Things to see and do in Lithuania

Attractions in Lithuania

Curonian Spit National Park

Hike in the Curonian Spit National Park (another UNESCO World Heritage site) (www.nerija.lt), on the peninsula separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea, where visitors can explore a range of large sand dunes and several pine forests. Rare flora and fauna are to be found here.

Kaunas

Kaunas is Lithuania's 'city of museums'. Popular choices include the M.K. Čiurlionis Museum of Art, Devil Museum, Museum of the History of Lithuanian Medicine and Pharmacy, Atomic KGB Bunker, Kaunas City Museum, Lithuanian Aviation Museum, Stumbras Museum and Museum for the Blind.

Kernave

View the five strange grassy mounds marking Lithuania's ancient capital at Kernave (www.kernave.org), one of Lithuania's UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Nida

Located between the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea, Nida is a small resort town that gets busy every summer. Attractions here include the lighthouse (built in 1874) and the Thomas Mann Museum - the award-winning writer had a cottage here.

Palanga

Have some old-fashioned fun in popular seaside resorts. Palanga and Kursiu Nerija (with the settlements of Nida and Juodkrante) are famous for their clean white-sand beaches, natural sand dunes and pine forests.

Trakai

Visit Trakai, an ancient capital of Lithuania. Situated on the shore of the picturesque Lake Galve, the city has a castle dating from the 14th century.

Vilnius

Explore the historic capital city of Vilnius, founded in 1323. Its Old Town is the biggest in Europe and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The capital's heart is the beautiful and spacious Gediminas Square, which is dominated by the classical Cathedral.

Vilnius, International Folklore Festival

Visit craft fairs, taste traditional dishes, join song and glee parties during the International Folklore Festival (Skamba Skamba Kankliai), held in Vilnius' Old Town in May.

Vilnius, churches

See the many interesting churches in Vilnius, including the gothic St Ann's Church and St Peter and St Paul's Church, which houses the body of St Casimieras, one of Lithuania's most revered dukes.

Tourist offices

Lithuanian State Department of Tourism