Long overlooked by French-speaking investors, Lithuania is quietly emerging as one of Europe’s most dynamic markets for short-term rentals. With rising tourist numbers, solid rental yields, a still-flexible regulatory framework, and a well-established professional management ecosystem, the country ticks many boxes for those looking to diversify their assets into the short-stay sector.
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the Lithuanian market, including recent data, tourism statistics, and a city-by-city performance assessment for short-term rentals.
A Very Favorable Tourism Context
To understand the potential of short-term rentals in Lithuania, one must first look at the dynamics of tourism. Despite successive shocks (pandemic, regional geopolitical context), the country shows a robust recovery and a diversification of its clientele.
Over 2.6 million tourists stayed in collective accommodations in Lithuania in the first eleven months of 2024.
Demand comes from both neighboring markets and more distant countries. The main sources are Germany, Poland, Russia, Latvia, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Estonia, and Finland. In 2024, arrivals from Poland, Germany, and Latvia dominated (respectively 138,000, 126,000, and 106,000 tourists). Spectacular growth was observed from the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United States.
Lithuania was named by Lonely Planet as one of the world’s best destinations to travel to. Vilnius has earned the titles of European Green Capital and European Christmas Capital. The arrival of the Michelin Guide, which has awarded several restaurants, strengthens the country’s culinary appeal.
Lonely Planet and European distinctions
In this context, the short-term rental segment – locally called trumpalaikė nuoma or poilsio būstas – benefits from a dual engine: growing foreign clientele and a very strong domestic tourism. According to nationally aggregated data, Lithuania has about 7,600 active short-term rental listings, with an average occupancy rate around 43% and a Revenue Per Available Property (RevPAR) of about 30 euros, across all areas.
A Profitable and Still Accessible Rental Market
From an investment perspective, Lithuania stands out for its high rental yields compared to many capitals and major cities in Western Europe. The country’s average gross rental yield was around 6.3% in Q2 2025, after 6.46% a year earlier. Net, you need to subtract about 1.5 to 2 percentage points to account for expenses, rental income tax, and operating costs.
Comparison of Yields and Prices by Major City
Available data shows significant disparities between cities, which may interest different investor profiles.
| City | Average Price per m² (€) | Annual Price Change | Average Gross Rental Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vilnius | 2,768 | +5.8% | ≈ 4.9–6.0% |
| Kaunas | 1,926 | +8.4% | ≈ 5.84% |
| Klaipėda | 1,816 | +7.6% | ≈ 6.16% |
| Šiauliai | 1,212 | +7.2% | ≈ 8.22% |
| Panevėžys | 1,192 | +8.1% | ≈ 7–9% |
Vilnius offers the highest liquidity, a deep market, and a very dynamic economic environment, but with higher prices and slightly compressed yields. At the other end, Šiauliai and Panevėžys show very accessible prices and yields that can exceed 8%, albeit at the cost of a shallower market and potentially slower resale.
For short-term rentals, these underlying trends are essential. They indicate the structural market developments.
– In major cities, short-term rental can be used to boost the yield of a relatively expensive but highly liquid property;
– In secondary cities, short-term rental can compensate for structurally more limited long-term demand by targeting tourist flows and short-stay visitors.
A Relatively Favorable Tax and Economic Environment
On the tax front, rental income in Lithuania is subject to a flat tax of 15% on net income (after deduction of eligible expenses). Property tax generally varies between 0.5% and 3% of the cadastral value, with most residential properties below the 1% mark. Average mortgage interest rates are around 5.6%, in a context of rising wages and decelerating inflation.
For a foreign investor, the actual profitability of a short-term rental project will depend mainly on the following parameters: applicable local taxation, management and maintenance costs, the volatility and seasonality of tourist demand, as well as currency exchange fees and any legal restrictions for non-residents.
– The ability to optimize occupancy during peak demand periods;
– Control over operating costs (cleaning, management, maintenance);
– And the chosen financing method (equity, local loan, borrowing from the country of origin).
