LT
Siauliai
Lithuania’s “City of the Sun” and gateway to the Hill of Crosses
Lithuania’s “City of the Sun” and gateway to the Hill of Crosses
Crosses began appearing on this former hill fort after the uprisings of 1831 and 1863. During the Soviet era the site was bulldozed three times, yet people kept bringing crosses; estimates passed 100,000 by 2006. Pope John Paul II visited in 1993.
Bring a small cross or rosary to leave if you wish; the site is open around the clock.
Photo: Yamen, CC BY-SA 4.0
The white Renaissance cathedral with its tall spire is the city’s landmark, with a sundial on its wall reflecting the City of the Sun theme.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Vilniaus Street, the long pedestrian boulevard, is lined with cafés, shops and sculptures. The city has several quirky museums, including ones devoted to bicycles and cats.
Photo: Lazdynas, Public domain
Lithuanian staples such as cepelinai (potato dumplings), kugelis (potato pudding) and cold beetroot soup are easy to find on and around the boulevard.
Šiauliai is known for its chocolate factory, Rūta, which has a shop and museum.
Trains and buses link Šiauliai with Vilnius (around two and a half hours), Kaunas, Klaipėda and Riga. Vilnius and Kaunas airports are the nearest major airports.
Buses towards Joniškis stop near the turn-off for the Hill of Crosses; taxis are easy to arrange.
Lithuania uses the euro. Šiauliai is inexpensive.
The Hill of Crosses is free.
One day is enough for the city and the Hill of Crosses.
Visit the Hill of Crosses in the morning, then return for the cathedral, the boulevard and a museum.
Go early or late for a quieter visit.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Lithuania is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
The Hill of Crosses is a place of pilgrimage.
Easy by train from Vilnius or as a stop between Vilnius and Riga.
Visit the Rūta chocolate shop.
The Hill is a short detour off the Riga road.
Quick answers for planning time in Šiauliai.
About 12km north of the city.
Estimates exceeded 100,000 by 2006; the exact number is unknown.
By train or bus in around two and a half hours.
Yes, especially for the Hill of Crosses.
Yes, it is a common stop between Vilnius and Riga.
Planning a wider trip? Our Lithuania travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.