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10 Reasons to Visit Lithuania

2018 marks Lithuania’s 100 years of independence. From the amazing architecture and history to the natural gems found throughout the rural countryside, we’ll easily give you more than enough reasons to visit Lithuania this year.

By Charlotte BurgundyPublished 5 years ago 5 min read
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Tourism in Lithuania is on the rise. There are so many reasons to visit Lithuania and more and more travelers are catching on. There’s a little bit of everything for every type of traveler, whether you like to go to historically significant spots, culinary capitals or remote nature retreats. Its location is also conveniently in the center of Europe, making it an easy side trip from other popular destinations. You'll also be ensuring you get a glimpse of the culture and history of a country that's had a bird’s eye view of Central and Eastern Europe’s tumultuous past, from the Soviet Union to World War II, medieval conquerors to the latest trends.

It has one affordable capital city.

Beautiful Old Town Vilnius provides picturesque views.

If you’re a traveler on a budget, then you’ll love the affordability of Lithuania. The capital Vilnius is very affordable, particularly when you’re looking at other capital cities across Europe. Think you’re going to go to Paris for cheap? Nuh-uh. Not going to happen. Vilnius, on the other hand, is highly affordable, from the hotels to the transportation, food and dining to even the party and nightlife scene. You can visit this unique capital city on a budget, go somewhere none of your friends have gone, and have an incredibly unique experience all for pennies compared to a trip to London.

Come for the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

If you know a spot is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, you’re going to know it’s a really big deal, and Lithuania has several. There’s the Curonian Spit, over 60 miles of sand dunes that are the highest moving sand dunes of Europe; the capital Vilnius, with all its history and beloved architecture; the Kernave archaeological site, with its history of thousands upon thousands of years of human inhabitance; and then the Struve Geodetic Arc, which stretches across 10 countries in Europe. So, if you want to see several things that are truly culturally significant to the entire world, come to Lithuania.

There's plenty of creepy stuff.

Maybe you’re the type of traveler who likes to see some creepy things every once in a while, which is cool too. Lithuania has two rather creepy sites you’ll want to check out during your visit, including the Hill of Witches and the Hill of Crosses. The former is an outdoor sculpture gallery near the Curonian Lagoon, with dozens of wooden sculptures that reflect Lithuanian paganism and folklore. Most are, as you’d expect, pretty creepy. The latter, the Hill of Crosses, is more historic in nature and dates back to 1831, when skirmish left quite a few dead on the site. Since then, it’s become a pilgrimage spot, where people travel to leave crosses, statues of saints, and more. Now, you can see what’s estimated to be 100,000 crosses in one tiny space.

Lithuania has beaches!

Nope, not North Carolina. It's Lithuania.

With all those sand dunes, you’d expect there to be a beach somewhere in Lithuania and you’d be right! If you’re a beach bum no matter your travel destination, you’re going to love No. 3 of our reasons to visit Lithuania. The Curonian Spit backs up to the Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon, which is fed by the Neman River and the Neris River. The beach towns and fishing villages along the lagoon are filled with picturesque little shorelines with pine trees and those huge sand dunes, as well as historic sites from the tribes that lived there long, long ago.


Lithuanian foods are totally delicious.

Vacation is no time to worry about how to stay healthy on a budget. Especially since Lithuanian foods are delicious—hearty, filling, and definitely comfort food. The national dish is cepelinai, dumplings made from potato dough and filled with pork. Other favorite dishes include fried bread alongside beer and cheese sauce, beetroot soup, fried curd cakes served with fresh fruit, hand pies, and potato pancakes. Lithuanian food is quite similar to the cuisine found in other Baltic countries, so if you’ve visited Latvia or Romani in the past, you might recognize the ingredients and flavors.

There are many historic monuments and sites to see.

Lithuania’s historic monuments and sites range from those honoring its medieval days, to some that remember the not-so-distant past. You’ll find lots of Soviet Union-era relics and statues and even a decommissioned Soviet Union nuclear mission base. However, if you just have a short time to explore all the reasons to visit Lithuania, you can easily stick just in Vilnius and see lots of historic sites, like Gemininas’ Castle and St. Mikalojaus Church.

Lithuania’s national parks are beautiful.

You can find beautiful historic structures in Lithuania's national parks.

Lithuania has five beautiful national parks that, if you’re a nature lover, are sure to be one of your top reasons to visit Lithuania. At the various national parks (which are all pretty sizable), you can find lakes, water sports like boating and windsurfing, islands, lots of biodiverse settings, edibles such as cranberries and strawberries, historic villages, and even an island castle! The castle is within Trakai Historical National Park, just a short drive from the capital Vilnius. Just make sure you have one of the best car coolers for your next road trip so you've got some snacks to nosh on.

It has the oldest university in Eastern Europe.

If you’re into both history and scholarly pursuits, Vilnius University is a must for your Vilnius itinerary. It was founded in 1568 and you can pay a small fee to walk through the old courtyards and tour the library. The university is still in use and you’ll be sure to run into some students heading off to class. The beautiful architecture is part of the many reasons to love Lithuania.

You'll find a plethora of interesting museums.

The museums in Vilnius are far from boring and a perfect addition to your itinerary. In Kaunas, go to the Museum of Devils for exhibits on the country’s pagan history (it was one of the last European countries to adopt Christianity, so it’s a long history). Rumšiškės Ethnographic Museum is one of the largest museums in the world, as it contains entirely re-built Lithuanian villages from every historic region in the country! The National Art Gallery is a must-see in Vilnius, and the National Museum in Vilnius’ Old Town gives you a complete overview of the country.

Hot air balloons are super popular.

What's more perfect than this view of the Lithuanian countryside?

If riding in a hot air balloon is on your bucket list, get yourself to Lithuania soon. A top seasonal activity, hot air balloon rides are available in abundance, around the capital Vilnius, and in other areas. What can you expect to see? The city, of course, but also nearby villages, historic Soviet Union sites, and, even occasionally, the other Baltic Countries if the wind’s blowing the right way. Hot air balloons are also very romantic. It's a great place to say one of the cutest things you can say to your boyfriend or girlfriend. Just another reason to love Lithuania!

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About the Creator

Charlotte Burgundy

A reformed alcoholic, Charlotte has finally learned to enjoy in moderation. She is a total wine lover who will go wherever the best product is. Wine festivals in New York? Vineyards in France? The simple home of an Italian matriarch? She’ll sip the best of what the world has to offer and tell you all about it.

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