Lithuania City Breaks

A guide to Lithuania

Lithuania is a fairytale land of towering castles, shimmering lakes and dark, forbidding forests. With a western Baltic Sea coast line and surrounded by Russia, Latvia, Poland and Belarus, plucky Lithuania is both stunningly beautiful and fiercely individual; little more than twenty years ago it challenged the might of the Soviet Union and won its independence back. Nowadays, Lithuania is a fully-fledged member of the EU and NATO, operates a booming free-market economy, and attractions thousands of visitors each year. The country has a rich history, with over 800 years of statehood tradition, and once commanded an empire stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

Stunning short breaks in Vilnius

There's some fantastic options for an Eastern European weekend away here, the most popular of which is arguably the nation’s capital, Vilnius. Small but perfectly formed, Vilnius is simply stunning. The city’s historic core, with its baroque church spires, winding cobbled alleyways, and eerie courtyards is so spectacular, that the whole Old Town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a good range of accommodation here, from budget hostels to luxury hotels, and sightseeing ranges from admiring the stunning medieval buildings of the Old Town and climbing the lofty TV Tower for fantastic panoramic views of the city, to having your photo taken with the world’s-only Frank Zappa statue.

A host of superb weekend destinations

While Vilnius is undeniably the most popular choice for a Lithuanian weekend away, there are a number of alternative destinations. Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city, has a vibrant atmosphere thanks to its large student population, some striking architecture and an impressive Old Town. Other destinations worth visiting include Klaipeda (the third biggest city, famous for its summer festivals) and Siauliai, one of the oldest cities in the country.