Lithuania: Travelling

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service: Visas of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Visa HQ
List of Lithuanian diplomatic representations

For Further Information

Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.

Organising Your Trip

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Vilnius (VNO)	10 km / 6 miles	LTL 20-USD 8 / 10 min	LTL1.40 / 15 min.	-	Available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Train reservation services: Lithuanian railways

Major airlines

Name	Type	Domestic Flights	International Flights
Lufthansa	Major	No	Yes
LOT Polish Airlines	Major	No	Yes
Air Baltic	Low Cost	Yes	Yes

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical: Lithuania is rich in historical spots. Throughout history, it has had different capitals - Kaunas (capital for two decades in the first half of the 20th century), Trakai, Kernave (renowned for its hill-forts designated as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2004) ; these 3 cities have a number of historical monuments (castle in Kaunas, Monastery, cathedrals).

Gothic, baroque and classical styles are dominant in the monuments of Lithuania.
Cultural: History museums are found in Vilnius and they reveal the elaborate and torturous history of the country. Another interesting museum is the Devils Museum in Kaunas, which holds the largest collection of devils in art in the world.
Concerts of classical music are held in Lithuania, and the Vilnius Festival offers during summer more than 100 classical music concerts.
It is also worth noting that Lithuania hosts more than 30 theatres producing fine performances and original interpretations as well. A contemporary art centre is also found in Vilnius.
Nature: Mass tourism has not yet spoiled Lithuania's nature. Tourists can indeed find dense forests and many lakes with different wildlives. National parks are also numerous, such as Zemaitija, Dzukija and Trakai. Lithuania also has protected areas.
Religious: Many churches and cathedrals are found in Vilnius. We can cite the Church of All Saints, the Church of our Lady of the Assumption, the Bernardine Church and the Church of Saint Nicolas.
For more information click on this site.
Thermal: In the 15th and 16th centuries, the areas of Birstonas and Druskininkai were the locations where the rulers of Lithuania used to relax and, in the 19th century, local natural mineral waters were analyzed and their curative nature discovered. Today, treatment facilities including spa resorts are found in those areas and mud and salt treatments are offered.
Beach: The Baltic coast offers good possibilities for swimming and beach activities. The seaside resort of Palanga is a good destination for beach lovers and a more typical spot is Neringa.
Winter Sports: Stable winters and great infrastructure offers good possibility for winter holidays. Ski resorts are situated nearly 50 miles from the capital Vilnius and you should reach them by bus or car. The ski resort of Anyksciai Kalita is especially popular among tourists.
Outdoor Activities: Due to the richness of its nature, many different outdoor activities can be performed. Fishing, horse riding, bird watching, hunting and hiking are among the most popular activities.
Shopping: In Vilnius, traditional handicrafts are found as well as modern and famous brand names, thus offering the possibility to have diverse shopping experiences. Prices are attractive in comparison with other European countries. It is worth also citing the jewellery market, which is full of amber pieces.

Top Highlights in the Main Cities
Gediminas Avenue
Kalnu Park and Three Crosses
National Museum of Lithuania
St. Catherine's Church
The Bastion of Vilnius City Wall
The Cathedral of Vilnius
The Gates of Down
Gediminas Tower of the Upper Castle
The Amber Museum
The Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

Top Highlights of the Country
Kernavé and its hill forts
Curonian Spit
Vilnius old town
Palanga seaside town
Klaipéda, its port and old town
Kaunas, temporary capital of Lithuania
Trakai Castle
Gediminas Tower of the Upper Castle
Siauliai Hill of Crosses
Parnidis Dunes in Nida

Tourism Organisations: Lithuanian State Department of Tourism

Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions: No particular vaccination required when visiting Lithuania. No yellow fever vaccination recommended.
International Hospitals: Medical facilities are available throughout Lithuania, but medical standards may vary, especially in rural areas. Private clinics are not always equipped for emergencies. English-speaking doctors and staff may not be available in all specialties.
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions: Lithuanian Health Information Centre
Consult the travel recommendations from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in French)
For Further Information on Safety Conditions: Recommendations from the Canadian Government
Travel advice from the UK Government

Emergency Numbers

Emergency service	112
Fire	01
Police	02
Ambulance	03

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference: It is %T:%M %A In Vilnius (GMT+2 in winter, GMT+3 in summer)
Summer Time Period: Summer time from March to October

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Type of Climate: The weather in Lithuania is mid-way between maritime and continental. The weather is changeable, with mild, wet summers and cold winters. Winter temperatures are usually below freezing. Rainfall is spread throughout the year, but more rain tends to fall on the coast. Summer is the wettest season and cloudly skies are common. There is a vast gap between summer and winter temperatures (30°C to 0°C).
Hotel reservation websites: Lithuania Hydrometeorological Service

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

Eating

Food Specialties: Lithuanian cuisine is influenced by the culture of various nationalities. A distinctive trait of Lithuanian cuisine is the presence of potato dishes. The most impressive of these is the 'cepelinai' ('zeppelins'), large boiled potato dumplings with fillings of minced meat or cottage cheese. Another specialty is the 'Kugel', a cake of potatoes of German influence. Soup is also very popular in Lithuania and made of fresh vegetables. The traditional dessert called 'Layered Napoleon' is one of the sweet treats in the country.
Each region has its own specialty. Central/northeastern Lithuania is renowned for its dough-based dishes such as pancakes and dumplings. The specialty of South Lithuania is mushrooms. In Western Lithuania, various types of meats are produced including 'Skilandis' (cold smoked pig's stomach stuffed with minced meat and garlic).
Drinks: Traditional beverages are 'gira' (non-alcoholic drink made from rye bread), 'kisielius' (cranberry drink), beer, various spirit drinks with fruit or herbal infusions and of course mead.
Dietary Restrictions: No particular restrictions are reported in Lithuania.

Paying

Domestic Currency: Euro
ISO Code: EUR
To Obtain Domestic Currency: Since January 2015, the currency is the Euro (EUR). Most hotels and restaurants accept credit cards and there are many ATMs in the cities as well as money changers.
Possible Means of Payment: Cash payments are only accepted in local currency. It is possible to make exchanges in banks and exchange offices. Many shopping centres or other outlets accept credit cards such as Visa.

Speaking

Official Language: Lithuanian
Other Languages Spoken: Russian and Polish are also spoken in the country. Indeed, Russians represent approximately 6% of the population and Poles 6.5%. In Lithuania, there are also some minorities speaking Ukrainian, Belarusian, Latvian and Tatar.
Business Language: Lithuanian, Russian and English.

Useful Resources

To Find a Job: East West Consulting
Alliance for Recruitment
Alma Career

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