Flag of Lithuania

Flag of Lithuania (Source » Wiki Commons)

  • Officially » Lietuva
    • English » Republic of Lithuania
  • Capital » Vilnius
    • Also the largest city

Facts

  • Population » 2.9 million
    • facing a demographic decline, with one of Europe’s highest emigration rates
    • home to more than 3.7 million people in 1991
  • Languages » Lithuanian (official), Russian, Polish, Belarusian
  • Religion » Christianity
  • Life expectancy » 67 years (men), 78 years (women)
  • Member of the European Union, NATO
  • Currency » Euro
    • Adopt the euro in 2015
  • Emergency numbers: 112

Geography

  • Area » 65,300 sq km (25,212 sq miles)
  • Bordered by
  • Lithuania is the largest and most southerly of the three Baltic republics

Notes

  • A small European country that doesn’t boast spectacular wonders of nature or architectural miracles
  • Lacks direct flights from major cities
  • Lithuanian is one of the oldest languages in the world
  • Basketball is the national sport of Lithuania.
  • Vilnius has been described as a quirky capital city
  • Lithuania gained independence in 1991, after having been a part of the Soviet Union
    • Lithuania was the first member state of the Soviet Union to declare its independence.
    • Lithuania celebrates two independence days. One is 16 February, which celebrates independence after the First World War, and the other is 11 March, the regaining of independence from the Soviet Union.
  • More than one in five people live below the national poverty line
  • Lithuanians are hardcore believers of naturally grown food
  • Lithuanians are known to keep their word, and despise pretentiousness.

Visa, Travel, Tourism

  • Lithuania signed the Schengen area agreement on 16 April 2003 and started its implementation later on 21 December 2007.
    • Canadian citizens do not need a tourist visa for travel to countries within the Schengen area up to 90 days.
      • The 90-day period begins upon initial entry into any country of the Schengen area. Stays are cumulative and include visits to any Schengen area country within any 180-day period.
    • The Curonian Spit—an elongated sand dune that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea—is divided between Lithuania and the Russian Federation, with a border crossing at Nida.
      • Canadians wishing to visit the Curonian Spit region in Russia must possess a Russian visa.
  • There are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Lithuania
  • There is prejudice against sexual minorities. Lithuanian law does not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. However, homosexuality is not widely accepted in Lithuanian society. (via)
  • Lithuanian Border Authority

Cycle Touring  🚲

  • Cycling in Lithuania is quite popular (Wikivoyage)
  • Rules in Lithuania (Reference » Lithuania Travel)
    • A red reflector or a red light must be attached to the rear of your bike, while spokes on both sides must be fitted with orange reflectors.
    • Cycling on the road in daylight, cyclists must either wear a high-visibility reflective vest or have white front and red rear lights lit.
    • Cycling on the road in the dark or low visibility, cyclists must both wear a reflective vest and have white front and red rear lights lit.
    • Cyclists and bike passengers under 18 years old must wear cycling helmets that are securely fastened. For cyclists and bike passengers over 18 years old, helmets are not mandatory, but recommended for safety.
    • Cyclists are legitimate road users, so they must follow road safety rules.
    • Cyclists are not permitted to cycle on highways.
    • Cyclists are not ride across pedestrian crossings – they are required to dismount and cross the road on foot.
  • Lithuania Travel website states it has 11 cycle routes.
  • Cycling Routes promoted by Lithuania Travel
    • Route No. 1 The Curonian Loop (185 km)
      • Klaipėda – Priekulė – Drėverna – Ventė – Mingė – Šilutė – Rusnė – Nida – Preila – Juodkrantė – Klaipėda
    • Route No. 2 The Great Western Loop (203 km)
      • Klaipėda – Karklė – Palanga – Šventoji – Darbėnai – Salantai – Plateliai – Kartena – Kretinga – Klaipėda
    • Route No. 3 Historical Route (342 km)
    • Vilnius – Trakai – Kaišiadorys – Kaunas – Jurbarkas – Tauragė – Šilutė

Camping ⛺️

  • Camping is only permitted in designated areas.
  • Pitching tents and setting campfires is only allowed at sites marked with a tent sign.
  • You are not permitted to pitch a tent closer than 25 meters to a waterbody.
  • Camping or sleeping on the beach and in the coastal dunes is not permitted.
    Setting campfires is allowed only at campsites and sites designated and marked for such use.
  • Cutting down trees is strictly forbidden.

Overland 🚙

  • Driving on the right
  • Lithuania Travel promotes the Baltic road trip, which covers 1100km across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
    • All three are member states of the European Union (EU) and NATO, and are in the Schengen Area.

Health

  • The tap water in Lithuania is drinkable.

Government Travel Advice

News

Resources

This page was updated December 26, 2022