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Tourism in Lithuania

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Restored Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius
Nida is a resort town in Lithuania, on the Curonian Spit, and the westernmost point of Lithuania and the Baltic States.
Pažaislis Monastery

Lithuania attracts many visitors from neighbouring countries and from all over the world. In 2018,there were 1.7 million foreign visitors to Lithuania for business, family and leisure.[1] The historical legacy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, its rich history, architecture, pristine nature, seaside and spa resorts are the main attraction points of Lithuania. Domestic tourism is also highly popular: in 2018 it grew by 12%. Lithuanians also prefer to spend their vacations in Lithuania – 70 percent.[clarification needed][2]

Overview

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Lithuania receives a constant increase in foreign visitors. In 2017, the accommodation establishments of Lithuania received 3.25 million tourists, which was 6.2 per cent more than in 2016.[3] Lithuania attracts foreign visitors mostly from Germany, Poland, Russia, Latvia, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Estonia and Finland.

In 2017 hotels received 2.2 million tourists, or 7 per cent more than in 2016. The number of Lithuanian tourists grew by 12.8 per cent, and foreigners by 3.3 per cent. The hotel room occupancy rate stood at 54.3 per cent (in 2016, 51.7 per cent), and the hotel bed occupancy rate at 41.4 per cent (in 2016, 39.7 per cent).[3]

Agrotourism has also gained extreme popularity in the country among the locals as well as foreigners. Ecotourism is actively promoted by the government and national parks. Lithuania has built a successful ecotourism industry, and has also been acknowledged as one of the world's most ethical destinations. Hot air ballooning is very popular in Lithuania, especially in Vilnius and Trakai. Theme routes through historical and nature sites are popular among domestic and international tourists. Nemunas Delta Regional Park, Žuvintas biosphere reserve and Ventė Cape are known for birdwatching.[4]

Hot air balloons over Vilnius

There are tourism information centres in all major cities and smaller towns, national parks and other places, attractive for domestic or international tourism.[5]

If a tour has a guide who is "interpreting the cultural and natural heritage of an area", Lithuania requires the guide have a guiding license. This definition follows the European standard for tour guiding (CEN). Licensed Tourist Guides are the only professionals permitted to conduct tours in all sites and museums within a city. Licensed guides are required in those areas where the local authorities state that one of them is mandatory.[6] There is a Guides Database to find a guide in your language as well.[7]

Arrivals by country

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The top 10 foreign countries by annual short-term visitors to Lithuania:[8]

Country 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
 Poland 127,033 132,346 Rise 122,630 Fall 132,368 Rise 154,124 Rise 161,421 Rise 179,245 Rise 199,651 Rise 50,670 Fall 54,674 Rise 117,555 Rise 173,497 Rise
 Germany 144,975 152,087 Rise 166,436 Rise 174,494 Rise 179,723 Rise 176,154 Fall 214,444 Rise 233,407 Rise 47,884 Fall 51,324 Rise 98,992 Rise 127,401 Rise
 Latvia 76,431 86,101 Rise 107,744 Rise 119,673 Rise 137,962 Rise 152,269 Rise 161,660 Rise 168,925 Rise 71,971 Fall 54,531 Fall 131,781 Rise 144,323 Rise
 Belarus 117,037 163,707 Rise 189,888 Rise 165,410 Fall 174,070 Rise 177,099 Rise 165,569 Fall 181,074 Rise 42,946 Fall 35,439 Fall 98,328 Rise 141,894 Rise
 United Kingdom 37,752 44,167 Rise 46,136 Rise 54,067 Rise 58,178 Rise 66,365 Rise 77,420 Rise 83,154 Rise 21,439 Fall 29,076 Rise 67,392 Rise 74,148 Rise
 United States Rise 35,230 Rise Fall Rise 43,524 Rise 48,566 Rise 54,068 Rise 11,746 Fall 20,883 Rise 54,442 Rise 69,685 Rise
 Ukraine Rise 46,789 Rise 59,453 Rise 84,017 Rise 83,193 Fall 93,701 Rise 134,887 Rise 59,352 Fall 44,678 Fall 101,775 Rise 67,032 Fall
 Estonia 39,712 43,183 Rise 48,681 Rise 53,732 Rise 59,579 Rise 63,193 Rise 65,131 Rise 68,302 Rise 42,305 Fall 22,944 Fall 52,585 Rise 61,317 Rise
 Finland 34,745 34,166 Fall Fall Rise Rise Rise Rise 49,937 Rise 16,685 Fall Fall 27,363 Rise 35,503 Rise
 Netherlands Rise Rise Rise Rise Rise Rise Rise Fall Rise Rise 32,606 Rise
 Italy 30,137 28,912 Fall 33,790 Rise 40,627 Rise 39,944 Fall 39,890 Fall 43,285 Rise Rise Fall 14,105 Rise Rise Rise
 France Fall Rise Rise Rise Rise Rise Rise Fall 14,491 Rise Rise Rise
 Norway 26,461 29,169 Rise Rise 42,397 Rise 39,793 Fall Fall Rise Rise Fall Rise Rise Rise
 Russia 214,337 248,536 Rise 226,575 Fall 154,117 Fall 155,538 Rise 168,099 Rise 183,750 Rise 196,540 Rise 40,260 Fall Fall 38,081 Rise Fall
Total foreign 1,147,938 1,260,336 1,356,835 1,388,487 1,517,890 1,583,801 1,744,733 1,937,972 511,566 505,361 1,149,537 1,369,549
Y-to-Y change % +9.79% +7.66% +2.33% +9.32% +4.34% +10.16% +11.08% −73.60% −1.21% +127.47% +19.14%

