Lithuania is the largest and southernmost of the three Baltic states, a nation with a remarkable history as the last pagan civilization in Europe and the center of a medieval empire that once stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Today this country of nearly three million offers one of Europe's best-preserved Baroque old towns, hauntingly beautiful sand dunes on the Curonian Spit, and a fierce cultural pride forged through centuries of resistance.
Vilnius, the capital, surprises with its scale and beauty — a UNESCO-listed Old Town of Baroque churches, cobblestone lanes, and bohemian quarters that rivals Prague or Kraków at a fraction of the crowds. Beyond the cities, Lithuania reveals dense forests, thousands of lakes, and the extraordinary Hill of Crosses — a pilgrimage site where hundreds of thousands of crosses stand as a testament to Lithuanian faith and resilience.
Lithuania offers exceptional value for travelers: world-class culture, excellent craft beer and creative cuisine, and genuine warmth once you break through the initial Baltic reserve.
Pagan Kingdom: Lithuania was the last country in Europe to adopt Christianity (1387). Under Grand Duke Gediminas and later Vytautas the Great, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania became one of medieval Europe's largest states, stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea and encompassing present-day Belarus and parts of Ukraine and Poland.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: The 1569 Union of Lublin merged Lithuania with Poland into the Commonwealth, one of Europe's largest and most diverse states. This era brought Baroque architecture to Vilnius and cultural flowering, but also gradual Polish cultural dominance.
Occupation & Resistance: Following the Commonwealth's partitions, Lithuania endured Russian Imperial rule (1795–1918), brief independence (1918–1940), and then Soviet occupation. The 1990 declaration of independence — the first Soviet republic to break away — triggered the January Events of 1991, when Soviet troops killed 14 civilians at the Vilnius TV Tower.
Modern Lithuania: EU and NATO member since 2004, Lithuania has become one of Europe's fastest-growing economies with a thriving tech sector centered in Vilnius. The country adopted the Euro in 2015.
Lithuania occupies 65,300 square kilometers of gently rolling lowlands between Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The terrain is predominantly flat, with the highest point (Aukštojas Hill) reaching just 294 meters. Dense forests cover a third of the territory, and thousands of lakes dot the landscape.
The Baltic coastline stretches 90 kilometers, featuring the extraordinary Curonian Spit — a 98km sand dune peninsula shared with Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Nemunas River, Lithuania's largest, flows through Kaunas and Jurbarkas before emptying into the Curonian Lagoon.
Lithuanian is one of the world's oldest living languages, remarkably close to its Proto-Indo-European roots — linguists consider it the most archaic surviving Indo-European tongue. This linguistic heritage reflects a deep connection to ancient traditions, including folk songs (dainos) recognized by UNESCO and elaborate celebrations of solstices and equinoxes.
Basketball is virtually a religion — Lithuania has punched well above its weight in international competition since independence. The creative arts scene, centered in Vilnius's Užupis neighborhood (which jokingly declared independence as a "republic" in 1998), reflects a playful, irreverent spirit. Craft beer has exploded, with Vilnius rivaling any European capital for microbrewery quality.
Vilnius boasts one of Europe's largest and best-preserved Baroque old towns, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where over 40 churches create a skyline of towers and domes. Gediminas' Tower crowns the hill above the old town, offering panoramic views. The Gates of Dawn (Aušros Vartai) shelter a revered icon of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage site for Catholics across the region.
Užupis, the self-declared "Republic" across the Vilnelė River, is Vilnius's creative heart — artists' studios, galleries, quirky cafés, and a constitution written on walls in dozens of languages. The KGB Museum (Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights) in the former KGB headquarters is one of Europe's most powerful museum experiences.
The Curonian Spit is a surreal landscape of towering sand dunes, pine forests, and tiny fishing villages stretching 98 kilometers into the Baltic Sea. Nida, the main Lithuanian settlement, charms with its traditional fishermen's houses and views of Europe's largest shifting dune. Thomas Mann spent summers here and called it the "Nordic Sahara."
Klaipėda, Lithuania's port city and gateway to the Spit, preserves a Germanic old town and lively cultural scene. Ferries cross the narrow strait every few minutes. Trakai, 28km from Vilnius, features a spectacular island castle in a lake — once the medieval capital of the Grand Duchy.
Lithuanian cuisine is hearty Baltic fare built for cold winters. Cepelinai (zeppelin-shaped potato dumplings stuffed with meat or curd) is the national dish. Šaltibarščiai (cold beet soup) is a summer staple, bright pink and refreshing. Dark rye bread accompanies every meal, and Lithuanian craft beer ranks among Europe's finest.
Cepelinai
Potato Dumplings
Huge potato dumplings stuffed with meat—shaped like zeppelins.
Ingredients: 4 potatoes raw, grated, 2 potatoes boiled, mashed, Minced pork filling, Bacon, sour cream, Salt.
Preparation: Mix raw and cooked potatoes. Make meat filling with onion. Form large oval dumplings around filling. Then boil gently 25 min. Finally, serve with bacon bits and sour cream.
💡 Squeeze raw potatoes very dry for proper texture.
Šaltibarščiai
Cold Beet Soup
Bright pink cold soup—Lithuanian summer essential.
Ingredients: Cooked beets, grated, Kefir or buttermilk, Cucumbers, dill, Hard-boiled eggs, Green onions.
Preparation: Grate cooked beets. Mix with kefir until bright pink. Add diced cucumber and dill. Then chill thoroughly. Last, serve with egg and hot potatoes on side.
💡 Should be served ice cold—refrigerate well.
Kepta Duona
Fried Bread Sticks
Garlic-rubbed fried rye bread—beer snack essential.
Ingredients: Dark rye bread, Garlic, Oil for frying, Salt, Cheese sauce (optional).
Preparation: Cut rye bread into sticks. After that, deep fry until crispy. Rube with cut garlic while hot. Then salt generously. Serve with cheese sauce or beer.
💡 Must be eaten hot—they soften as they cool.
Lithuania has a transitional climate between maritime and continental. Summers (June–August) are pleasantly warm (18–25°C) with long daylight hours. Winters (December–February) are cold (-5 to -15°C) with snow and short days.
Best time: June–September for warm weather and festivals. December for Christmas markets. The Curonian Spit is best in summer; Vilnius is lovely year-round.
By Air: Vilnius Airport (VNO) has connections to most European capitals via Ryanair, Wizz Air, and airBaltic. Kaunas Airport handles budget carriers. By Rail/Bus: Trains and buses connect to Riga, Warsaw, and Minsk. FlixBus and Lux Express offer comfortable intercity routes.
Money: Euro (EUR). Cards accepted widely; cash useful for markets and rural areas. Prices are among Europe's most affordable.
Getting Around: Trains and buses connect major cities efficiently. Car rental is straightforward for exploring the countryside and Curonian Spit. Vilnius is very walkable.
Vilnius caught me completely off guard — I'd expected a worthy but minor Baltic capital and found instead a city of extraordinary beauty, creative energy, and the best cepelinai I could imagine. The Curonian Spit was equally revelatory: walking the massive dunes at sunset, with the Baltic Sea on one side and the lagoon on the other, felt like discovering a secret Europe had forgotten to tell me about.
