Magnificent castles, beautiful lakes, a stunning coastline, and a rich cultural heritage await visitors to Lithuania. We think it is the perfect vacation spot for anybody seeking novelty and curiosity to get insight into a foreign culture.
Like Latvia and Estonia, foreign tourism to Lithuania has just begun in the past quarter of a century. This lack of prior information might make visiting Lithuania risky for some tourists. For this reason, many visitors to the Baltics only have time for a quick stay at a city like Vilnius on their first visit. After the fact, we bet most people would like to have had more time. Here are some suggestions for making the most of your time in Lithuania.
1. Lithuania Is More Than Vilnius
One issue that plagues less-visited nations is that their citizens are only familiar with a few tourist hotspots. Lithuania’s capital city, Vilnius, is the obvious choice.
It’s understandable if individuals are only familiar with the Baltic States via their most prominent cities. Vilnius is an exciting and enjoyable destination for a variety of reasons. Photos of its stunning castle have brought Trakai to the attention of many.
However, as is typically the case, there is much more to Lithuania than the average person realizes. Despite its diminutive size, this country is packed with exciting tourist attractions.
The issue is that tourists attempt to see all of Lithuania in only a few days, but in reality, there is just too much to see. It’s possible that you could squeeze visits to Vilnius and Trakai into such a short stay. However, what of the diverse character and vibe of places like Kaunas and Siauliai?
Smaller towns, rural areas, and the country’s stunning shoreline may be found farther from the country’s major cities. With its sand dunes and beaches, the Curonian Spit is a popular tourist destination in Lithuania. We’ve heard from many people that it’s their favorite area in the country.
2. Moving Around In Lithuania
Despite first impressions, Lithuania is a sizable nation. The trip from one end of the county to the other will be time-consuming. Don’t be naive and assume a day trip to the seashore from Vilnius is a possibility. That may work, but you’d spend a lot of time in the car.
Driving, riding the train, or taking the bus are all viable alternatives for getting about Lithuania. Driving is ideal if you want to go off the beaten road or have some leeway in planning your time in Lithuania. That’s the norm throughout these regions of Europe.
Lithuania makes travel by train feasible; however, the network is small. There are several rail connections to Trakai and Kaunas from Vilnius. Trains run less often the farther away from major hubs like Klaipeda and Siauliai.
3. Religious Importance
Although Estonia is often cited as one of Europe’s least religious nations, the opposite is true in Lithuania, which is often ranked among the continent’s most religious states. This is another example of how the Baltic states are all different.
Lithuania’s most recognizable landmarks reflect the country’s strong Catholic tradition. Not only are secular buildings included, but so are religious ones. The religious sights scattered around Lithuania are some of the most intriguing and exciting sights the nation offers.
The Hill of Crosses in Siauliai is the city’s most famous pilgrimage site. Hundreds of thousands of crosses have been placed on the ground in the countryside hill, making for a breathtaking picture. It’s a stunning and intriguing sight regardless of your religious beliefs.
4. Lithuanian Language
It’s usually a good idea to learn the language of the country you’re visiting. Lithuanian is the official language there. As a Slavic-influenced Baltic language, it is most closely related to Latvian.
Meaning that unless you know Latvian or another Slavic language, it may be challenging to understand what is being said. Reading signs shouldn’t be too difficult since they employ the Latin alphabet.
Word ends are something that first throws off anyone while learning Lithuanian. City names, for instance, often have various tenses when referring to bus terminals. Both Vilnius and Trakai are pronounced with a before their names.
5. Dealing With Finances
Following its Baltic neighbors’ footsteps, Lithuania only joined the Eurozone in 2015. In addition to not worrying about converting currency, European travelers will appreciate not having to stop in Lithuania.
You’ll also discover that a trip to Lithuania won’t break the bank compared to European countries like the United Kingdom or Austria. Price-wise, it’s definitely on par with Poland and maybe less expensive than Latvia. A cup of coffee will run you between 1 to 2 euros, a ride on the local bus will run you about a dollar, and a trip between cities will cost you anything from two to eight euros. Prices at attractions should range from 1 to 2 euros, except for more popular destinations like Trakai Castle.
However, we learned that Vilnius and Palanga on the coast are usually the most costly destinations in Lithuania. This may imply that the price of a restaurant supper increased from 8 euros to 11 euros, which is still a bargain. Lithuania is an affordable destination for those who are watching their pennies.