The combination of high gross yields, clear taxation, and still reasonable prices puts Lithuania in an enviable position compared to many mature markets, where yields have often fallen below 4%.
A Well-Established Professional Management Ecosystem
The short-term rental market in Lithuania is not a fledgling one: a structured professional management offering has developed in major cities and resorts.
Several players have specialized in full-service management of short-term properties, including Cohost.lt, Innorental, RENT Vilnius, and COME2rest, while Ober-Haus focuses more on long-term management. These companies target both resident individuals and investors who do not live on-site or do not wish to handle day-to-day operations.
Their promise is twofold: maximize income while turning the property into a source of passive income. Concretely, their services cover the entire value chain:
Discover the full range of key services for comprehensive and stress-free management of your short-term rental property.
Analysis of rental potential and revenue estimation to optimize your investment.
Professional photo shoot, creation of optimized listings, and distribution on major platforms (Airbnb, Booking, etc.) with dynamic pricing.
Centralized management of the calendar, bookings, and communication with travelers.
Organization of cleaning, linen supply, restocking of consumables, and management of check-in/check-out (smart locks, safes).
Performance of minor works and coordination of more significant repairs to keep the property in perfect condition.
Complete administrative management: collection of the tourist tax and preparation of tax returns (income tax, VAT).
In some cases, these managers operate on a subletting model: they sign a contract with the owner, operate the property in their own name, and handle all tax obligations themselves, with the owner merely validating the prepared declarations. Commissions typically range around 25% of generated revenue for short-term rentals, while long-term management is priced at around 10% of the rent.
The professionalization of the financial market offers several advantages to the investor, including better transparency of information, increased regulation to protect players, and improved price efficiency, which facilitates informed investment decisions and reduces the risks of information asymmetry.
– Quick and efficient rental setup, even remotely;
– Better price optimization through data analysis and pricing algorithms;
– Reduced operational risk (vacancy periods, issues with travelers, tax disputes);
– The possibility to combine seasonal and long-term rental, for example by renting out for a few months on a short-term basis and then switching to a standard lease during the low season.
Where to Invest in Short-Term Rentals in Lithuania?
Performance analysis data from specialized platforms clearly shows that the country is not limited to Vilnius. Several regional markets offer very attractive profiles for short-stay rentals.
Ranking of Main Short-Term Rental Markets
An analysis report evaluated fourteen Lithuanian short-term rental markets, taking into account the number of listings, average monthly revenue, daily rates, and occupancy rates.
| Rank | City / Region | Approx. No. of Properties | Avg. Monthly Revenue ($) | Avg. Daily Rate ($) | Avg. Occupancy Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vilnius | 1,508 | 901.7 | 91.1 | 40.8% |
| 2 | Palanga | 829 | 467.1 | 118.3 | 25.4% |
| 3 | Kaunas | 657 | 724.6 | 78.3 | 38.1% |
| 4 | Klaipėda | 421 | 539.9 | 88.2 | 32.5% |
| 5 | Neringa | 238 | 557.5 | 126.1 | 29.4% |
| 6 | Druskininkai | 129 | 562.7 | 106.5 | 25.0% |
| 7 | Šiauliai | 106 | 470.4 | 62.1 | 33.1% |
| 8 | Panevėžys | 51 | 374.3 | 57.9 | 28.8% |
| 9 | Birštonas | 27 | 698.3 | 89.7 | 31.0% |
| 10 | Svencelė | 26 | 506.7 | 148.9 | 24.0% |
| 11 | Trakai | 22 | 470.3 | 125.2 | 23.4% |
| 12 | Visaginas | 21 | 328.6 | 46.7 | 32.5% |
| 13 | Anykščiai | 19 | 288.4 | 85.0 | 17.8% |
| 14 | Kintai | 18 | 251.3 | 88.3 | 20.7% |
All these markets are currently classified under a regulatory category considered “low” or “lenient,” which gives investors interesting room for maneuver, while requiring vigilance regarding the likely evolution of rules at the European level in the coming years.
