Eastern Europe - Travel To Lithuania

 

Rebellious, quirky and vibrant, Lithuania (Lietuva) is Europe's best-kept secret. Shoved successively between Russian pillar and Nazi post, tenacious little Lithuania stunned the world when it played David and Goliath with the might of the Soviet Union - and won its independence just over a decade ago. Today the nation that vanished from the maps of Europe is back with a vengeance: it's part of the EU, was the first of the 25 EU players to give the European Constitution a stamp of approval and is a fully fledged 'n' fighting partner of NATO - home no less to four F-16 military alliance jet fighters used to police Baltic skies.

This is a country with a colourful history, once boasting an empire stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Its raw pagan roots fuse with Catholic fervour - the Polish inheritance that sets it apart from its Baltic brothers - to create a land where Catholics and Orthodox mingle happily in the forest to pick wild berries and mushrooms from nature's altar. Its capital, Vilnius, is an incredibly small place (can this really be a capital city?) with astonishing contrasts - eerie shadowy courtyards, eccentric artist community, awesome arts and beautiful baroque. Its natural treasures - forests, lakes, the magical Curonian Spit in Western Lithuania - shimmer, while its oddities - the Hill of Crosses in and a Soviet sculpture park - add a flavor found nowhere else.

Navigating Lithuania

There are frequent buses throughout the day from Vilnius to all main cities, including Kaunas (19Lt, 1½ hours), Šiauliai (32Lt, three hours) and Klaipėda (49Lt, 3¼ hours). To Kaunas there are also regular minibuses, which are quicker. ou can drive across Lithuania in a couple of hours. Modern four-lane highways link Vilnius and Klaipėda (via Kaunas), and Vilnius and Panavėžys. You can lumber between Vilnius and a few domestic destinations on Lithuania’s clunky suburban trains. Destinations include Kaunas (11Lt, 1¼ hours, 13 daily), Klaipėda (40Lt, five hours, two daily) and Šiauliai (24Lt, four hours, five to eight daily).

Lithuanian cities are generously covered by networks of buses, trolleybuses and minibuses. In most towns you must punch your bus ticket or you’ll risk a fine.

Facts about Lithuania

• Explore the historic capital city of Vilnius, founded in 1323. Its Old Town is the biggest in Europe and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The capital's heart is the beautiful and spacious Gediminas Square, which is dominated by the classical Cathedral.

• Enjoy the Mardi Gras festivities held in various Lithuanian cities and small towns. The procession in Vilnius Old Town at the beginning of February remains the most renowned.

• Don't miss the historic University of Vilnius, which was granted its charter in 1579.

• Visit Trakai, an ancient capital of Lithuania. Situated on the shore of the picturesque Lake Galve, the city has a castle dating from the 14th century.

• Have some old-fashioned fun in popular seaside resorts. Palanga and Kursiu Nerija (with the settlements of Nida and Juodkrante) are famous for their clean white-sand beaches, natural sand dunes and pine forests.

• Hike in the Curonian Spit National Park (another UNESCO World Heritage site), on the peninsula separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea, where visitors can explore a range of large sand dunes and several pine forests. Rare flora and fauna are to be found here.

• Partake in some action sports - Nida, a village on the spit surrounded by endless stretches of white sand, makes a true paradise for sailing, windsurfing, paragliding and kiting.

• Try out more extreme sports, such as hot-air ballooning and gliding. There is also the opportunity to leap off Vilnius' TV Tower, the tallest bungee jump of its kind in Europe.

• Visit craft fairs, taste traditional dishes, join song and glee parties and listen to psalms during the International Folklore Festival (Skamba Skamba Kankliai), held in Vilnius' Old Town in May.

• Visit during the Days of the Capital festival in September and be spoilt with carnivals, fairs, concerts and fireworks, taking place in all streets and squares of the capital.

Lithuania Airports

Vilnius Airport (VNO) is situated approximately 6km (3.5 miles) southeast of the city centre. To/from the airport: There are taxi and bus services to the city (journey time – 10 minutes). Minibuses also run.

There are also international airports in Kaunas (KUN) and Palanga (PLQ); the latter serves the whole of the Baltic coast.

Visa/Passport requirements

US passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required. Visa is not required by US nationals for tourist stays of up to 90 days.

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