Multi-Day Plans from Siauliai
Šiauliai works well as a base for two or three nights. It lies on the rail and road line between Vilnius, 215 km to the south-east, and Riga, 137 km to the north, and it is the natural overnight stop between the two capitals. This page outlines three ways to use a longer stay. Prices are in euros.
Getting there and away
Fly into Riga, Kaunas, Palanga or Vilnius, because Šiauliai’s own airport is a military air base. From Vilnius the fastest train takes about 2 hours 5 minutes, slower services take 3 hours or more, and fares run from about 11 to 20 EUR. The bus takes roughly 3 to 3.5 hours. From Riga the bus takes about 2 hours 5 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes at roughly 7 to 18 EUR. Klaipėda is about 2 to 2.5 hours by train, with around five services a day. The bus terminal is at Tilžės g. 109, and timetables are on ltglink.lt.
Option 1: Baltic capitals stopover
Break the trip between Vilnius and Riga with a night in Šiauliai. Arrive in the afternoon, walk the pedestrian boulevard Vilniaus gatvė and Sundial Square, and see the Cockerel Clock at 18:00. The next morning visit the Hill of Crosses, 12 km north. It is a Catholic pilgrimage site with over 100,000 crosses, free to enter, and best approached quietly. Then continue to Rundāle Palace in Latvia on the way to Riga. The palace is roughly 75 to 90 km from Šiauliai, and its 2025 prices were 12 EUR for the main exhibition and 17 EUR with the French garden.
Option 2: Northern Lithuania loop, 3 days
- Day 1: the city, with the Aušra Museum branches (8 EUR adult), Rūta chocolate museum, Sundial Square and the lakeside at Talkša, then the Hill of Crosses in the afternoon.
- Day 2: either Kurtuvėnai Regional Park, Tytuvėnai Bernardine monastery and the Šiluva shrine to the south and west, or Pakruojis Manor and Žagarė Regional Park to the north.
- Day 3: Rundāle Palace in Latvia, with a return to Šiauliai or a continuation to Riga.
The Tytuvėnai Pilgrims’ Centre is open Monday to Thursday and shorter on Fridays, so schedule that stop on a weekday. Distances for these trips are on the page about day trips .
Option 3: Lake and cycling base
The city tourist office promotes three popular cycling routes: Pabaliai to Lake Rėkyva, the paths around Lake Talkša, and Šiauliai to Bubiai Dam, which locals call the “Šiauliai sea”. A 1.8 km bike path along Talkša opened in September 2025. Lake Rėkyva, on the south edge of the city, has a sandy beach, boating, kite and wind sports, and a bridge with an observation deck. The Talkša eco trail is 5 km with 19 information stops and ends at the Salduvė hillfort.
Optional: a night in Telšiai
Telšiai lies about 70 km west on Lake Mastis. It makes a quiet overnight in Samogitia, and the local museum “Alka” reopened after reconstruction in 2024.
Tips
- Šiauliai Days, the city’s birthday festival, falls in September.
- Winter paths can be icy from December to March.
- Aušra Museum admission is free on the last Sunday of each month.
Read more: activities in Siauliai and outdoor activities .
Route ideas come from Visit Šiauliai , and Rundāle prices are on the palace price list . Rooms can be compared on Booking.com .