Lithuania
Vilnius has one of the largest surviving old towns in central and eastern Europe, a maze of baroque churches, university courtyards and the self-declared Republic of Užupis. Beyond it lie Trakai's island castle, the eerie Hill of Crosses and the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO-listed ribbon of pine forest and drifting dunes on the Baltic. Prices remain well below western Europe's.
Overview
Lithuania, the largest and southernmost of the three Baltic states, was once a medieval power: the Grand Duchy stretched to the Black Sea, and its legacy shows in Vilnius's churches and the Polish, Jewish and Russian layers of its history. A week covers the essentials: three days in Vilnius with a half-day at Trakai, a stop in Kaunas for its interwar modernist architecture, then west to the coast at Klaipėda and the Curonian Spit. Drivers can detour north to the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai on the way.
Costs are well below western Europe's: lunch in a Vilnius canteen or a beer in a courtyard bar costs a fraction of London prices, and mid-range hotels are good value outside summer festival weekends. Crowds are rarely an issue except on the Curonian Spit in July and August. Summer days are long and warm, but winters are dark and cold, often with snow from December to March. Younger Lithuanians speak excellent English, while older people may know Russian or Polish better. The country suits city-breakers, history buffs, cyclists and anyone curious about the Soviet era and its aftermath.
Map of Lithuania
Top 5 highlights
- 1Architecture
Vilnius Old Town
Gothic St Anne's, the white neoclassical cathedral and dozens of baroque churches fill one of Europe's largest medieval old towns. Wander through Vilnius University's courtyards, pass the Gates of Dawn chapel and cross into bohemian Užupis.
- 2Nature
Curonian Spit
A 98 km sliver of sand and pine forest shared with Russia, the UNESCO-listed spit has some of Europe's highest drifting dunes around Nida, carved wooden figures on the Hill of Witches at Juodkrantė and quiet Baltic beaches.
- 3History
Trakai Island Castle
A red-brick Gothic castle on an island in Lake Galvė, about 30 km west of Vilnius. Trakai is also home to the Karaim, a small Turkic-speaking community whose kibinai pastries are sold all over town.
- 4Sacred site
Hill of Crosses
Near Šiauliai, more than 100,000 crosses, rosaries and effigies crowd a small hill. Soviet authorities bulldozed it several times, but crosses kept reappearing overnight; Pope John Paul II visited in 1993.
- 5History
Kernavė
A medieval capital of the Grand Duchy, Kernavė is now a UNESCO-listed archaeological site where five steep, grassy hill forts rise above the Neris valley. It makes an easy half-day trip from Vilnius, about 35 km away.
Biggest cities
Vilnius
Spend at least two days in the UNESCO-listed old town, climbing Gediminas Tower, exploring Užupis and the university courtyards, and confronting the Soviet past at the museum in the former KGB headquarters.
Kaunas
Lithuania's temporary capital between the wars has a UNESCO-listed collection of 1930s modernist buildings, a red-brick old town and castle, and the sobering Ninth Fort memorial.
Klaipėda
Lithuania's only seaport has a half-timbered old town shaped by its German past as Memel, and is the jumping-off point for the short ferry across to the Curonian Spit.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Lithuania
Best time: May–Sep.
Average climate in Vilnius
Festivals & events
- Feb–MarUžgavėnės
Lithuania's Shrovetide carnival sees masked revellers chase away winter, pancakes eaten in quantity and an effigy called Morė burned; the Rumšiškės open-air museum hosts a large celebration.
- MarKaziuko mugė (St Casimir's Fair)
Held in Vilnius on the weekend nearest 4 March for centuries, this huge fair fills the old town with crafts, wooden spoons, honey and verbos, woven palms of dried flowers.
- JunJoninės (Midsummer)
On the night of 23–24 June, a public holiday, Lithuanians light bonfires, wear wreaths of oak leaves and flowers, and search the woods for the mythical fern blossom.
