The tiny nation of Lithuania is one of those old-world locations with amazing cobblestone old towns and an intriguing, complex history. It is also one of the most awe-inspiring and engaging countries in this part of the world, with an equally fascinating language.
In fact, there’s a lot to love about Lithuania. For the moment, it also happens to be a quite cheap country to visit, with a wide variety of wonderful things to do and see. Basically, you could end up spending days and weeks in Lithuania, and it still wouldn’t give you enough time to explore the full scope and marvel of the country.
Today, we’re going to look at the 6 most amazing things you can do in Lithuania. Just be careful: after you read this blog post, you might have an obsessive urge to abandon everything and jet away to this unique country.
Vilnius Old Town
Most probably you’ll be flying or driving directly into the capital city of Lithuania, Vilnius.
Luckily, Vilnius is also the top, must-see location of the entire country.
This is a fantastic city, but the most impressive part of it is the Old World-style Old Town with its romantic alleys, cobblestone streets and captivating buildings that show off architecture based on the Neoclassical, Gothic and Renaissance styles.
Little wonder it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Still, if you aren’t too excited by sightseeing the architecture, you can instead enjoy all the amazing lunch places in Vilnius or the vibrant nightlife, which luckily is also the best right at the center of the Old Town.
Užupis
After you’ve explored the Old Town, you won’t need to drive far to see some of the other amazing places in Lithuania.
One of these memorable places is Užupis, a supposedly independent state established right outside the Vilnius Old Town.
Užupis is a very artsy, bohemian state which even has its very own Constitution.
We won’t spoil it for you by explaining to you what’s included on it–since half the fun is reading it for yourself–but let’s just say this: it was written by eccentrics after the fall of the Soviet Union, and the independent state doesn’t take itself too seriously.
This tiny place is often compared to Paris’ Montmarte or Freetown Christiana in Copenhagen.
Trakai
The red, kingly fortress that stands out over the horizon is known as the Trakai Island Castle — a breath-taking, fairy-tale castle that is a can’t-miss destination in both winter and summer.
It also happens to sit on a beautiful lake, meaning you can easily spend half the day there–in part to tour the castle museum or just to stroll around Trakai, which is a functioning, beautiful small town.
While you’re in Trakai, don’t forget to taste some of the local kibinai, a scrumptious little pastry usually filled with meat.
The Curonian Spit
Up on the coast of Lithuania, you’ll be able to visit the wonderful Curonian Spit–although it’s best to go there in summer.
The Spit is a long peninsula that boasts some impressive nature and high golden sand dunes.
It’s a place made for easy activities like calming bike rides or stress-free walks through the dense woods, picturesque sand dunes and scenic beach towns.
The Spit also has some delicious smoked fish that they’re particularly proud of.
The Hill of Witches
The long, complex history of this country explains why the Hill of Witches is such a remarkable place to experience.
These hills is found on the coast near the Curonian Spit.
The Hill of Witches is made up of an old public trail that leads you through fantastic statues of dragons, goddesses, and–as the name implies–witches.
Although these creations may seem ancient, the statues were actually made in 1979 as a community project.
However, they have become an integral part of Lithuania’s folklore and history, seeing as locals gather here during Midsummer’s Eve to sing and celebrate.
Druskininkai
This is Lithuania’s biggest resort town–a delightful retreat that’s famous for its ancient healing practices.
It’s located in Lithuania’s southern region, an hour’s drive from Vilnius.
Local doctors often send their patients to Druskininkai for some relaxation, including utilizing the famous health methods available nearly everywhere in the town.
But besides the healing, you can also experience the magnificent pine forests and calming rivers that go through Druskininkai.
In closing
Now let’s say that you only have a few days to experience Lithuania, and you need to find out which is the absolute best place to visit.
Luckily, we have some great news for you: it’s such a small country that you can visit at least three of these sites in just two days.
You see, it’s only a 4 hour drive from the capital Vilnius–in the south–to the coast in the north, and a lot of these sites are between those two areas.
Whatever place you end up traveling to, we’re 100% sure that you’re going to enjoy Lithuania and want to come back again.
Author bio: Bernard Meyer is a food and travel blogger over at the Meyer Food Blog. Originally born in Cape Town and raised in Miami, he now lives with his wife and daughters in Vilnius, Lithuania.
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