A second season of passenger river transport on the Neris River is set to begin soon in Vilnius, with longer routes and additional stops planned for 2026.
City residents and visitors will again be able to travel by electric boats, which were launched into the river in mid-April for technical trials. Passenger service is expected to begin in the coming days.
Four electric vessels – named Rytas (Morning), Lašiša (Salmon), Geležinis vilkas (Iron Wolf), and Smilga (Bentgrass) – will operate during the season, running approximately every 30 to 35 minutes.
According to the municipal public transport company JUDU, the route has been expanded this year to improve river-based transport options. The total route length will reach 7.9 kilometers.
The line will run from the Business Triangle area to Žirmūnai Beach, maintaining existing stops near Žvėrynas and the White, Green and King Mindaugas bridges, while adding two new stops at Šilo Bridge and Žirmūnai Beach.
A standard ticket will cost 3 euros, or 4 euros if purchased onboard. Students, schoolchildren, residents over 80 and other eligible groups will receive an 80% discount, paying 0.60 euros.
Single-use tickets will remain valid for 90 minutes. After completing a river journey, passengers may use the remaining time to transfer to buses or trolleybuses. Tickets will be available through a mobile app or via JUDU’s online self-service platform.
Each vessel will carry up to 32 passengers and be staffed by a two-person crew, consisting of a captain and a deckhand. The boats are designed to accommodate passengers with disabilities as well as cyclists. Indoor seating and climate control will be available during inclement weather.
The public procurement tender announced by Vilniaus Viešasis Transportas was awarded to Latvian shipbuilder SIA, part of the BIC group. The total contract value for the purchase and servicing of the four electric vessels is 1.85 million euros.
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