Notable places

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Cities

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Church of St. Anne, Vilnius
Minija is known for water tourism

Towns and villages

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Specific destinations

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Protected areas

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Sand dunes in Kuršių Nerija National Park
Curonian Lagoon, view from the Agila dune in Neringa
See also: List of protected areas of Lithuania

Protected areas established for the preservation of natural and cultural features. Lithuania has 30 regional parks and 5 national parks and 6 strict reserves.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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Main article: List of World Heritage Sites in Lithuania

Cultural routes

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In 2019 Cultural Route of Lithuanian composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis was opened which leads through the places in Varėna, Druskininkai, Kaunas, Vilnius, Plungė, Rietavas, Palanga where composer has lived.[12]

Cognitive or sightseeing routes (Pažintinis takas) are highly popular among domestic tourists. Usually they lead through unique places in nature, where the visitor can enjoy the nature and local history while walking some predefined path.

Pilgrimage sites

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Žemaičių Kalvarija Church.

Lithuania has many holy sites, especially in Samogitia, which are worth a visit.

Major pilgrimage sites:

Resorts

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Golden sand beach in Palanga

Lithuania has 4 official resorts and 5 resort territories.[13]

Resorts

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  • Birštonas – a balneological resort and a spa town, surrounded by pine forests.
  • Druskininkai – a developed spa town with the largest water park in the Eastern Europe, the Snow Arena – one of the biggest indoor skiing slopes in Europe. The Water Park and the Snow Arena connected with the cable car.[14]
  • Neringa - a world heritage site with unique nature, including resort towns of Nida and Juodkrantė
  • Palanga – the summer capital of Lithuania with sandy beaches
  • Šventoji - a resort town on the coast of the Baltic sea

Resort territories

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Former places

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  • Likėnai – a resort with mineral springs.

Military heritage

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See also: List of castles in Lithuania and List of hillforts in Lithuania

The country has some military sites left and may be very interesting place as a place of militarism heritage tourism. It might be interesting for anyone who is interested in history of the warfare or the Cold War.

Major militarism heritage sites in Lithuania:

Bicycle tourism

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Signage for EuroVelo 11, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Bicycle tourism is growing, especially in Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route. EuroVelo routes EV10, EV11, EV13 go through Lithuania. Total length of bicycle tracks amounts to 3769 km (of which 1988 km is asphalt pavement).[16] Most known bicycle routes are: Nemunas River Cycle Route, Suvalkija Cycle Circuit, Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route. Most of the Tourism information centres and national parks have their local thematic bicycle route plans.

Festivals

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Museums

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For a more comprehensive list, see List of museums in Lithuania and List of palaces and manor houses in Lithuania.
The names of the executed Lithuanian partisans are carved on the basement wall of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
The Historical Presidential Palace in Kaunas

Museums include:

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Tourism in Lithuania gallery

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2018 for tourism: number of tourists exceeded forecasts".
  2. ^ "Tyrimas: 70% lietuvių ilgąsias atostogas leidžia Lietuvoje, 27% nuomojasi būstą iš privačių asmenų". www.vz.lt. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Tourism in Lithuania. 2017" (PDF). Statistics Lithuania. p. 6. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Fatbirder. Lithuania". fatbirder.com. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  5. ^ "TOURISM INFORMATION CENTRES". lithuania.travel. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Visit Lithuania". visitlithuania.net. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Lithuanian Guides Dtabase". guides.lt. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Indicators of accommodation". State Data Agency. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  9. ^ Vilnius Events
  10. ^ "Lithuanian Sea Museum". muziejus.lt. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Lithuanian Sea Museum and Dolphinarium". muziejus.lt. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Čiurlionio kelias". ciurlioniokelias.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Kurortai ir kurortinės teritorijos". Lietuvos Respublikos ekonomikos ir inovacijų ministerija (in Lithuanian). 22 January 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Druskininkai Cable Car". lynukelias.lt. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  15. ^ Žemaitijos nacionalinio parko teritorijoje veikiantys muziejai Archived 8 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Widawski, Krzysztof; Wyrzykowski, Jerzy (24 January 2017). The Geography of Tourism of Central and Eastern European Countries. ISBN 978-3-319-42205-3. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Amber Museum-Gallery". ambergallery.lt. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  18. ^ "Church Heritage Museum". bpmuziejus.lt. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  19. ^ "National Gallery of Art". ndg.lt. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  20. ^ "Vilnius Picture Gallery". ldm.lt. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Vilnius Toys' Museum". museu.ms. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  22. ^ "MO Museum". mo.lt. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  23. ^ "Tartle". tartle.lt. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Klaipėda Clock and Watch Museum". ldm.lt. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Šiauliai Photography Museum". ausrosmuziejus.lt. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  26. ^ "Akmenės muziejus". akmenesmuziejus.lt. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lithuania.
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