Overview

Lithuania is a country in northern Europe that shares a border with the Baltic Sea, Latvia, Belarus, Poland and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. A member of the European Union and NATO, Lithuania was once the largest country in all of Europe. It was comprised of land that today is Belarus, Ukraine and parts of Poland and Russia.

For many years, the people of Lithuania were untouched. During World War II Nazis occupied the land, which was later taken over by the Russians. Lithuania was the first country that renewed its independence from the Soviet Union on March 11, 1990. The day is considered one of Lithuania's most important annual holidays.

Activities & Attractions

Several museums in the country reveal Lithuania's vast history. Founded in 1933, the largest museum of art preservation in Lithuania is the Lithuanian Art Museum. Palanga Amber Museum, where a large number of amber pieces are found, is another great place to visit.

Vilnius, the nation's capital, lies on the banks of Neris and Vilnia River and is perfect for a weekend trip. It includes Old Town, which has many historical and architectural monuments, galleries, restaurants and souvenir shops. The Trakai Island Castle is a 15th century monument near Old Town and is surrounded by lakes. The Curonian Spit, a sixty mile long bank of sand dunes and pine trees, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and perfect for sightseeing. Some other cities worth checking out are Kaunas, Klaipeda and Kedainiai.

Palanga is a sea side resort famous for its sand dunes and scented pines. There are traditional wooden houses and a lot of hotels and bars everywhere. The Rumsiskes Museum of Folk Art is an open-air country life museum that depicts architecture, crafts and lifestyle of the different ethnographic regions of the country. Aukstaitija National Park, Trainiskis Wildlife Sanctuary, and Dzukija National Park are some of the other noteworthy natural attractions in the country.

Lodging

There are many luxury hotels and apartments available in most of the major cities that have decent prices. In addition, if you are traveling by rental car, you may find cafes or smaller restaurants along the way that will have rooms to rent. It is a good idea to choose accommodations near the places you plan on visiting in order to make travelling easier and less expensive. Some of the well known hotels in Lithuania are A5 Guest House, Hotel Acapella and Hotel Alexa. The Web sites found below in the resources section can give you more information on lodging in Lithuania.

Transportation

Once you are in Lithuania, you can travel by car, train or bus. Cars and trains are fast, but buses are almost always cheaper. Trolleybuses and minibuses are also commonly used and are relatively inexpensive. If you decide to travel on your own, remember to take a translation book and map. The country is usually clearly marked with English signs, but you should be prepared in case you find yourself in a more rural area. To get to and from the country, Lithuania has three international airports.