Where to Stay in Vilnius: Best Hotels & Neighborhoods

Vilnius has become one of my favorite cities in Europe, and while I love Tallinn, I’d argue that Vilnius takes the crown for the best Baltic capital. Considering that I couldn’t stand the place and was so excited to leave the first time I came here, this is quite the turnaround. 

When I returned to the Lithuanian capital, it felt like the city had a renewed sense of optimism. Since I was in a better mood, I could also see its charm and take it all in. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend trip or as part of a bigger adventure through the Baltics, you’ll find plenty of amazing places to stay in Vilnius. 

I’ve stayed in a few places in the city, and I have also stayed both inside and outside the city center. So, I’m the perfect person to show you where you should consider staying *and* discuss the trade-offs for doing so—which is precisely what I’ll do today. 

In this guide, you’ll get all the info you need for finding the right accommodation in Vilnius. We’ll go over the best areas (well, area) to stay, and just as importantly, I’ll tell you what I *don’t* recommend.

Where to Stay in Vilnius: The Most Important Question to Ask Yourself

Most places to stay in Vilnius are hotels, and you’ll find some pretty nice ones. Compared to many other places I’ve been, Lithuania’s capital has an excellent range of boutique hotels. These are perfect if you’re traveling as a couple, for a special occasion, or you want a bit of luxury. 

At the same time, though, you’ll also find a handful of chain hotels. If you want something reliable and comparatively no-frills, these can be a better option. 

Hostels are also an option in Vilnius, but in my opinion, options are much less widespread compared to Tallinn and Riga. Increasingly, you will also find apartment-style hotels. Since Vilnius isn’t overly expensive, the main reasons to stay in these would be if you want more privacy. This is different from, say, Oslo, where I’d say the main reason for doing so there is to save money by self-catering. 

In Almost All Cases, I Recommend Staying in Vilnius’s Old Town

Vilnius is not a big city, and besides traveling to and from the airport, you probably won’t need to use public transport at all when you visit. For this reason, I recommend booking your hotel in the Old Town. 

The Old Town is where you’ll find almost all of the main highlights in Vilnius. I am certain that staying here on my second stay was one reason why I enjoyed being here much more than on my first occasion; staying further out has very few advantages, in my opinion. 

Most accommodation in Vilnius is in the Old Town anyway, and it makes a huge difference if you can just retreat to your hotel room whenever you feel like it. It’s perfect if you want to go for a morning walk before breakfast, and I guess it’s also nice knowing you have easy toilet access if you need it. 🙂

Besides being close to the biggest tourist attractions, Vilnius’s Old Town has several excellent restaurants and bars. And unlike many European old quarters, most of these are *not* tourist traps. Can we just get a quick “🙌🏾” for a moment?

Does It Matter Where in the Old Town I Stay?

Not really to be honest, no. The Old Town is not very big, and you can pretty much get around without issues from anywhere. It’s also relatively flat, compared to Tallinn’s Old Town (which, while beautiful, might as well be a cobblestoned hike in some places). 

If you’re arriving late from the station, you may want to consider staying close to the Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit. This is right next to the Old Town’s entrance, and it takes less than 15 minutes to walk here from Vilnius Central Station. 

If I Could Only Choose One Hotel to Stay in Vilnius’s Old Town… 

… It would be the St. Palace Hotel. I stayed here during a summer trip through the Baltics with my girlfriend, and we loved it. I seriously felt like some kind of royalty when I walked into the room; it was like some kind of mansion. 

The bed was super comfortable, and the hotel is in an ideal location in the Old Town. It was easy to explore and come back whenever I felt like it, and on the one day when I was caught in a downpour, I greatly appreciated not needing to travel for an hour to get some dry clothes. 

Despite being right in the Old Town, it was relatively quiet outside. The only real drawback was that the breakfast wasn’t great, but with the exception of one morning, we ate out elsewhere anyway. Vilnius has some incredible brunch places, as a side note. I guess the shower could also have been better, but for me, this wasn’t a huge issue. 

