From 1 August, Kaunas introduces a new feature in its public transport system: passengers can now pay using contactless bank cards or smart devices with NFC functionality.
This is another step in modernising the city’s transport infrastructure and ensuring a smooth and convenient travel experience for both residents and visitors.
Easy for Tourists and Locals
From 1 August, contactless readers on public transport will accept Mastercard and VISA bank cards. This new option complements existing ticketing methods – the mobile app and the Žiogas electronic card.
It gives passengers greater flexibility and makes public transport more accessible to both local residents and visitors.
How Does It Work?
When boarding a bus or trolleybus, simply tap your contactless Mastercard or VISA card, or any linked smart device – phone, smartwatch, ring, etc. – on the validator.
A contactless ticket costs €1 and is valid for one person for the duration of the route (until the final stop). No discounts apply. It does not allow transfers within 30 minutes. Only one ticket can be purchased per card or device.
Important Tips for Passengers
Always remove your card from your wallet, bag, or phone case before tapping – the same applies to the Žiogas card.
If a device contains multiple contactless cards and they’re tapped together, the validator might not detect the correct card, reject the transaction, or charge the wrong one.
A successful payment is confirmed with a sound and a green screen displaying “One-time – Paid”. A red screen indicates failure – in this case, try again or purchase a ticket using a different method.
Ticket Checks
During inspections, passengers must present the same card or device used to purchase the ticket. Controllers will scan it using a special reader. If you paid with your phone, show the back of the phone to the controller.
Important: If you purchased the ticket with a smart device, ensure its battery is sufficiently charged throughout the journey – you are responsible for being able to present your ticket. Connectivity or battery issues are the passenger’s responsibility.
If the same card or device is tapped again during the trip, the validator will show the ticket status – no additional charge will be made.
Cash payments to the driver are still possible in Kaunas, but priority is given to convenient, fast, and contactless solutions.
More information about public transport in Kaunas and all the useful links here.
