Living in Vilnius

Currency and banking

The Lithuanian currency is litas (Lt.). At present, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 litas denomination banknotes, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centas and 1, 2 and 5 litas denomination coins are in circulation. The exchange rate between Euro and Litas is 3,4528 Lt. to 1 Euro. Foreign currency in cash and cheques, etc. may be brought into the country and do not have to be declared. Foreign currency may be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, the airport, and the railway station.

All major credit cards, such as Mastercard, Eurocard, Globus, Visa, Visa Electron,  Maestro, American Express are accepted in most restaurants and shops.

Banknote dispensers for cash withdrawal by credit cards are at the banks, the airport, and scattered throughout the main streets and residential areas of Vilnius.

Costs of living

A student is expected to spend approximately 600 litas per month for food.

The price for a meal at the VU canteen or cafeteria ranges from 8 to 20 litas.

The price of a monthly ticket for public transport within the city is from 14,00 (for bus or trolleybus) to 20,00 Litas (combined ticket for bus and trolleybus).

According to recent calculations, the total monthly living expenses of a single student are around 1200 litas, accommodation included.

*exchange rate see at Currency and banking.

Telephone

All public phones in Vilnius require telephone cards, which are available in the Central Post Office and kiosks.

For those who want to use a mobile phone in Lithuania may choose between three mobile phone companies: Omnitel, Tele2  or Bite GSM . It is much cheaper to use a pre-paid card of one of these companies than to use services of your home country.

Emergency call from mobile phone: 112

Transport

There is a convenient public transport system in Vilnius consisting of busses, trolley-busses and minibuses. In Vilnius a single ticket for trolleybus or bus costs 1,80 Litas if you buy it at kiosk or 2,50 Litas if you buy it at bus or trolleybus. Full-time students in Lithuania may use tickets with the discount. The single ticket price with the discount for the students is 0,90 Litas at kiosk or 1,25 Litas at bus or trolleybus. A monthly ticket costs from 14,00 Litas (for bus or trolleybus) or 20,00 Litas (combined ticket for bus and trolleybus).

More information on public transport is available on http://www.vilniustransport.lt/en

Students may get discount for the public transport just with the Lithuanian student card. Neither International student card nor student card of home university is valid for the discount in Lithuania. The student card must be presented together with the ticket in case of control.

Public transport in Vilnius usually starts around 5 a.m. and continues until 11.00 p.m. The map of bus/troleybus line network is available here .

After midnight the private taxi is always safe and the only transport in Vilnius. Taxi services:

Almir (+370 5) 215 24 24, (+370 699) 96 682
Gedrama (+370 5) 2402 000, (+370 5) 2403 000, (+370 5) 2444 777, (+370 5) 2444 888
Kabrioletas (+370 5) 213 23 32, 1445, (+370 5) 223 93 03
Mažasis kabrioletas (+370 5) 223 93 03
Tanagros taksi (+370 5) 271 05 81
Užupio taksi (+370 5) 261 11 11, (+370 5) 215 43 53, (+370 618) 618 61

Climate

Lithuania’s climate is transitional between maritime and continental. The average temperature is approximately +20C (sometimes it rises over +30C) in summertime and -5C (it also may fall to -15 or -20C) in winter.

Detailed weather forecast for current day and weak is available on http://www.meteo.lt/english/