Experience in Vilnius, Lithuania by Marta

What is it like to live in Vilnius? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

The City Center and major part of Old Town are really exciting with numerous pieces of marvellous architecture, sightseeing spots, cozy cafés and small strange shops.

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Districts Zirmunai, Pasilaiciai, Antakalnis, Snipiskes are the most popular to rent the flat/room because of good assessment by public transport and closeness of supermarkets, shopping centers. But the districts were build in the Soviet Union times so the quality of houses is not really good. Mostly you get the old flat with old furniture, but new doors and windows. In general it's ok if you're a student and spend most of the time outside and need just to get fast home after university or night party.

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If you have a car and a calm life, you should better rent the room in a private house. They are mostly new and luxurious, but because of the crisis owners have to give some space for rent. Calm atmosphere, super-beautiful nature and lake or river nearby are guaranteed. And the price is the same or even less than a rent in the noisy and grey city.

What is the student lifestyle like in Vilnius?

A lot of discounts, not only for museums and entertainment. What I like the best is the cost of month card for all public transport for the student is less than 10 euror (year 2014).

Not so many parties and bars like in Spain, for example, but rich cultural life.

How much does it cost to live in Vilnius?

It's difficult to tell if it's expensive or not. Depends which origin you have and which country you take for comparison. I just tell the prices:

Rent one room flat: 150 - 300 euro (about 25-40 sq. m)

Rent two room flat: 170 - 350 euro (30 - 60 sq. m)

3 and more rooms if you share with other students and live in separate room everybody: 100 - 200 euro.

Food in the supermarket like bread, milk, eggs is cheap. Less then 1 euro each item. Vegetables and fruits depends on the season are more expensive. Good fish and sea products don't exist at all! Just sometimes in MaximaXXX in Akropolis you can buy fresh shrimps.

Meat... actually I don't buy it so no idea.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Vilnius? Is there any advice you can give?

Easy to find, but difficult to choose good variant. Coz sometimes flat seems to be really nice in summer, but you're freezing in winter or pay supernatural bills for heating. Usually owners give information about the cost of water/gas/light/heating when you speak about the price. Important criteria is Internet, coz Lithuania is still country where not every appartment has the connection. Call to the company (about 20 euro), buy or rent router is not very pleasant when you rent something for a short time.

The best services to rent a flat are alio.lt/ e skelbiu.lt. I have seen really attractive offers in ober-haus.lt also. But the descriptions are all in lithuanian. So ask smb to help you with the translation and you find something easy and fast.

Prices really depend on the season. They are at their highest in August (before the 1st semester which in Lithuania starts in September), nevertheless you have the best variety this time.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Food in the supermarket in my opinion are very low quality. But these that produced in Lithuania on local farms are on the opposite side: delicious and ecological. Necessarily try traditional kitchen, but don't get used to! It's not so healthy. Visit Belmontas, which is restaurant everybody should see.

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The most popular places to eat are Cili Pica, Charlie Pica, Forest Restaurant.

If you plan to stay in Vilnius more then 2 months buy the discount cards of your favourite supermarket. They give relly good discounts everytime you're shopping. The most popular are Aciu Kortele for Maxima and Mylimiausia for Iki, Cili Pica and Statoil.

What places would you recommend visiting in Vilnius?

Visit local exhibitions and festivals. Informations about them you can find on vilnius-events.lt.

Is it good to eat out in Vilnius? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There is no good restaurants at all (except one in the Old Town with traditional kitchen and Belmontas). However you can find many cozy and nice cafes. I prefer to eat or drink in Coffeinn or Maxima Supermarkt or Prisma Supermarkt (cheap and good, but not for tourists).

But maybe I'm too much strict coz I compare with Spain - the world's leader in bars and restaurants.

Is the nightlife good in Vilnius? Where is good to go?

PianoMan bar is the best. Students like Salento. Also there are some clubs for older people then students and people tell they are really good (with blackjack and strippers).

What advice would you give future students heading to Vilnius?

Be aware that Lithuania is a rainy and cold country with the highest rate of suicides in the world. But you notice this on the 3rd or 4th year of living there. Enjoy, I really love this country, it's not my motherland but Vilnius is the only place in the world I always miss and want to come back.