Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re traveling to Lithuania. It’s a great travel destination that many travelers tend to overlook. Therefore, there’s not a lot of Lithuania tourism information out there. We feel that there are a few facts about Lithuania you should know before you visit, which will make your trip much more enjoyable!
Where Is Lithuania?
Lithuania is one of the three Baltic countries that separate Poland from Russia, along with Latvia and Estonia. Lithuania is bordered by Russia, Belarus, Latvia, and the Baltic Sea.
Are There Things to Do in Lithuania?
Expect a nature-based vacation in Lithuania. Lithuanians really love to be outdoors enjoying nature, and there are plenty of places to do so in Lithuania. Many people have a summer house on one of the thousands of lakes in Lithuania. Between the lakes of Lithuania and the Baltic Sea, there are some really great beaches in Lithuania. (Don’t forget the bug spray; the bugs can be pretty bad, especially in the forests!)
Other things to do in Lithuania include the Nemunas River Valley, which has lovely castles and scenery. The Hill of Crosses in northern Lithuania claims to have over 100,000 crosses set upon a small hill. Along the coast, you have the Hill of Witches, with fairytale characters carved out of the woods.
Are There Cities in Lithuania?
Yes, although there is a lot more natural area than urban areas in Lithuania, there are some cities worth checking out. Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania and the largest city, with over half a million residents. Vilnius has several museums, a palace, cathedrals, and loads of bars and restaurants. Trakai is a smaller “castle town” about 30 minutes from Vilnius.
Money in Lithuania
Lithuania is part of Europe, therefore they use Euros. Because Lithuania is one of the more affordable countries in Europe, the prices are quite low and you won’t have much use for bills larger than 50 Euros. Transportation, hotels, and restaurants in Lithuania are very affordable.
Communication in Lithuania
Yes, Lithuania was part of Russia many years ago. That is ancient history by now, and Lithuania has its own language: Lithuanian. Some of the older residents may still speak Russian, but the younger and middle-age Lithuanians speak Lithuanian, and a lot of them also speak English. However, they really love when travelers speak a few words of Lithuanian. Even if you butcher the language, it shows that you tried. The people of Lithuania are super friendly, and they love sharing their local favorites with travelers.
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Lithuania Accommodation
There are plenty of hotels throughout Lithuania, including out in the natural areas. It’s super fun to rent a cabin in the woods near a lake and enjoy some downtime in Lithuania. In the cities, apartment rentals are also a great option, especially if you are traveling with kids.
Getting Around Lithuania
The bus is an easy way to get around Lithuania. If you do take a bus for a long-distance trip in Lithuania, make sure you take the express bus, or you might be in for a long ride. If you stay in Vilnius, you can use the bus system to take day trips around the country. You can also get a bus to Riga, Moscow, and many other nearby countries. Lithuania does have a train system, but it does not run frequently, so we usually take the bus instead.
Within the cities, there are public buses and trams to get around. Just make sure you validate your ticket before boarding; they are sticklers about it, unlike in other countries. If you want to take a taxi, call one from your hotel. You’ll get a better rate than flagging one down on the street.
Is Lithuania Safe?
Lithuania is generally pretty safe. The low prices and easy access tend to make Vilnius popular with weekenders and stag parties, so you might run into groups of drunk revelers from time to time. Lithuania today feels much safer than when I lived here ten years ago, so we haven’t been on high alert during our visit to Lithuania.
Outlets in Lithuania
If you’re visiting Lithuania from the United States or the UK, you’ll need a power adapter for your electronics. The plugs in Lithuania are the standard European plug, with two round prongs.
Lithuanian Food
The food in Lithuania is very hearty, and they serve up large portions. There are a few traditional Lithuanian foods that I recommend you try. Cepelinai is a giant dumpling with a meatball inside, and it’s all covered in a sour cream sauce and bacon bits. In the summertime, you’ll see a lot of cold soups, including cold herring soup and Saltibarsciai, a beetroot soup. Kept Duona is fried garlic bread, with mayonnaise and cheese sauce. It’s a popular snack to have when you go out for a beer. Sakotis is my favorite dessert in Lithuania, but you can only get it at a bakery as it’s not usually served in restaurants. The food was probably the biggest surprise for Jocelyn on her first trip to Lithuania.
Beer and vodka are the main adult beverages in Lithuania. Beer is “alus” and there are some pretty good national brands made in Lithuania. Arbatos is tea, which is another common drink in Lithuania.
Tipping in Lithuania
Service in Lithuania isn’t bad, but it’s not the fastest. We try to order everything at once, rather than ordering drinks, then appetizers, then the main meal. Tipping is customary in Lithuania, around 10% is sufficient. When you tip, you should leave it as cash, not added on to your credit card bill.
There’s a reason I stayed in Lithuania for 3 ½ years! The people are amazing, the food is fantastic, and it’s a relaxing, affordable place to visit in Eastern Europe. It’s been great returning with my family to see it again through their eyes. I hope these facts about Lithuania encourage you to plan your own trip! If you want more tips on traveling in Europe, check out some of our other blog posts: