Money and payments
Tipping
Tipping in Lithuania is not as deeply ingrained as in some other countries, but it is generally appreciated, especially in the service industry.
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Europe · Northern EuropeUsable guideCountry in Northern Europe
Photo: Peter Fitzgerald, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuva) is one of the three Baltic states of northeast Europe. It's a low-lying, mostly agricultural country bordered by Latvia to the north and east, Belarus to the south, Poland to the southwest, Kaliningrad exclave of Russia to the west, and the Baltic Sea to the northwest. It broke away from the Soviet Union to become an independent republic in 1990, soon followed by Latvia and Estonia, the other two Baltic states. It is the largest of the three Baltic states, extending to about 65,300 square kilometres with a population of 2.9 million in 2025.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Lithuania.
Tipping
Tipping in Lithuania is not as deeply ingrained as in some other countries, but it is generally appreciated, especially in the service industry.
Lithuanian
Lithuanian is the official language. It's one of the Baltic branch of the Indo-European family - Latvian is the other.
About 97% of the country has at least 4G coverage, and the major cities and highways have 5G.
Mobile networks
Tap water is safe to drink.
You need adequate health insurance: for visitors, an annual multi-trip policy is often the best deal.
Vilnius is a lively cosmopolitan place, but beyond (and in its less affluent suburbs) lies a rather traditional, conservative society.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
The must-see capital has a gorgeous old town lined with gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical buildings. The country's best museums, hotels and eating places are located here.
28 km west of Vilnius, popular for its picture-perfect castle surrounded by a lake.
The second largest city, has interwar modernist architecture and a compact old town. National sports events are staged here.
The country's only port, so much is industrial, but with a distinctive half-timbered old town. Popular for its annual Sea Festival.
Several museums, sculptures and old churches can be found here, but it's best known for the "Hill of Crosses" 12 km north.
Drably industrial, but has museums, churches and a heritage narrow-gauge railway.
Generally only of interest to refrigerator manufacturers, but is a base for exploring the Dzūkija National Park further south.
Having been severely damaged in the last war, the city has been vastly renewed, with churches, museums and an art scene.
The Curonian Spit is a sandy peninsula in the Baltic Sea, 99 km long but only 0.5 to 4 km wide. Its northern part is in Lithuania Minor and its south in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast: both countries regard it as a national park and it's a bi-national UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Žemaičių Kalvarija meaning Samogitian Calvary is a village in the Samogitia region of Lithuania, 25 km northeast of the provincial chief town of Plungė. It's a Roman Catholic pilgrimage destination and in 2021 had a population of 600.
Aukštaitija National Park is in the Aukštaitija region of Lithuania, 110 km northeast of the capital Vilnius.
Dzūkija or Dainava is one of the five "cultural regions" of Lithuania, in the south of the country bordering Belarus. This region is ill-defined, so on these pages it's taken as Vilnius city and county plus Alytus county.
Places in Lithuania on the World Heritage List.
Curonian Spit
Listed 2000
Struve Geodetic Arc
Listed 2005
Vilnius Old Town
Listed 1994
Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939
Listed 2023
Cultural Reserve of Kernavė
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
To the northeast and east; the name means "Highlands", though the landscape seldom exceeds 150 m. Panevėžys is the region's principal town. There are plenty of lakes, rivers and woodlands, and the country's first National Park.
To the northwest; Žemaitija means "Lowlands", but has surprisingly rolling terrain. Although Telšiai is considered the region's capital, Šiauliai is the largest town.
To the southeast, and also called Dainava; low-lying and enclosing Dzūkija National Park. Vilnius is geographically within Dzūkija, though its cosmopolitan nature sets it apart.
To the south and southwest, and also called Suvalkija. It has the best farmland, and includes Kaunas, the country's second city and sometime capital.
The narrow coastal strip of Mažoji Lietuva was part of Prussia until the 20th century. Klaipėda is Lithuania’s only port.
Public transport and paid services in Lithuania.
By bus
Buses reach all towns, all three airports and most villages in Lithuania, with routes radiating from Vilnius and Kaunas.
By road
Drive on the right, same as elsewhere in mainland Europe, with headlights on at all times.
By taxi
Taxis are run on a meter and can be booked by the phone numbers shown on their door.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Lithuania.
Finding apps for Lithuania…
Other ways to travel:By bicycleBy thumb
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Vilnius · International · VNO
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Vilnius
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | -4° | -2° | 3° | 12° | 18° | 21° | 23° | 23° | 18° | 10° | 4° | -1° |
| Avg. low | -9° | -9° | -4° | 1° | 7° | 11° | 14° | 13° | 8° | 3° | -1° | -5° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 54 | 43 | 45 | 46 | 71 | 77 | 100 | 84 | 54 | 68 | 56 | 55 |
| Humidity | 97% | 96% | 90% | 81% | 79% | 78% | 79% | 77% | 81% | 89% | 94% | 96% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$65
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$170
Per person, per day
Luxury
$445
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $30 | $95 | $260 |
| Food and drink | $15 | $35 | $85 |
| Local transport | $10 | $15 | $40 |
| Activities | $10 | $25 | $60 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Lithuania. Lithuania is generally a safe destination for travelers. Review our Travel Guidance for Lithuania to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Lithuania.
Travel tipsThe Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a union of Poland and Lithuania which controlled much of Eastern Central Europe from 1569 to 1795.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesVia Baltica is a road leading through the Baltic States and Poland in Northern Europe.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsHitchhiking is one of the cheapest ways of traveling. By tradition, hitchhiking is defined as soliciting a ride by standing at the edge of a road, facing traffic, with one's thumb extended/upwards.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesStruve Geodetic Arc is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureFor the more active traveller, Europe provides excellent opportunities for long distance walking, where you can follow long-distance walking trails and take in some of Europe's finest scenery, while getting fit at the…
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyGothic architecture is a type of architecture of medieval Europe, that is very striking and a major reason for tourism and pilgrimage to and within Europe.
Wikivoyage
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