Highlights
Vilnius Old Town
The capital's UNESCO-listed old town is a maze of baroque churches, courtyards and cobbled lanes, from the Gates of Dawn chapel to Vilnius Cathedral and the hilltop Gediminas Tower. Its Jewish heritage, once so strong that the city was called the Jerusalem of the North, is marked by museums and memorials.
Užupis
An artists' quarter across the Vilnia river from the old town that declared itself a tongue-in-cheek independent republic in 1997. Its playful constitution is displayed on plaques in many languages along one street.
Trakai Island Castle
A red-brick Gothic castle on an island in Lake Galvė, about half an hour from Vilnius. Walk across the wooden bridge, rent a boat, and try kibinai, pastries of the Karaim community who have lived in Trakai for centuries.
Curonian Spit
A narrow sand spit between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon, shared with Russia's Kaliningrad region and listed by UNESCO. Pine forest, high drifting dunes such as Parnidis near Nida, and colourful fishermen's cottages make it the country's favourite summer escape.
Hill of Crosses
Near Šiauliai in the north, a hillock covered with crosses of every size, brought by pilgrims over generations. During the Soviet era it was bulldozed several times and each time the crosses returned.
Kaunas
Lithuania's second city was the temporary capital between the world wars, and its modernist buildings from that era are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It also has a castle at the meeting of two rivers, a lively student scene and the sobering Ninth Fort memorial.
Aukštaitija National Park
The country's oldest national park, in the north-east, is a patchwork of more than a hundred lakes linked by rivers, with wooden villages, an old watermill and canoe routes through the forest.
Druskininkai
A spa town in the south on the Neman river, known for mineral springs and wellness centres. Nearby Grūtas Park displays Soviet-era statues removed from towns across the country.
Interesting facts about Lithuania
- Lithuanian is one of the oldest living Indo-European languages and keeps grammatical features that linguists compare with ancient Sanskrit.
- Lithuania was the last country in Europe to officially adopt Christianity, in 1387; pagan traditions still colour festivals such as midsummer, called Joninės.
- In the 15th century the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was one of the largest states in Europe, stretching from the Baltic towards the Black Sea.
- Basketball is close to a national religion, and the men's team won Olympic bronze medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
- In 1989 French geographers calculated that the geographical centre of Europe lies just north of Vilnius, and a monument now marks the spot.
Best time to visit
Late May to early September brings the warmest weather and long evenings, the best time for the Curonian Spit, lakes and outdoor cafés. Midsummer around 24 June is celebrated with bonfires and singing across the country. September is quieter and still mild, with autumn colours following in October. Winters are cold and dark with frequent snow; Vilnius is atmospheric at Christmas, but much of the coast is closed. Spring warms slowly and can be wet.
Practical information
| Capital | Vilnius |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Languages | Lithuanian |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 112 (all emergencies) |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Around 10% in restaurants for good service is customary; taxis and cafés just need rounding up. |
Getting around
Vilnius and Kaunas have good bus and trolleybus networks, and both old towns are best on foot. Trains connect Vilnius with Kaunas, Klaipėda, Trakai and Šiauliai, and intercity buses fill the gaps between smaller towns. Ride-hailing is cheap and widely used in cities. To reach the Curonian Spit, take a short ferry from Klaipėda to Smiltynė, then a bus or bike south; cars pay an environmental fee to enter the national park. A car is the easiest way to explore the lakes and rural areas, and roads are generally good.
Staying connected in Lithuania
Lithuania has some of the fastest mobile internet in Europe, with strong 4G and 5G in cities and good coverage along main roads and in most towns. Coverage can weaken deep in forests, on lakes in Aukštaitija and in parts of the Curonian Spit, where networks near the Russian border may also behave unpredictably. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, hotels and public spaces in Vilnius. EU visitors can usually roam on their home plan; others should install an eSIM before they fly and switch it on when they land.
See Lithuania eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Lithuania
- Bolt: The main ride-hailing app in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda, also used for scooters and food delivery.
- Google Maps: Public transport routes in cities and cycling routes on the Curonian Spit.
- Google Translate: Handy for menus and signs outside the capital, where English is less common.