Focus Vilnius: The Market Engine
Vilnius combines several assets: political and economic capital, technology hub, booming tourist destination, and leading university city. This mix of demand (leisure tourists, business travelers, students, expatriates, digital nomads) creates a very solid foundation for short-term rentals.
Analysis of short-term listing data shows an already dense market, with over 1,500 active listings. Performance is marked by strong seasonality, but a high level of demand for a large part of the year.
Over a recent period, the best-positioned properties (top 10%) exceeded $2,300 in monthly revenue, with occupancy rates that could surpass 80%. The median group is around $1,000 in monthly revenue, with an occupancy rate close to 43%. The high season concentrates in the summer, especially August, where average revenue peaks around $1,700 monthly and an occupancy rate nearing 54%, with a daily rate close to $100.
During the low season (January to March), occupancy declines (around 36%) but remains far from a complete collapse, thanks in part to business clientele and domestic travel. Flexibility in stay duration is another notable feature: about one-third of listings have a minimum of 30 nights, which allows combining short-term rental and medium-term stays (coliving, extended professional stays, students).
For an investor, Vilnius thus offers a balanced cocktail:
– A structured, transparent market, with abundant data;
– Demand driven by several segments (tourism, business, students, expatriates);
– Good resilience to shocks, as evidenced by the rapid recovery after the health crisis.
Kaunas: University City and Booming Hub
Kaunas, the country’s second city, benefits from a hybrid profile: a major university city, an industrial and technology hub, and a stopover point for tourists exploring the country’s center. For short-term rentals, figures show about 660 active listings, with a median monthly revenue around $700 to $900 and an occupancy rate near 38 to 41% depending on the period.
Detailed performance analysis highlights a highly segmented market:
– Best-managed properties can exceed 78% occupancy and a daily rate over $110;
– The median revolves more around 37% occupancy, with an average rate close to $65.
The structure of the rental stock is also instructive. In Kaunas, over 90% of listings are for entire homes, mostly apartments, and nearly 70% are studios or one-bedroom units. Most properties accommodate 2 to 4 people, which corresponds well to the target clientele (couples, small groups, small families, traveling professionals).
The booking calendar shows an average advance booking time of about 35 days, longer in summer and shorter in winter, which allows owners to practice dynamic pricing and smooth out vacancy risk.
For an investor wishing to diversify outside the capital, Kaunas thus presents several interests:
Compared to Vilnius, real estate in Kaunas offers a significantly lower price per square meter, higher gross yields, and more diversified rental demand, supported by the presence of universities and companies, and thus less dependent solely on leisure tourism.
Klaipėda, Palanga, and Neringa: The Coastline and the Summer Season
The Lithuanian coastline is one of the pillars of the tourist season. Palanga is often called the country’s “summer capital”, while Klaipėda, a Baltic port, plays a key role in stays combining beach, maritime heritage, and getaways to the Curonian Spit (Neringa).
Performance figures reflect this strong seasonality. In Palanga, revenue from short-term rental platforms averages over $1,400 per month during the summer period (June-August), with a daily rate around $130 and an occupancy rate near 34%. In the low season (winter), average monthly revenue contracts to around $480 and occupancy falls to just over 17%.
In Klaipėda, the dynamic is similar but with a slightly more extended season. The high season allows for average revenues of around $1,300 per month, with an occupancy rate above 43% and a daily rate close to $100. Even in the off-season (January-March), occupancy remains near 30%, thanks to the presence of an active port, universities, and industrial companies.
Neringa, on the Curonian Spit, clearly positions itself in a higher-end segment. The number of properties is more limited (about 240), but the average daily rates exceed $120, with strong summer occupancy. The protected and classified nature of the area (UNESCO site, national park) creates a structural scarcity of supply, which benefits investors positioned in this market.
These coastal markets, however, require fine-tuned management:
To optimize the profitability of a seasonal activity, three axes are essential: focus price optimization on the high season (summer), which generates the bulk of revenue; develop offers for off-peak periods (wellness stays, remote work, events) to smooth out income; and rigorously control fixed costs (utilities, maintenance) during months of low occupancy.
