Lithuania
Phone Code
+370
Capital
Vilnius
Population
2.8 Million
Native Name
Lietuva
Region
Europe
Northern Europe
Timezone
Eastern European Time
UTC+02:00
On This Page
Lithuania is the largest and southernmost of the three Baltic states, sharing a 65-million-strong cultural triangle with Latvia and Estonia but with its own decidedly Central-European feel. Roughly 2.8 million people live across 65,000 square kilometres of forests, lakes, dunes and a short Baltic Sea coast. The country was the first Soviet republic to declare independence in March 1990, joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, the Schengen Area in 2007 and adopted the euro in 2015. Vilnius, the capital, holds one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Europe — a UNESCO-listed warren of Baroque churches, courtyards and university quadrangles built largely by Italian masters during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Lithuanian itself is one of the most archaic surviving Indo-European languages, frequently cited by linguists as a window onto reconstructed proto-language. Beyond Vilnius, Trakai's island castle on Lake Galvė is the country's most-photographed sight; Kaunas — the interwar capital — was European Capital of Culture in 2022; the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai holds well over 100,000 votive crosses; and the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO sand-dune peninsula shared with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, hides Thomas Mann's summer house at Nida. Schengen entry, the euro, English and Russian widely understood, very low crime — Lithuania is the simplest of the Baltic states for travellers and the most affordable.
Visa Requirements for Lithuania
Lithuania is a full member of the Schengen Area, so standard Schengen rules apply at every border. Citizens of the European Union, EEA and Switzerland enter freely with a national ID card or passport. Citizens of around sixty visa-exempt third countries — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most of Latin America — may enter visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area, not Lithuania alone. Travellers from countries on the Schengen visa list apply for a Schengen short-stay visa at the Lithuanian embassy or consulate responsible for their place of residence, or at any other Schengen mission representing Lithuania. A passport valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure date is required for entry; six months is the safer benchmark for visa applications. Travel medical insurance covering at least EUR 30,000, return travel arrangements and proof of accommodation and funds are standard supporting documents. The ETIAS travel authorisation system will apply to currently visa-exempt travellers when it enters into operation.
Common Visa Types
Schengen Visa-Free Entry (90/180 Days)
Tourism, business, family visits and short courses for citizens of around sixty visa-exempt third countries.
Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C)
Tourism, business, conferences, family visits or transit for nationals on the Schengen visa list.
National (Long-Stay) Visa — Type D
Stays longer than 90 days for studies at Vilnius University and other Lithuanian institutions, work, research, family reunification or seasonal employment.
EU/EEA/Swiss Entry
Free movement for nationals of the EU, EEA and Switzerland — tourism, work, study, residence — under treaty rights.
Important Travel Information
Travel Guide
Lithuania rewards travellers who like compact, culture-dense destinations rather than vast wilderness. Vilnius is the obvious base: its UNESCO old town is one of the largest in Europe, packed with Baroque churches, university courtyards, the Gates of Dawn pilgrimage chapel and the bohemian self-declared Republic of Užupis on the other side of the Vilnia. From Vilnius the country opens out — Trakai's red-brick island castle and the Karaim community Vytautas the Great brought from the Crimean peninsula sit forty minutes west; Kaunas, European Capital of Culture in 2022, holds the country's best interwar modernist architecture and Ninth Fort memorial; the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai is one of the most affecting Catholic pilgrimage sites in Europe. The Baltic coast is short but distinctive: Klaipėda preserves visible Memelland-era German architecture, and the Curonian Spit — a UNESCO sand-dune peninsula shared with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave — leads to Nida, the artist colony where Thomas Mann built a summer house in 1929. Lithuanian Litvak Jewish heritage adds another deep layer — Vilna was once known as the Jerusalem of the North, and Vilnius alone holds the State Jewish Museum and the YIVO institute archives. Distances are short, roads are good, English and Russian are widely understood, and the country is among the safest in Europe.
Ways to Experience This Destination
One of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Europe, built up under the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and dense with Baroque churches, university buildings and former monastic complexes. Užupis, Gediminas Hill, the Gates of Dawn and the Cathedral basilica are the core stops.
