How to buy a bus ticket in Vilnius
You can buy a Vilnius bus or trolleybus ticket three ways: tap a contactless bank card on board, use the m.Ticket app, or load tickets onto a Vilniečio (JUDU) card. The same ticket works on buses and trolleybuses.
Vilnius public transport is run by JUDU (Susisiekimo paslaugos). There are no paper tickets and you cannot pay the driver in cash — everything is contactless.
The three ways to buy
1. Tap your bank card (easiest for one trip)
Board through any door, hold your contactless bank card or phone against the green validator, and a 60-minute ticket is charged automatically. No app, no registration. The catch: you pay the full adult fare and get no student discount.
2. The m.Ticket app (best for most students)
Download m.Ticket (iOS/Android), enter your bank card once, and buy tickets in seconds. No account needed.
- Choose a 30- or 60-minute ticket and buy it.
- On board, open the app and activate the ticket — it goes live about 15 seconds after you confirm.
- If an inspector boards, tap "Prepare for inspection" to show a scannable code.
You can hold several tickets at once and even pass an unactivated one to a friend's phone number.
3. Vilniečio (JUDU) card (best if you stay a while)
A reusable plastic card you top up with tickets. It costs €1.50 and is the only way to register a student discount (see below).
Where to buy the card
What it costs
Prices below are from JUDU and current as of 2026 — confirm the latest on the JUDU ticket prices page.
| Ticket | Standard | With student discount |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | €1.00 | €0.50 |
| 60 minutes | €1.25 | €0.63 |
| 1 day (24h) | €7.50 | from €1.50 |
| 30 days | €38.00 | from €7.60 |
| 90 days | €110.00 | from €22.00 |
A 30- or 60-minute ticket lets you change buses and trolleybuses freely within the time window — you don't need a new ticket for each leg.
Always validate
A ticket only counts once activated on board — even one you bought in advance.
- Card: tap the validator, pick the ticket type on screen, tap again, wait for the beep.
- App: activate the ticket before or as you board.
- Bank-card tap: the tap itself is your validation.
No valid ticket = a fine
The student discount
Students get a substantial discount (50% on most time-based tickets, more on longer passes), but you must prove eligibility with a recognised student card:
- A Lithuanian student card (LSP/LSIC) — available to full-degree EU and non-EU students; or
- An ISIC card.
A foreign university's own student certificate and EURO26 are not accepted. Non-EU students with a Lithuanian residence permit who study at a recognised institution qualify on the same terms as local students.
How to set it up
- Get your LSP/LSIC or ISIC card.
- Find your JUDU card's 9–10 digit number (tap it on a validator and choose "Card information", or check a receipt).
- Register the discount — tell the seller when topping up, or register the card number with JUDU — then buy discounted tickets.
Erasmus & exchange students
Frequently asked
Can I just tap my bank card on the bus?+
Yes. Tap a contactless card or phone on the green validator and a 60-minute ticket is charged automatically. It is the simplest option for a one-off trip, but you don't get the student discount this way.
Do I need to validate a ticket I already paid for?+
Yes — every ticket must be activated on board, even one bought in advance in the app or loaded on a card. Tap the validator or activate in the app at the start of your trip. Travelling without a valid, activated ticket risks a fine.
How do students get the discount?+
You need a recognised student card — a Lithuanian student card (LSP/LSIC) or an ISIC. Register its number with JUDU, then buy discounted tickets on your Vilniečio card or in the app.
Are Erasmus and exchange students eligible for the discount?+
It depends on the card you hold. An ISIC is widely accepted; a foreign university's own student certificate and EURO26 are not. Check eligibility for your exact situation on the JUDU discounts page before you rely on it.
Does one ticket cover buses and trolleybuses?+
Yes. A time-based ticket (30 or 60 minutes) works on any Vilnius bus or trolleybus and allows transfers within that window.