Druskininkai and Birštonas: The Year-Round Wellness Bet
Beyond the coastline, Lithuania has made a name for itself in wellness tourism, with four officially recognized resorts: Birštonas, Druskininkai, Neringa, and Palanga. Druskininkai and Birštonas, in particular, offer a very interesting profile for short-term rentals.
Druskininkai is described as a year-round rest and health destination. The town welcomes patients to its spa establishments, but also vacationers attracted by an indoor ski complex (Snow Arena) and numerous spas. Apartments located in the city center, near healthcare facilities, are in high demand. It is indicated that short-term rental there ensures stable occupancy, widely covering maintenance costs and delivering a comfortable yield.
Birštonas, smaller, is nonetheless dynamic, with growing tourist activity. Available figures show an average monthly revenue of about $700 for short-term rentals, with an occupancy rate exceeding 30% and a daily rate near $90. The number of listings there is still modest, leaving room for new entrants, especially since regulation is considered not very restrictive.
For an investor interested in short-term rentals, these wellness resorts offer several advantages:
– Demand less dependent on the summer period alone;
– A clientele often willing to pay a bit more for a good level of comfort (well-equipped apartments, proximity to spas);
– The possibility to target both foreign tourists and a significant domestic clientele (about 70% of Lithuanians say they prefer to spend their vacations in the country).
Increasingly Diversified Demand
The rise of short-term rentals in Lithuania is also explained by the evolution of traveler behavior. Market analyses show that tourists are increasingly seeking “meaningful” experiences, wish to have a positive impact on the territories they visit, and increasingly favor destinations in Northern Europe, perceived as cooler and more sustainable.
This trend combines with the strong popularity of ecotourism and agritourism in Lithuania. The country is recognized as an ethical destination and actively promotes nature-based activities (hiking, cycling trails, birdwatching, thematic routes). Cycling trails, especially along the coast or the Nemunas River, are increasingly used.
Short-term rental is a flexible model that can be adapted to meet the needs of different target audiences.
Short-term rental for relaxation, discovery, or getaway stays, often located in attractive areas (coast, mountains, tourist cities).
Accommodation solutions for work stays, offering more space and comfort than a hotel, ideal for business trips or temporary assignments.
Temporary housing for people awaiting permanent housing, in professional relocation, or between leases.
Rental of large spaces or multiple properties to host family events (weddings, reunions) or groups of friends.
– Urban stays (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda) combining culture, gastronomy, and events;
– Beach or nature vacations on the coast and the Curonian Spit;
– Wellness getaways in Druskininkai, Birštonas, or other recognized resort areas;
– Nature tourism and thematic itineraries in regions like Anykščiai or Trakai.
Statistics also show a rise in short local trips, especially since the health crisis. In 2023, Lithuanian tourists made nearly 12.8 million trips, with an overwhelming majority being day trips, which also supports demand for short-term rentals in less-known locations.
A Still Flexible Regulatory Environment… But to be Watched
Currently, the regulation governing short-term rentals in Lithuania is considered overall “low” or “lenient” in major cities and tourist resorts. Investors therefore benefit from great flexibility, provided they comply with common lease law, condominium rules, taxation, and local taxes (notably the tourist tax).
New European Union rules aim to improve transparency, protect the residential housing market, and facilitate tax collection for short-term rentals. Some European tourist cities already apply strict measures, such as mandatory licenses, caps on nights, or bans in certain city centers.
Even if Lithuania remains in a favorable situation for now, it would be unwise to ignore this evolution. Platforms like Airbnb already provide guides for Lithuanian hosts, reminding them of the obligation to comply with local laws, declare income, and respect condominium, lease, and urban planning rules.
For owners using professional managers, part of this regulatory risk is mitigated, as these companies monitor developments and manage the collection and declaration of taxes (income tax, VAT, municipal tourist tax).
Professionalization, Tools, and Marketing Strategies
The landscape of short-term rentals in Lithuania is part of the global digitalization movement in the sector. The main marketing channels are international platforms (notably Airbnb, Booking.com), supplemented by more targeted portals like Priejuros.lt for the coast.
