Public transport in Vilnius to be free during NATO summit

VILNIUS – Public transport in Vilnius will be free before, during and after the NATO summit on July 10-13, the Vilnius authorities decided on Wednesday.

It says the decision is aimed at making it easier for Vilnius residents and visitors to reached their intended destinations during the NATO summit and also compensating for the inconvenience caused by traffic restrictions.

Traffic and movement restrictions during the NATO summit will cover the Old Town, Vilnius Airport, certain areas of the Naujamiestis area, as well as the areas around the LITEXPO exhibition and convention center.

Some areas or streets will be closed completely and some will be closed temporarily, and residents are invited to check more detailed information as the meeting approaches.

People will be able to move by foot only in restricted areas as they will be closed to all vehicles, including bicycles and e-scooters. Residents and businesses are urged to make the necessary arrangements in advance. The restrictions will be put in place for security reasons in accordance with a protocol provided by NATO.

Car traffic in Vilnius and public transport routes crossing central Vilnius will be also adjusted, and residents and guests are invited to use public transport.

Around 40 delegations from NATO member and partner countries are expected to attend the summit, and also more than 2,000 international media journalists and people involved in the summit's organization are expected to come to Vilnius. They will also be allowed to use public transport for free and will be required to provide an identification card with a special tag from Susisiekimo Paslaugos, the municipal public transport enterprise.

The Vilnius authorities estimate that up to 200,000 euros will be allocated to implement this decision.

For more information on the planned changes during the NATO summit is provided on the Vilnius municipality's website.