Trakai's red-brick island castle on Lake Galvė is Lithuania's most-photographed sight and an easy day trip from Vilnius. The local Karaim minority — brought from the Crimean peninsula by Grand Duke Vytautas in the 14th century — still operates its small wooden kenesa and bakes the kibinai pastry that locals queue for.
The 98 km Curonian Spit, a UNESCO-listed sand-dune peninsula shared with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, is reached via Klaipėda. Nida holds Thomas Mann's summer house, Juodkrantė hides Soviet-era weather radar towers, and the entire spit is one of Europe's most distinctive coastal landscapes.
The Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai holds well over 100,000 votive crosses and is one of the most striking Catholic pilgrimage sites in Europe. The Gates of Dawn chapel in Vilnius, with its miraculous Madonna icon, draws Polish and Lithuanian pilgrims year-round.
Vilnius — once known as the Jerusalem of the North for its centrality in Eastern European Jewish learning — is a prime destination for Jewish heritage travel. The State Jewish Museum (Vilna Gaon Museum), the former Great Synagogue site and the Holocaust memorials at Ponary and the Ninth Fort in Kaunas form a single, substantial circuit.
Kaunas served as Lithuania's interim capital from 1919 to 1939 while Vilnius was held by Poland, and the city's interwar Bauhaus-influenced modernist architecture earned it European Capital of Culture status in 2022. The Ninth Fort, central post office and Christ's Resurrection Basilica are the headline pieces.
Money & Currency
Euro (EUR)
Currency code: EUR
Practical Money Tips
Lithuania uses the euro (EUR) — Eurozone member since 2015; one of the most affordable destinations in the EU; Vilnius and Kaunas are excellent value compared to Western Europe
Lithuania joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2015, replacing the litas (LTL). The euro is the sole currency throughout the country. No currency exchange is needed for travellers from other Eurozone countries. For visitors from outside the Eurozone (USD, GBP, CHF, etc.), exchange at Lithuanian bank branches, airport currency desks, or withdraw from ATMs. Exchange rates are competitive and transparent. Lithuania is the most affordable of the three Baltic capitals — Vilnius is notably cheaper than Riga or Tallinn while offering excellent food, Old Town heritage, and a growing arts scene.
ATMs widely available across Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, and all major towns — Luminor, SEB, Swedbank most common; standard Eurozone withdrawal fees
ATMs are abundant in all Lithuanian cities. In Vilnius, machines are particularly dense in the Old Town, around Gedimino Avenue, and at the airport. Banks include Luminor, SEB Bank, Swedbank, and Šiaulių Bankas. Machines dispense EUR and accept international Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus cards. Standard fees: EUR 2–4 per foreign transaction depending on your home bank, plus possible exchange margins for non-EUR accounts. In Aukštaitija National Park and more rural areas, ATMs exist in nearby market towns. Contactless and card use is so widespread that most visitors need very little cash.
One of the most cashless countries in the EU — Visa and Mastercard accepted almost universally; Apple Pay and Google Pay work seamlessly; cash is rarely needed
Lithuania ranks among Europe's most cashless societies. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in the vast majority of shops, restaurants, bars, cafés, museums, and transport. Apple Pay and Google Pay function on all standard NFC-enabled terminals — used everywhere in Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipeda. Buses in Vilnius and Kaunas have contactless card validators. Parking in Vilnius accepts card via app (CityBee). Even small market stalls and street food vendors in Vilnius Old Town commonly accept cards. Carrying EUR 20–40 in cash is sufficient for an entire week's incidental expenses.
Budget guide: coffee EUR 2–3.50; lunch EUR 7–14; dinner EUR 12–25; Vilnius Old Town accommodation EUR 50–100/night; Trakai day trip from Vilnius EUR 3 return train
Lithuania is one of the best-value EU destinations. Coffee at a Vilnius café: EUR 2–3.50. Lunch at a café or cafeteria (soup, main, drink): EUR 7–12. Evening meal at a mid-range restaurant: EUR 12–25 per person. A pint of Švyturys or Utenos beer: EUR 3–5 in a bar. Budget accommodation (hostel dorm, Vilnius): EUR 15–25/night. Mid-range hotel (Vilnius Old Town): EUR 60–100/night. Trakai Island Castle entry: EUR 10 adults. Return bus from Vilnius airport to city centre: EUR 2. A comfortable day including a meal, sightseeing, and transport: EUR 25–50.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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