Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting Lithuania. It’s not a well-known country for many international travelers, which makes it so special! If you’re visiting Lithuania for the first time, there are some shocks you should expect.
Lithuania Food
When you first visit Lithuania, some of the food can be shocking. In the summer, a very popular dish is Saltibarsciai, or cold borscht. It’s a cold pink soup, so it kind of looks like a bowl of Pepto Bismol with stuff sprinkled in it. It looks weird, but it’s delicious! That’s the case with a lot of Lithuanian food; it looks strange, but they really do have great comfort food. In the end, Lithuania food will shock you in a good way!
What to Know Before You Visit Lithuania
Lithuanian Superstitions
Lithuania was one of the last places to be “Christianized” so it has a very strong Pagan history. You still see bits of this today in random superstitions that Lithuanians have. A few common superstitions you’ll notice include:
- Looking in a mirror before leaving the house
- Not handing a knife or scissors to anyone; you have to set it down
- You must look each other in the eye when you toast
- Not letting a pole or post come between you and your companion when walking; it’s bad luck and means you’ll have a quarrel soon
Drinking in Lithuania
Beer (Alus) and Vodka (degtinės) are very good in Lithuania, and quite prevalent. Lithuania seems to be a country that enjoys drinking heavily, and you will be shocked at the various options for alcoholic drinks in Lithuania. This is despite some very particular alcohol laws in Lithuania that dictate when and where you can buy liquor.
Things to See in Lithuania
You might be shocked at the cool things to do in Lithuania.
- The Hill of Crosses is a pilgrimage site that is estimated to have over 200,000 crosses.
- The Hill of Witches is another cool place to visit in Lithuania; it’s an outdoor sculpture collection along a path in the woods on the Curonian Spit.
- The Trakai Island Castle is a fun destination in Lithuania; it’s a 14th-century castle set on an island in Lake Galvė.
- Gediminas Castle Tower is what remains of the Upper Castle in Vilnius. Climb the hill and then go up the tower for the best views of Vilnius.
- Another Vilnius landmark is the Vilnius Cathedral, which was completed at the end of the 18th century.
Beaches in Lithuania
Shockingly, Lithuania has some fantastic beaches. Most people picture Lithuania as a cold, dreary country, but this is why the beaches are such a nice surprise. And I was surprised at how nice the beaches are. The sand on the Baltic Sea is pristine, and there’s even a spa town along the beach, called Palanga. The Curonian Spit also has some great sand dunes, where our kids had a blast climbing around.
Natural Attractions in Lithuania
Besides the amazing beaches in Lithuania, there are many other natural attractions in Lithuania. There are some gorgeous lakes in Lithuania and spa towns to enjoy. The Lithuanians are really into nature, and many of them have summer homes near the forest. Once you leave the cities in Lithuania, there are endless outdoor opportunities, and you won’t run into many foreign tourists, either.
Post-Russian Revival
For many years, Lithuania was part of the Sovient Union, and you still see evidence of that in some of the older architecture. While they were in and out of Russian rule for quite some time, they seem to have made up for lost time by beautifying the cities in Lithuania, as well as the green spaces.
Lithuanians are very proud of their country, and it’s obvious when you see how clean and well-kept everything is. They also have a fiercely independent spirit, because they fought for that independence. They were the first of the Baltic countries to declare their independence and they fly their flag proudly.
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We will be shocked if you don’t fall in love with Lithuania. It is such a beautiful country, with interesting history, beautiful natural landscapes, hearty food, and amazing people. Visit Lithuania Travel to start planning your own trip to Lithuania!
Want more travel tips for the Baltic region? Check out these blog posts: