car at your accommodation and walk. Near Underground Kingdom, on Šv. Gertrūdos street, there is a green zone that is free in the evenings and at weekends. All zones are in our Old Town parking guide.
When should I book accommodation for a match weekend?
As soon as you know the game date. On EuroLeague nights and for the big LKL derbies Kaunas fills up with fans from all over Lithuania and abroad, and central places go first. Underground Kingdom rooms can be cancelled free of charge up to one day before arrival, Picturesque and Old Town Pearl Suite up to 5 days before.
Will Underground Kingdom be quiet after a loud night?
Yes. The rooms sit in 1908 brick vaults below street level and have no windows, so street noise simply does not reach them – you sleep soundly even while the city is still celebrating. Fresh air comes from a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, and every room has its own shower and WC.
