Arrival, Information and City Transport
The main train station ( Stotis ) is at Gelezinkelio 16, just south of the Old Town, and the main bus station ( Autobusu Stotis ) is just across the road. There are exchange facilities at both, although you'll get a better rate at banks in the town centre. Trolleybus #2 will take you from the square in front of the train station to the main Cathedral Square (Katedros aikst3). Walking into the Old Town is feasible too - avoid taxis as they tend to overcharge. The airport ( Oro uostas ) is around 5km south of the city centre at Rodunes kelias (tel 2/306 666) with exchange facilities in the arrival hall. From outside the main entrance bus #2 runs a couple of times an hour to Lukiskiu aikste in the city centre, and takes approximately 25 minutes. Bus #1 will take you to the train and bus station area. Tickets for both buses cost 1Lt from the driver. An honest taxi driver will charge 10-15Lt for the 5km journey to the Old Town - beware of rip-off merchants. The tourist offices at Vilniaus 22 (May-Sept Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 12am-6pm; Oct-April Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; tel 2/629 660, turizm.info@vilnius.lt ) and at Pilies 42 (Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; tel 2/626 470) offer maps, tours and information on hotels and museums, but your best bet is to pick up a copy of the excellent Vilnius in Your Pocket city guide (info also available on www.inyourpocket.com ), which costs 4Lt from newspaper kiosks, tourist offices or hotels. It's also available from a special Vilnius in Your Pocket booth (open daily; times depend on flight arrivals) in the airport arrivals hall which, among other things, handles hotel and bed-and-breakfast bookings. Vilnius is well served for public transport with buses and trolleybuses covering most of the city. Tickets cost 0.80Lt from newspaper kiosks ( kioskas ) and 1Lt from the driver; remember to validate your ticket by punching it in the machine on board. Alternatively, hail a minibus at any bus stop in the direction you're going, pay the driver 2Lt and you'll be dropped off at the stop you require. Taxi prices are usually reasonable providing you stick to companies using newer cars and functioning meters, and fares should cost no more than around 1-2Lt per kilometre. Telephoning for a taxi is one way of ensuring a fair rate; try Vilniaus Taxi (tel 006/228 888).
VilniusJankauskas says "Inhabited for centuries, Vilnius today is a multinational city with significant Polish and Russian minorities, about 20% each of them. It used to have a strong Jewish minority before World War II, but most of the Jews from Vilnius got exterminated. After the war the Soviet government expelled most of the remaining Polish population of the city and replaced them with Lithuanian and Russian citizens."
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