€1 gets you from VNO to Vilnius center in about 20 minutes
Bus 3G is the green city bus linking Vilnius Airport T1 with the city center, the business district, and northern areas like Šeškinė and Akropolis mall in about 20–30 minutes. It runs roughly every 10 minutes in daytime, so you walk out of arrivals, find the airport bus stop by T1, and usually don’t need to check a timetable.
Tickets cost about €1 when paid via contactless card or electronic ticket, and you tap in as you board through the front door. The same €1 city fare covers the full route from the airport through central stops like “Stotis” (station area) and up towards northern districts. Keep a contactless Visa/Mastercard or local transport card ready; drivers do not always handle cash well under time pressure.
Bus 3G is classed as a “rapid” route, but it still makes multiple stops between the airport and key central points, so in rush hour plan on the full 20–30 minutes instead of hoping for 15. It usually beats buses 1 and 2 if your hotel is past the railway station zone, since 3G continues north through major corridors instead of terminating early.
You catch 3G at the marked bus stop just outside Terminal 1; look for the green buses with clear “3G Airport” signage in the front window. Daytime headways sit around 10 minutes, thinning later in the evening, so late flights should double‑check the schedule on arrival. The stop listing on the pole and inside the bus helps you track where to get off without Lithuanian language skills.
Regulars often ride the airport train if they land outside peak and stay near Vilnius Old Town or the station, but default to 3G for most other addresses in the center and north. Locals heading to the airport try to board 3G a stop or two before major hubs like “Žaliasis tiltas” so they can grab a seat before the crowds with luggage get on.
Step-by-step: using Bus 3G at Vilnius Airport
- 1. Exit T1 arrivals and walk to the signed city bus stop directly outside the terminal area.
- 2. Look for the green bus marked “3G Airport” in the front display; ignore routes 1 and 2 unless you specifically want the station only.
- 3. Board through the front door, tap a contactless bank card or transit card for the ~€1 fare, and move down the aisle with your bags.
- 4. Watch the stop display for key central stops like “Stotis”, “Šilo tiltas”, or “Šeškinė”, depending on your hotel’s address.
- 5. In peaks, expect a crowded, mostly standing ride for about 20–30 minutes, then exit through the middle or rear door when your stop name appears.
Watch out for
- Crowding: Weekday peak hours see 3G fill with commuters before it reaches the airport, so you may stand with luggage for the whole 20‑minute ride.
- “Express” expectations: Despite the G label, 3G hits many stops and often sits in central traffic; on a clear run, the airport train can beat it if you only need the station area.
Pro tip: Landing during rush hour and staying near the station or Old Town? Check the airport train time first; otherwise, default to 3G and budget the full 30 minutes.