I’m also giving the St. Palace Hotel plus points for helpful staff and its affordability. Despite booking it in the height of the tourist season, we paid just over €370 for three nights. For a four-star hotel, I think this is solid value for money. 

The Business District Is Worth Considering, but It Has Some Trade-Offs

On the other side of the Neris River, you’ll see the main business district. As the name suggests, this is where many major companies with offices in Vilnius are based. And to cater to business travelers, you’ll find a handful of accommodation options. 

For you, staying in the Central Business District does have *some* advantages. Since many hotels here are designed for business travel, you can find some very good rates if you take a weekend trip to Vilnius. 

Another benefit is that reaching the Old Town is pretty easy from the business district. You can walk across the bridge or take the bus to the main attractions. As a side note, definitely take some time to wander along the riverfront here. 

The trade-off, however, is that the business district is—in my opinion—quite soulless. There also isn’t a huge amount of things to do here; most of the nightlife and restaurants are in the city center. So, if you stay here, you’ll be doing so out of utility rather than for vibes. 

I’ve Stayed on the Outskirts of Vilnius Once, and… I Don’t Recommend It

On my first visit to Vilnius, I was staying for a bit longer than a weekend trip. I was also working remotely from there, and as a result, I decided to try staying in other neighborhoods. I chose the Fabijoniškės district, and to be honest, my main reason was the novelty of staying in the place where the HBO series Chernobyl was filmed. 

To be fair, the apartment I chose was nice, and my host was very polite. But for the area itself (and other outer neighborhoods like it), I don’t recommend staying in them as a tourist. While they’re perfectly safe, getting into the city takes a while. And to be honest, taking the bus each time I had to get into Vilnius quickly became annoying. Plus, said buses were very crowded at rush hour. 

Besides that, I was also there in November. The district is very gray, and the sky was… also gray. The same goes for many of the outer districts in Vilnius, many of which—like Fabijoniškės—were built during the Soviet era. 

TL;DR: Stay closer to the city center, ESPECIALLY if you’re only in town on a short trip. 

How Much Should I Expect to Pay for a Hotel in Vilnius?

Vilnius in general is a very affordable city, and you can get some really nice hotels without paying too much. Summer will cost more than winter, naturally, but a four-star hotel will generally cost you around €90 to €130 per night. 

If you don’t care so much about luxury, you can find accommodation for even less. Mid-range accommodation in the city is typically around €60-70 per night, and you can save more money if you go for budget options instead. 

You will need to pay a city tax of €2 per person, per night when staying in Vilnius. However, even with this included, a visit probably won’t break the bank. 

Booking Your Hotel in Advance During the Summer Is a Good Idea

As a general rule of thumb, the Baltic capitals are more touristy as you go further north. Tallinn’s Old Town can get really crowded in the summer, especially during the day when cruise passengers arrive and people take a day trip from Helsinki. Riga is somewhat busy, but more manageable. 

Vilnius is comparatively less touristy than the other two Baltic capitals. However, June to August is still the peak tourist season. As a result, accommodation is in the highest demand. 

For this reason, I still recommend booking a place to stay in advance. You don’t need to book as far in advance as Tallinn, but having something booked before you arrive is still a good idea. If you want more flexibility, I’d recommend picking something with free cancellation. 

Final Thoughts

Vilnius is an amazing city to visit, regardless of when in the year you choose to. In almost every instance, you’re much better off booking a hotel in the Old Town. Almost everything you’ll want to see is located around this part of the city, and it’s also where you’ll find the bulk of accommodation. 

Whether you’re looking for something fancy or a more budget-friendly option, Lithuania’s capital city will have something for you. And even for the fancier places to stay, you can still get some pretty nice deals. 

Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have all the information when figuring out where to stay in Vilnius. If you have any further questions, you can always leave a comment. 

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