Considering Vilnius for a Winter Break....

[stuartmoss]

Has anyone been? Any recommendations?

I've just spotted return air fares in January from LBA for £61 with Ryanair, and I can see decent digs near the train station for £60 for 4 nights B&B per person.

What are the train services like there? Do they get badly effected by the cold weather?

I'd be taking the Missus, so could do a little rail excursion, up to 90 minutes with her (before she gets bored), any recommendations? What are the fares like?

I appreciate it's a lot of questions, but I'm all excited about possibly visiting a 'new' country

 

[lj9090]

Trakai Island Castle is a short train trip. The timings aren't that great though, I got a bus out and then the train back as the bus was quite a bit more frequent. Can't remember the cost right now but it wasn't much, somewhere around a pound or two.
Otherwise you could go to Kaunas but it's quite a bit longer. Trains in this region are not fast, but that makes them all the more charming to travel on. As a tourist.

If you can, I'd recommend finding a place to stay in the centre rather than near the station. It's not the nicest of areas, and the centre itself is too wonderful to not try and base yourself in.

It'll be cold...

 

[185]

Did Liverpool-Riga-Vilnius-Warwaw-Prague-Hanover-Esbjerg-Luton some time ago.

The Riga-Vilnius and Vilnius-Warsaw were every two days if I remember right, but it was some time ago, and that may have improved by now.

 

[johnnychips]

Vilnius is great, cheap, but wrap up well. Energy and science museum if you like machines, and totally agree about Trakai and Kaunas. Perhaps I was unlucky but last year no station staff spoke English, and writing it out helped. The ends of place names change depending if you're coming or going from them, but it's not that hard.

Last year it was impossible to get to Riga without an overnight stop at Daugvapils; I'd stick to Lithuania.

 

[gordonthemoron]

train service between Vilnius and Kaunas is good and they have some nice new double deck trains. On the whole I prefer Vilnius as there's more to do, Lithuanian beer is very good and there's a nice pub called Alaus Namai beside the river which does lots of different sorts (don't be put off by the exterior, it's nice inside). Vilnius has a rather odd cathedral, lots of nice shops, bars and restaurants (even M&S). there are also loads of spectacular, and sometimes decrepit, churches that are worth seeing.

 

[johnnychips]

Has anyone been? Any recommendations?

I'd be taking the Missus, so could do a little rail excursion, up to 90 minutes with her (before she gets bored)

Apologies for being sexist, but your missus, or indeed yourself, might be impressed by a massive shopping centre, whose name I can't remember, just off the main drag in Kaunas. Similar shopping centres in Vilnius (the second 'i' is silent, by the way) are a bit further out of town.

You can buy 'rover' tickets for buses and trolleybuses at Tourist Info, combined with museum entrances if you want. But note there are private bus companies operating that don't accept them.

Check the weather forecast before you go. Take hats, gloves, scarves and, honestly, Long Johns if it looks anything below freezing. But it is a great place with loads of history, and good food and beer.

You didn't say what time your flight arrives, but there is a train every 45 mins or so from the airport into town, but it doesn't run late. Try http://www.litrail.lt/wps/portal for train times. There is an English page, but 'Oro Uostas' means 'airport'. The airport is very near the city centre, so if you arrive late you could take a taxi: I paid €10 at three in the morning - probably expensive but it saved a lot of hassle. Have hotel address written out or printed to show the driver.