Overnight Stays and Loops Around Siauliai
Two or three nights in Šiauliai gives time for the city and a few of the sights around it. The city is about 215 km from Vilnius and 137 km from Riga, so it breaks the Baltic capitals journey neatly. This page sets out a short itinerary and some practical notes. Prices are in euros.
Travel times
| From | By | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vilnius | Train | about 2 h 5 min at best | about 11 to 20 EUR |
| Vilnius | Bus | about 3 to 3.5 h | see timetable |
| Riga | Bus | about 2 h 5 min to 2 h 20 min | about 7 to 18 EUR |
| Klaipėda | Train | about 2 to 2.5 h, around 5 a day | see timetable |
The official rail timetable is on ltglink.lt. The local airport is a NATO air base, so choose Riga, Kaunas, Palanga or Vilnius for flights. If you route through Vilnius, check your flight status first, as the airport has had closures since October 2025.
Night one: the city
Arrive and walk the pedestrian boulevard Vilniaus gatvė, then continue to Sundial Square and the cathedral. The cockerel clock performs at 18:00. On a weekday, the Aušra Museum branches (8 EUR for adults) and the Rūta chocolate museum on Tilžės g. 133 fit into the afternoon.
Day two: the Hill of Crosses and a regional outing
Visit the Hill of Crosses in the morning. It lies about 12 km north of the city, has more than 100,000 crosses and is a Catholic pilgrimage site, so it is a quiet and reflective stop. Entry is free. After that you can choose one of two routes:
- South and west: Kurtuvėnai Regional Park is 20 to 25 km west, and Tytuvėnai monastery and the Šiluva shrine lie 45 to 55 km south.
- North: Pakruojis Manor is 50 to 60 km north-east, and Žagarė Regional Park is further north near the Latvian border.
Day three: Rundāle Palace
Rundāle in Latvia is about 75 to 90 km away, roughly an hour and a quarter by car. Entry for the main exhibition was 12 EUR in 2025, and 17 EUR with the French garden. Because Latvia is in the Schengen area, no border check takes place, but bring ID. Continue to Riga afterwards, or return to Šiauliai.
Cycling and lakes
The tourist office promotes three cycle routes: Pabaliai to Lake Rėkyva, the paths around Talkša, and a ride to Bubiai Dam, which locals call the “Šiauliai sea”. A bike path of 1.8 km along Talkša opened in September 2025. Rėkyva, on the southern side of town, has a sandy beach, boating, kite and wind sports, and a bridge with an observation deck.
Extension: Telšiai
Telšiai is about 70 km west and makes a calm extra night in Samogitia. Its museum “Alka” reopened after restoration in 2024.
Notes
- Šiauliai Days, the city festival, is held in September.
- Ice can make paths slippery from December to March.
- The Tytuvėnai Pilgrims’ Centre keeps weekday hours.
Read more: outdoor activities in Siauliai and adventure tours .
Route ideas are on Visit Šiauliai , and Rundāle prices are on the palace website . To compare rooms, try Booking.com .