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Lithuania

Lithuania, the southernmost country of the Baltics, is a land of contrasts. The capital of the country, Vilnius, is a mixture of modern and old, where the remaining few signs of the dismal Soviet past emphasize the beauty of the modern architecture. Contrarily, the modernization has barely started in the countryside.The advantages of Lithuania include its beautiful, uncharted nature characterized by the endless forests and lakes as well as the Curonian Spit. The hospitality of the locals makes it easy to travel in Lithuania – and if you happen to know the name of a Lithuanian basketball player, you’re guaranteed to earn a special place in their hearts.

Gediminas Hill - Vilnius
The views from the top of Gediminas Hill in Vilnius.

Holiday destinations in Lithunia

Lithuania is the most populous of the Baltic states, with 2.8 million inhabitants, offering destinations for both a short city break and a longer nature holiday. The capital, Vilnius, is Lithuania's most popular destination, with attractions, restaurants, and nightlife that stand out. As an added bonus near Vilnius is Trakai Castle, which you shouldn’t leave off your list of places to visit.

Trakai Castle - Lithuania
Trakai Castle is surrounded by Lake Galvė.

Kaunas is a bustling university hub and Lithuania’s second-largest city. The old Hanseatic city is full of beautiful architecture, making a weekend getaway fly by in no time.

Located on the southwestern coast, Klaipeda is rich in fascinating history, dating back to a time when it was part of East Prussia. Klaipeda also serves as the gateway to the sand dunes of the Curonian Spit, where the stunning beaches attract locals and international visitors alike during the summer. Thirty kilometers north of Klaipeda lies Palanga, Lithuania’s best-known beach resort, which also has its own international airport.

Curonian Spit - Lithuania
The UNESCO-listed Curonian Spit offers miles of beautiful fine sandy beaches.

Basic information about Lithuania

PopulationApprox. 2.8 m.
CapitalVilnius
LanguageLithuanian
EU countryYes
Schengen countryYes
Plug typeC (European model)
CurrencyEuro
Time ZoneGMT +2 (2 hours ahead of UK)

Weather and when to travel

The best time to visit Lithuania is during the summer months, which is also when destinations in the southern parts of Europe are often unbearably hot. In summer, the highest daily temperatures are between 20-30 °C. The summer season takes place between the months of June and August, with July and August the warmest of them. The temperature of seawater approaches 20 °C only as late as in July.

The summerlike weather continues until Mid-September, but towards the end of the month, the daily highs begin to drop to about 10-15 °C. In October, the temperatures continue to decline, and towards the Christmas, the daytime temperatures approach 0 °C.

The coldest months of the year are January and February. You can also expect snow during those months. The highest daily temperatures vary between 0 and -10 °C.

Snow begins to melt away during March as the temperatures rise above zero degrees. In April, the daily highs increase to about 10 °C. The sunny days of April are excellent for a visit in the Lithuanian towns of Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipeda.

Based on a survey by Eurostat in 2023, the price level of Lithuania is one of the cheapest on travel essentials, such as accommodation and restaurants. However, prices on clothing and shoes are slightly above the European average.

Safety

The travel safety risk level in Lithuania is low, based on an assessment made by the world's leading medical & travel security services company International SOS. There are some pickpocket thefts in Vilnius, and you should be careful in public places.

Roads are in pretty good condition, but locals tend to drive fast with short trailing distances. Moreover, in two-lane roads, it is common to overtake so that the opposing traffic makes room by going farther towards their side of the road.

Destination guides in Lithuania

Klaipeda, Lithuania

Klaipeda on the southwestern coast of Lithuania is a mixture of Lithuania and Central Europe, which is due to the history of the town as a part of East-Prussia. A visit to Klaipeda can be combined with a beach holiday with ease, since the fine beaches of the Curonian Spit are just a stone's throw away.

Read more: Klaipeda

Vilnius, Lithuania

The bohemian Republic of Užupis, the Jewish quarters of the Old Town or the Gediminas hill are just a few examples of the great attractions that Vilnius conceals. The rapidly modernizing capital of Lithuania is currently one the trendiest holiday destinations.

Read more: Vilnius

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