Want to avoid last-minute ATM runs. Do most hostels in Lithuania take card payments at check-in
In Lithuania, I didn’t once need to scramble for an ATM. Every hostel I stayed at accepted card at check-in. Vilnius especially is digital-first - contactless is everywhere. SEB and Luminor ATMs are available, but really just for emergencies. If your goal is to avoid last-minute ATM runs, Lithuania is a safe bet. Hostels are modern, and card payments are standard across the board.
Lithuania is one of the easiest countries in the Baltics for cashless travel. My Vilnius hostel and the one in Kaunas both had smooth card terminals. Even in Šiauliai, the hostel had no problem charging me by card. Swedbank ATMs are around if you do need cash, but it’s rare. To answer your question straight - yes, most hostels take cards, and you can skip the ATM hassle here.
When I stayed at a hostel in Vilnius Old Town, they encouraged card payment and said hardly anyone uses cash anymore. In Klaipėda, my hostel also had no problem taking Visa. Lithuania is part of the eurozone, so no weird currency hurdles. ATMs are all over the city, but honestly, I hardly needed them. To avoid last-minute runs, just carry a backup €20, but 99% of hostels will let you pay by card.
Lithuania is very card-friendly overall. In Vilnius, my hostel near Gediminas Avenue took my Revolut card without hesitation. Even in Kaunas, smaller hostels accepted cards. I only needed cash for local markets and buses. ATMs from Swedbank and SEB are everywhere, so withdrawals aren’t stressful. If you want to avoid ATM runs altogether, you actually can here - hostels almost always process card payments at check-in without issue.