LITHUANIA
A spellbinding land of majestic churches, forests and lakes
with the cuisine of 100 potato dishes
TRAVEL GUIDE TO LITHUANIA- Europe’s Best Kept Secret
Lithuania (my home country) is still to be discovered Eastern European gem. Since many heard little to nothing about this off-beaten path country, it is often titled as Europe’s “best-kept secret”. Many travelers treat visit to Lithuania only as a stopover at its capital Vilnius. However, there is so much more to explore in this incredible Baltic State.
Here I will guide you through the most magnificent places in Lithuania and highlight all the goodness it has to offer. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself falling in love with this little marvel far off on the edge of Europe.
Visiting Lithuania, you have majestic nature and rich culture packed up in a very compact piece of land. That also makes travelling and exploring much more time efficient compared to bigger or stretched out countries. The longest drive you would probably take is from Vilnius to the seaside which is only 3 hours by car.
Visiting Lithuania: things to know before you go and what to expect?
Lithuania became open to the outer world fairly recently (over 25 years ago) after claiming back its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990s. Travelling to and outside Lithuania became much easier after joining European Union in 2004 and becoming a part of the Shengen Area. Slowly but steady Lithuania is getting recognition of being
one of the most advanced and modern European countries.
Spectacular Natural Wanders, Rich Culture and Architecture
Covered with lush green lands, deep forests, thousands of serene lakes, a maze of rivers and a gorgeous Baltic Sea Lithuania is a nature lovers paradise. Hiking, cycling, water sports, camping, theme adventure parks, even skiing in winter- is just a few outdoor activities to enjoy throughout the year.
Lithuania is a home for arts and complex culture. Its architectural heritage is marvelous and unique due to so many styles accumulated over the centuries. City lovers will fall in love with Vilnius- a Unesco-listed Baroque old-town and its many quirky little streets.
Those who wish to travel in time will find majestic castles and fascinating old wooden villages scattered all around the country. Many of those old settlements will leave a curious visitor feeling like in a medieval movie setting.
There are also plenty of Soviet remains to take a glimpse at in the outskirts of the major cities Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda and other smaller towns. Visiting one of the post-soviet apartment blocks will get you an idea what life looked like back in the days of USSR. Nevertheless, communist influence is vanishing fast with the new generation growing up and picking up the Western world lifestyle.
A hundred ways with a potato
Potato is both a queen and a king in Lithuanian cuisine. We, Lithuanians are very creative when it comes to this simple and cheap vegetable. I bet you won’t find many countries that use potato as much as we do. It’s like rice for Asians basically. Potato dumplings (“Cepelinai”), potato pancakes (and all their variations), potato pie, mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, dumplings stuffed with potatoes, potato salad, I can go on an on… And it’s all super delicious and fatty!
Apart from the potato kingdom, you will find all the variety of black bread, pastries, seasonal vegetables and fruit, meat and fish, highest quality milk and cheese products. To sum up, food in Lithuanian is GOOD!
WHat to visit IN LITHUANIA?
QUICK TIPS for travelers to Lithuania
COVID-19 Travel Update:
Travelers who are coming from the countries where incidence rate is less than 25 cases per 100,000 population in the last 14 days, are not required to self-quarantine. Foreigners arriving in the Republic of Lithuania from the affected countries (where COVID-19 infection reaches 25 cases per 100 thousand population) will be required to have a negative result of a coronavirus infection test taken within the last three days. They will also have to follow the requirements established by the State Commander of National Emergency Operations. Latest official information about travel regulations to Lithuania are available on the website of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and here.
How much does it cost to travel in Lithuania?
Good news is that it is still cheaper than most of the tourist hits in Europe which makes travel in Lithuania a great choice even for budget travelers. You can still enjoy a comfortable vacation for the lower cost compared to France or Switzerland. However, it is only a matter of time when prices will catch up with the rest of the more explored European countries. Check the bullet points bellow to get an idea of the costs for major necessities while travelling around Lithuania:
ACCOMMODATION cost in Lithuania
TRANSPORTATION cost in Lithuania
FOOD cost in Lithuania
INTERNET cost in Lithuania
Internet in Lithuania is very cheap and fast- starting 1 EUR for a sim card with data and minutes. Basically Lithuania is Internet Kingdom- it ranked among the top 3 best internet providers globally. Wifi is nearly everywhere as well. There are some great roaming plans available for tourists as well.
Is Lithuania safe to travel?
In general, Lithuania is a safe country to travel to. It is advisable to avoid dodgy clubs and bars with drunk people as those might be the potential trouble makers.
Moreover, Lithuania is completely sheltered from any natural disasters.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
I recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Lithuania, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
POSTS ABOUT LITHUANIA
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