According to the “Lonely Planet“, a large travel guide book publisher, Lithuania is “a land of crumbling castles, soaring dunes, enchanting forests and magical lakes”. Yes, Lithuania is all that and much more! From the Curonian Spit to the Hill of Crosses, to the Old Town of Vilnius (a UNESCO heritage site) – the country is full of surprises wherever you turn your eye.

Lithuanian cities have well-developed systems of public transportation. There is a choice of buses, trolleybuses (in the largest cities of the country), and minibuses. Students are offered large discounts on public transportation tickets (daily, monthly and yearly) and are encouraged to use it.

Information on routes and schedules (available in English for all major cities) is available on “TRAFI” website and mobile app.

Taxi cab services is a fast, comfortable and relatively inexpensive way to travel around the city. However, in Lithuania it is not a common practice to stop taxis in the streets. It is always better (and cheaper!) to use popular mobile apps, such as “Bolt“, “Uber” and “e-Transport“, or rent a car via “CityBee” and “Spark”.

Rentable scooters and bikes are currently also a popular choice of transportation!

If you would like to visit your friends in other parts of Lithuania or have a desire to see more of what Lithuania has to offer – simply hop onto an intercity bus or train.

Don’t forget to use your student discount when purchasing tickets!

Students in Lithuania receive discounts in various places from restaurants to museums, from public transportation to certain shops.

In order to use ALL discounts, you will need to have:

• Lithuanian Student Identity Card (LSIC);
• International Student Identity Card (ISIC).

LSIC is issued and administered by the Lithuanian National Union of Students (LSS) and is valid in Lithuania only. The card is mandatory for ALL students in Lithuania, including students of student exchange programmes. ISIC is an international student identity card. It is not mandatory, but it is recognized all around the world and it is a must if you plan to travel abroad.

If you want to access as many student discounts as possible, we would recommend you to have BOTH.

If you are a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and have a European Health Insurance Card, you are guaranteed state health care services in the case of an accident. You need to be aware that the card does not cover the expenses of health care services provided by the private sector.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union, you must contact one of the insurance companies on Lithuanian Insurers Association (LDA) list. In order to study in Lithuania you must have a valid health insurance covering the duration of your stay.

In case of an accident or real threat to your health or property, immediately call the Emergency Call Number 112.

EURO (€) is the national currency of Lithuania.

Banking cards such as Mastercard, Visa, and American Express are accepted in most shops and places of service. Also you can easily exchange foreign currency at banks, bureaux de change, airports, and railway stations. The Bank of Lithuania acts as the central monetary authority in Lithuania. Currently, six commercial banks hold a license from the Bank of Lithuania and operate in the country:

• SEB
• Swedbank
• Luminor
• Šiaulių Bankas
• Citadelė
• Medicinos Bankas

You can easily open an account at one of the banks by visiting their branches.

There are three major providers of Mobile services in Lithuania:

• Telia
• Tele 2
• Bitė

You can buy a prepaid SIM card of either one of the three providers at every news stand. Each of the three providers offers different rates and terms, so you will be able to choose the one which suits your needs the best.

There is free access to wireless internet in most public places – libraries, parks and squares. The majority of cafés, bars and restaurants also provide free wireless internet. Just ask the staff for the password. In Vilnius Business College you can use WIFI with name: VVK_Stud. (ask for password)