Lithuania Travel Guide

The Republic of Lithuania is a small European Union (EU) country in Northern Europe. It is the largest of the Baltic states with a 100km coastline to the west on the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. Lithuania shares borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east, and Poland and the Russian region of Kaliningrad to the south. The country is around 65,000 sq km and about a third of this area is forests. Another 5% is inland waterways – Lithuania is known for its large beautiful lakes and long flowing rivers. The terrain is diverse, however forests and gently sloping plains cover much of the rural landscape.

The area now known as the Republic of Lithuania first formed in the mid 1200’s before becoming one of the largest and most powerful states in Europe by the middle of the 15th century. In 1569 Lithuania and Poland formed the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth which lasted more than two centuries until the Russian Empire took control of Lithuania at the end of the 1700’s. Lithuania declared its independence in 1918 which was short-lived due to occupation by the Soviet Union and then Germany during World War II. Soviet control continued until 1990 when Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to demand independence, resulting in the withdrawal of Russian troops by 1993 followed by EU and NATO membership by 2004.

An increasing number of tourists visit Lithuania each year to appreciate the stunning natural beauty and fascinating historical sites enhanced by the vibrant economic growth and development since Lithuania’s independence. The capital, Vilnius is a small, charming Baroque city with a cobblestone old quarter and areas alive with art and culture. World heritage listed areas like The Curonian Spit and Aukstaitija National Park boast pristine beaches, lakes, forests and quaint little villages to visit. Resorts such as Palanga on the Baltic coast offer breath-taking scenery where white sandy beaches meet dense, aromatic pine forests.

There are five regions in Lithuania based on regional variations in culture and language: Aukstaitija (northeastern highlands), Dzukija (southeastern region, includes the capital, Vilnius), Suvalkija (smallest region in the central southern area of Lithuania), Lithuania Minor (southwestern region, includes most of the coastline), and Samogitia (northwestern lowlands). Many of these regions spill over into neighbouring Latvia, Belarus, Poland and Kaliningrad, all once Lithuanian territories and still home to many ethnic Lithuanians.