Lithuania is a country located in Europe with name that begins with letter L. The EU country Lithuania is almost the size of Bavaria, but only has around 2.8 million residents, i.e. there is plenty of space for a varied landscape. This is characterized by rolling hills, extensive forests as well as rivers, lakes and moors and is home to rare wild animals such as lynx, bears and elk. Bird watchers will also get their money’s worth in Lithuania: ospreys, lesser spotted eagles, blue reed and sedge warblers make ornithologists’ hearts beat faster.
The most extraordinary natural formation of the southernmost Baltic state is certainly the Curonian Spit with its mighty shifting dunes: this almost 100 kilometer long headland is between 380 meters and 3.8 kilometers wide and separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
The spit is one of five Lithuanian national parks, among them the historical national park around the medieval capital Trakai. At present, the capital Vilnius with around 580,000 residents, followed by Kauna with around 400,000 residents, are among the largest cities. The old town of Vilnius is characterized by churches and Wilhelminian style buildings and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
Entry
Lithuania is an EU and Schengen country. In order to be able to identify yourself during controls, you need a valid passport or identity card.
Climate
Winds from the Baltic Sea ensure a cool, temperate continental climate with mild but rarely hot summers and cold, often snowy winters. The average temperature in July is 17 °C, in January -5 °C.
Food and drink
There are zeppelins to eat in Lithuania. Fortunately, it is not filled with gas, but made from grated potatoes and mixed with minced meat, quark and mushrooms: the Lithuanian potato dumplings owe their name to their external shape. In addition to potatoes, mushrooms, berries and buckwheat dishes are also at home in Lithuanian cuisine. In the lake region and on the coast, fish and crabs land on the plate. And in the interior of the country, on the border with Russia and Belarus, people know each other about meat and sausages, especially the salami-like Skilandis. You can also drink Midus (mead) honey wine and beer. The Baumkuchen cannot be topped as a dessert.
Cultural characteristics
The Lithuanian fondness for devil figures can be seen in the Devil Museum in Kaunas. But depictions of the Beelzebub are also widespread. In Lithuania, however, the devil is not considered to be the embodiment of absolute evil, but rather a Mephisto who tries to seduce people in a tricky way and sometimes even helps them. As in all Baltic states, Lithuanians like to sing. Every year there are large song festivals in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, where up to 30,000 singers gather. Classical music with opera and orchestral concerts is also very popular.
Medical advice
The health infrastructure in Lithuania is at EU level.
Security
The security situation in the Baltic states is good. Unfortunately, thieves are often out and about in places that are popular with tourists. You should therefore only take the required amount of cash with you on site visits. If you are traveling by car, you should park it in guarded parking spaces and not leave any valuables, papers or luggage in the car. Lithuania borders the Russian enclave Kaliningrad in the south. At the border you should look out for the markings, because unintentional crossing of the border is severely punished by the Russian authorities.
