Lithuania

Lithuania is the southernmost of the three Baltic states, a country of vast forests, lakes, and a dramatic Baltic Sea coastline with the famous Curonian Spit sand dunes. The capital Vilnius boasts one of Europe's largest and best-preserved Baroque old towns, while the Hill of Crosses, Trakai Island Castle, and the Soviet-era sculpture park of Grūtas Park offer layers of compelling history. Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 and has since become a dynamic EU member with a thriving tech sector.

Lithuania is mostly flat or gently rolling, with the highest point only 294 m (Aukštojas Hill). The landscape is a patchwork of forests, lakes (over 3,000), and rivers (Neris, Nemunas). The Curonian Spit is a 98-km sand dune peninsula separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. The climate is temperate continental/humid continental, with cold winters (-3 to -10°C) and warm summers (18–25°C).

May–September is the best time — warm, green, and festival-packed. June 24 is Joninės (Midsummer). July–August is peak season on the Curonian Spit (Nida, Palanga). December has cosy Christmas markets in Vilnius.

Lithuania is a Schengen Area member. EU/EEA/Swiss, US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many other citizens can stay visa-free for 90 days in any 180-day period. Others need a Schengen visa.

Currency: Euro (EUR). Daily budgets: budget (€35–55), mid-range (€60–100), luxury (€150+). Cards widely accepted. Tipping 10%.

By air: Vilnius Airport (VNO), Kaunas (KUN), and Palanga (PLQ) serve the country. Ryanair and Wizz Air connect to many European cities. By land: Buses and trains from Warsaw (via the new Rail Baltica link), Riga, Tallinn, Minsk, and Kaliningrad. Cross-border trains from Warsaw to Vilnius via Kaunas.

By train: Lithuanian Railways (LTG Link) connects major cities. Vilnius–Kaunas (~1 hr). By bus: Extensive network, especially to smaller towns. By car: Good motorways (A1 Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda). Roads in better condition than Latvia or Estonia.

Lithuanians are reserved but sincere. Greetings: handshake. Remove shoes indoors. The country is predominantly Catholic. Bring flowers (odd numbers) when invited. Lithuanian is the state language — one of the oldest living Indo-European languages. English is common among younger people. Never compliment someone's coat — they might feel obliged to give it to you (an old custom).

Very safe. Lithuania has low crime rates. Emergency: 112. Tap water is safe. Beware of pickpockets on crowded public transport in Vilnius.

• Vilnius Region — the capital's UNESCO Old Town, the bohemian Užupis Republic, and the Trakai Castle on Lake Galvė.
• Aukštaitija — the Lake District (national park of the same name), with up to 200 lakes, hilltop castles, and traditional wooden villages.
• Samogitia (Žemaitija) — the western highlands, with the Hill of Crosses, the Samogitian National Park, and the cold-war museum at Plokštinė missile base.
• Suvalkija — the agricultural and historical region of southern Lithuania, with the Marijampolė region and the Vištytis Lake on the border with Russia.
• Lithuanian Coast — Palanga (bustling seaside resort), the Curonian Spit (Nida, Pervalka, Juodkrantė), and Klaipėda port city.

• Vilnius — the UNESCO-listed Old Town with baroque churches, Gediminas Tower, the Gate of Dawn, the Palace of the Grand Dukes, and the bohemian Užupis Republic.
• Trakai — a 14th-century island castle on Lake Galvė, one of the most picturesque castles in Eastern Europe.
• Kaunas — Lithuania's second city, the interwar capital with the Kaunas Castle, the Čiurlionis National Art Museum, and fortress remnants.
• Hill of Crosses (Kryžių Kalnas) — a pilgrimage site near Šiauliai covered with thousands of crosses, a symbol of Lithuanian resistance.
• Nida (Curonian Spit) — a resort village with the Parnidis Dune (52 m), the Thomas Mann Museum, and amber jewellery.
• Klaipėda — the port city with a German-influenced old town, the Sea Museum and Dolphinarium, and ferry connections.
• Palanga — Lithuania's most popular seaside resort, with the Amber Museum in the Tyszkiewicz Palace, a long pier, and a lively summer nightlife.
• Grūtas Park — a Soviet sculpture park near Druskininkai, housing statues of Lenin, Stalin, and other Soviet figures — a macabre open-air museum.
• Kernavė — a UNESCO World Heritage site, the medieval capital of Lithuania with preserved hillforts overlooking the Neris River valley.
• Druskininkai — a classic spa town with mineral waters, a water park, a winter sports centre, and the Čiurlionis house museum.