Is Vilnius Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania.

Life in Vilnius is rather relaxed, there is plenty of exciting things to do, it has vibrant night-life, and everything is within reach.

Vilnius is a student city.

The most important universities of Lithuania such as Vilnius University are located here.

You can see many regions that are dedicated to universities, and university facilities such as dormitory, sports hall, copy centers and student cafes – it is a very student-friendly city.

There is a local legend that if you stand anywhere in Vilnius Old town, you shall see at least three towers of different churches.

Warnings & Dangers in Vilnius

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Generally, Vilnius is a safe city to travel to. There are no dangerous areas, districts or ghettos that you should avoid. What you should keep in mind is to skip the many bars and clubs, due to possible encounters with drunk or intoxicated people.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

The group of people most known for scamming tourists is taxi drivers in Vilnius. So much so that it is even recommended not to use a taxi as transportation in this country. They are known for charging up to 10 times the real price of the ride. Apart from that, many drivers won't even negotiate - they just refuse to drive out-of-towners for any less money than what they offer.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Pickpocketing is a common risk for tourists in Vilnius, as well as other forms of petty theft, so be sure to keep your valuables in a safe place, do not leave them in plain sight and try to not keep all your money in one place.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Vilnius belongs to a country that is completely sheltered from any natural disasters. There are no precaution measures that you should take against occurrences such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes or tsunamis since no such disasters happen in Lithuania.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Bag snatching could happen, as well as mugging, even though it is not common, so the only places you should be particularly careful at are crowded public facilities such as railway and bus stations, airports, etc.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

In the entire Lithuanian history, nobody has been killed or injured in terrorist bombings. It has, however, had deadly incidents originating from its aggressive neighbors (namely, it has suffered occupations and genocides primarily by Russia) but the last act of aggression occurred in 1991, so the chances of foreign invasion are slim.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

The most likely annoyance for tourists in Vilnius are people trying to scam you or trick you into paying something or overcharging for their services. These are normal tourist traps, but do watch out for the change when you buy something from local traders selling touristy souvenirs.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Vilnius is safe for women who plan on traveling alone. Of course, you should take care of your luggage, personal belongings, and follow basic rules of safety, such as not walking alone at night or mingling along streets that are filled with bars and drunk people, but apart from that, it is generally safe.

So... How Safe Is Vilnius Really?

When it comes to safety, many claims that major cities in the eastern part of Europe are much safer than popular European destinations such as Paris or London.

Vilnius is known as a relatively safe place to visit, with a low crime rate. However, there are places that you should avoid because the risk is slightly higher.

Still, wherever you are, don’t go looking for trouble.

These means don’t walk around in unlighted areas at 3 a.m. while very drunk and holding your wallet and mobile phone in your hands. This is inviting trouble anywhere in the world.

Actually, in this city, the authorities publish lists containing the names of clubs and other locations that have been reported for the highest crime rate.

Many have even reported Vilnius as highly civilized compared to other capitals nearby such as Moscow, Sofia or Bucharest since not many unpleasant situations can happen apart from an occasional scam or pickpocketing.

While Vilnius is overall safe, you must be well informed about the crime that does happen on the streets there (mainly petty thefts, pickpocketing or other types of rip-offs and scams) so that you are always prepared for any unwelcome situations that you may encounter.

Using your common sense and taking basic precaution measures should be enough to make your trip pleasant.

How Does Vilnius Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

Residents of Australia, Canada, and the US are welcome to stay in Lithuania for up to 90 days without a visa. Residents of the EU do not need a visa, and citizens of other countries should contact the embassy of Lithuania, or, if you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local Lithuanian embassy for further details.

Currency

Lithuania is a member of the EU, so its currency is the euro. Always exchange money in banks and exchange bureaus since they offer far better rates.

Weather

Vilnius is known for its extremely cold and long winters (they last from November to March) when temperatures rarely rise above 0°C. January is the coldest with maximum daily temperatures of about -3 to -4°C. The summers, however, are extremely hot, with temperatures rising above 30°C, July being the hottest month of the year.

Airports

Vilnius International Airport (Vilniaus Oro uostas) is the busiest of the three most known airports in the state, the other two being Kaunas International Airport and Šiauliai International Airport.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Vilnius, since it covers not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Vilnius Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Lithuania - Safety by City