How much does Lithuania cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Cepelinai
Large zeppelin-shaped potato dumplings stuffed with minced pork or curd cheese, smothered in a sauce of sour cream and fried bacon bits (spirgai).
Šaltibarščiai
A startlingly pink cold soup of beetroot, kefir, cucumber, dill and egg, served in summer with hot boiled potatoes on the side.
Kibinai
Crescent-shaped pastries filled with mutton or other meat, brought by the Karaim community and best eaten in a café in Trakai.
Getting around
LTG Link trains connect Vilnius with Kaunas in about an hour and with Klaipėda in around four, and are clean and cheap. Buses reach everywhere else, including Nida via Klaipėda and the ferry to Smiltynė. In cities, Bolt is cheap and widely used, and Vilnius's buses and trolleybuses take tickets bought through an app. A hire car helps for the Hill of Crosses and national parks.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CF230V — bring a UK-to-C/F adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +370
- Time zone
- UTC+2 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Generally safe to drink
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Around 10% is normal in restaurants for good service but not obligatory; round up for taxis and in cafés.
- Etiquette
- Bring an odd number of flowers as a gift, since even numbers are for funerals. Remove shoes in homes, and don't assume people want to speak Russian; start in English or with a few words of Lithuanian.
- Main airports
- Vilnius Airport (VNO), Vilnius; Kaunas Airport (KUN), Kaunas; Palanga Airport (PLQ), Palanga
Visas & entry for Lithuania
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Lithuania, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel: as a tourist; to visit family or friends; to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events; for short-term studies or training.
The requirements for working in Lithuania are different.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Tetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- Hepatitis BRabiesTick-borne encephalitisTuberculosis
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Lithuania
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | All Saints' Day |
| Mon 2 Nov 2026 | All Souls' Day |
| Thu 24 Dec 2026 | Christmas Eve |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Sat 26 Dec 2026 | Second Day of Christmas |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Tue 16 Feb 2027 | Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania |
| Thu 11 Mar 2027 | Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania |
| Sun 28 Mar 2027 | Easter Sunday |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | International Workers' Day |
| Sun 2 May 2027 | Mother's Day |
| Sun 6 Jun 2027 | Father's Day |
| Thu 24 Jun 2027 | Day of Dew and Saint John |
| Tue 6 Jul 2027 | Statehood Day |
| Sun 15 Aug 2027 | Assumption Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Lithuanian
| English | Lithuanian | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Laba diena | LAH-bah dyeh-NAH |
| Thank you | Ačiū | AH-chyoo |
| Please | Prašau | prah-SHOW |
| Excuse me | Atsiprašau | aht-sih-prah-SHOW |
| How much is this? | Kiek tai kainuoja? | kyek tie kai-NWOH-yah |
Know before you go
- Cars pay an ecological fee at the Alksnynė checkpoint to enter the Curonian Spit and use Klaipėda's New Ferry terminal; foot passengers and cyclists take the Old Ferry from near the old town.
- Many museums close on Mondays, and some on Tuesdays as well, so check opening hours before planning a day around one.
- Book accommodation in Nida months ahead for July and August, when the spit's few villages fill with Lithuanian and German holidaymakers.
Lithuania travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Lithuania?
The best time to visit Lithuania is generally May–Sep. Peak months are May, June, July, August and September. Average highs in Vilnius range from -2°C to 23°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Lithuania cost per day?
Roughly £40 a day on a tight budget, £90 mid-range and £180+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Lithuania?
Euro (EUR).
What plug type does Lithuania use?
Type C and F sockets at 230V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Lithuania?
Traffic drives on the right in Lithuania, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Lithuania?
Generally safe to drink.
Do I need a visa for Lithuania?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Lithuania, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Lithuania before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/lithuania/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Lithuania?
TravelHealthPro recommends Tetanus for most travellers, with Hepatitis B, Rabies, Tick-borne encephalitis and Tuberculosis sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
