Tourism in Lithuania

Updated on Dec 12, 2023

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Lithuania attracts many tourists from neighbouring countries and all over the world. In 2013, 2.2 million tourists, of whom 1.2 million were from other countries, stayed at various accommodations in Lithuania.

Map of Lithuania

Statistics

Lithuania experiences a constant increase of foreign visitors. As of the first half of 2006 the number of visitors (except from the member states of the European Union and member states of EFTA) has risen 11.1 percent compared to 2005 and reached 985,700. Lithuania attracts foreign visitors mostly from Russia, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Estonia and Finland. Druskininkai and Birštonas resorts experienced around 50 percent increase of occupiers in 2005 compared to 2004; while the increase of arrivals staying in Neringa and Palanga averaged 22 percent. The majority of visitors staying in hotels and lodging houses come from Germany, Poland, Latvia, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Finland.

From January to September 2006, Lithuanian hotels have experienced a 13.7 percent increase of occupiers compared to 2005, 51 percent of them being foreign visitors (nearly 620,000). Among them, a number of foreign occupiers in Druskininkai has increased 25.7 percent and 27.5 percent in Palanga. Almost a half of the foreign visitors were staying in the capital, Vilnius, that experienced an increase of 10.6 percent. More than twice as many foreigners had stayed in Birštonas' sanatories, compared to 2005.

In 2013, 2.2 million tourists, of whom 1.2 million were from other countries, stayed at various accommodations in Lithuania. This represented an increase of 10.5 percent from 2012.

Agrotourism has also gained extreme popularity in the country among the locals as well as foreigners.

Arrivals by country

Most visitors arriving to Lithuania on short term basis in are from the following countries of nationality:

Major cities

Vilnius - capital of Lithuania

Kaunas - temporary interbellum capital of Lithuania with prominent Functionalism architecture

Klaipėda - sea port with an attractive old town and heritage of the German culture

Panevėžys - capital of Aukštaitija

Šiauliai - famous for nearby Hill of Crosses

Kėdainiai - city in central Lithuania with prominent Renaissance architecture monuments

National parks

Aukštaitija National Park

Žemaitija National Park

Kuršių Nerija National Park

Dzūkija National Park

Trakai Historical National Park

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Kernavė - a complex of historical hillforts and an archeological site, nicknamed "Lithuanian Troy"

Curonian Spit

Vilnius Old Town - the old capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, is among the largest in the Eastern Europe

Seaside resorts

Palanga - the summer capital of Lithuania with sandy beaches

Nida - a world heritage site with unique heritage and nature

Juodkrantė - a former German luxury resort

Spa towns

Birštonas

Druskininkai - a developed spa town with the largest water park in the Eastern Europe.

Pilgrimage sites

Lithuania is a perfect spot for people who are looking for some spiritual energy and to come in peace with themselves. It has many holy sites, especially in Samogitia, which are worth a visit.

Major pilgrimage sites:

Gate of Dawn (Vilnius);

Hill of Crosses, (Samogitia);

Žemaičių Kalvarija, (Samogitia);

Šiluva.

Military heritage tourism

Due to former Soviet occupation of Lithuania, the country has many military sites left and may be very interesting place as a place of Militarism heritage tourism. It might be interesting for everyone to see, who is interested in history of the warfare or the Cold War.

Major militarism heritage sites in Lithuania:

Kaunas Fortress, a massive system of forts built around Kaunas during the Russian Empire rule in the 19th century;

Former Soviet Nuclear launch site near Žemaičių Kalvarija in Samogitia.

References

Tourism in Lithuania Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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