The most successful managers and owners implement multi-platform strategies, supported by channel management software that unifies calendars, rates, and bookings across dozens of sites. Rates are adjusted via dynamic pricing tools that analyze booking trends, demand peaks, local events, and purchasing behavior to adapt nightly prices in real time.
With one of the highest smartphone penetration rates in Europe and a population very active on social media, digital marketing offers significant opportunities.
Capitalize on one of the highest smartphone ownership rates in Europe for targeted and interactive campaigns.
Engage a population active on major platforms like Facebook and Instagram with tailored content.
Develop a visual presence and influencer marketing on Instagram to reach a broad and engaged audience.
– Targeted campaigns on specific segments (e.g., Finnish or Polish travelers sensitive to nature and safe stays);
– Collaborations with local influencers to promote accommodations or destinations;
– Creation of direct booking websites, which reduce dependency on major platforms and lower commission fees.
In this context, investors who entrust their property to companies like COME2rest or Innorental often benefit from access to these tools and strategies without having to master all the intricacies themselves.
Risk Management and Geographic Diversification
Even though indicators are largely favorable, investing in short-term rentals in Lithuania is not without risks. The main pitfall is the marked seasonality of flows, particularly on the coast, where a large portion of revenue is concentrated in a few summer months. Extreme weather events or travel restrictions can severely disrupt these crucial periods.
Dependence on certain clienteles (e.g., immediate neighbors like Poland or Germany) is also a point of attention, even though geographic diversification is progressing with the rise of markets like the United States, Benelux, or the Nordic countries.
To reduce these risks, several strategies are possible:
To optimize the profitability and resilience of a rental investment, it is advisable to diversify your portfolio across several cities and segments (e.g., an urban studio in Vilnius, an apartment in Druskininkai, and a property on the coast). It is also important to favor adaptable properties, suitable for both short and medium-term rental, to adjust strategy in case of regulatory changes. Finally, it is crucial to rely on professional managers with proven experience in low-season management and a varied clientele (leisure, business, health, events).
Yield figures also show that the best performances are not found only in the capital or on the coast, but also in secondary cities like Šiauliai or Panevėžys, where low prices and local demand ensure attractive gross yields, sometimes exceeding 8%.
Conclusion: A Market with High Potential, But to be Approached Methodically
The opportunities for short-term rental in Lithuania rely on a bundle of factors rarely found together in the same country:
The Croatian real estate market presents several strengths: growing tourist numbers, driven by foreign visitors and strong domestic tourism; rental yields above the European average, with still reasonable prices per m²; a currently flexible regulatory framework, though to be monitored in light of European rules; a well-structured professional management offering for turnkey operation; and an economy with robust fundamentals (growth, employment, wages, and immigration).
For a French-speaking investor interested in diversification abroad, Lithuania therefore offers particularly interesting ground, provided they:
To succeed in a real estate investment in Lithuania, it is crucial to: carefully choose the local market(s) (Vilnius for depth and liquidity, Kaunas for value for money, Klaipėda and Palanga for seasonal beach rentals, Druskininkai or Birštonas for year-round wellness, Šiauliai or Panevėžys for yield); surround yourself with local players (managers, tax advisors, agents) who master the subtleties of the market and regulations; and build a realistic business model, integrating seasonality, taxation, management costs, and the necessary investments to meet the quality standards expected by an international clientele.
In a European context where many short-term rental markets are maturing or facing very strict regulations, Lithuania appears as a market in strong growth, still open, but already sufficiently structured to allow for informed investment decisions based on robust data. For those who know how to combine legal prudence, operational rigor, and a long-term vision, the prospects are particularly promising.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. We encourage you to consult qualified experts before making any investment, real estate, or expatriation decisions. Although we strive to maintain up-to-date and accurate information, we do not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the proposed content. As investment and expatriation involve risks, we disclaim any liability for potential losses or damages arising from the use of this site. Your use of this site confirms your acceptance of these terms and your understanding of the associated risks.