Much like the other shy Baltic states of Europe, Lithuania is a country that many people don’t know much about. That level of mystery can draw some to Lithuania, but the main appeal for most is the country’s capital Vilnius, with its wide-ranging nightlife and fun quirks. The good news is that there's a depth of things to do in Lithuania, from visiting castles out on islands to climbing towering sand dunes and finding spooky wooden sculptures in the deep, untouched forest.
After enduring the icy grasp of winter in the Baltic, Lithuania comes alive in July and August as locals and tourists try to make the most of the country’s short summer. The not-too-hot and drier summer weather provides the best conditions for outings to Lithuania’s beaches, forests, and lakes. Winter does have some advantages, like lots of festivals, including Užgavėnės—Lithuania’s carnival festival—and both of its two independence day parades, one February 16 and the other March 11.
Lithuania is the largest of the Baltic states, but it's still small enough that traveling from one side to the other is relatively easy to do. The country’s rail network stretches from Vilnius to many popular Lithuanian destinations, including Trakai, Kaunas, and distant Klaipeda. Various bus companies also cover these routes, and they run buses to a lot of towns off the train network. But if you want flexibility in when you travel, consider renting a car.
Religion, particularly Catholicism, is still an important part of life for the majority of Lithuanians. As such, visitors will find plenty of religious landmarks to visit around the country, including the famous Hill of Crosses. Two religious attractions that are less well-known and can be appealing regardless of beliefs are the Devils' Museum in Kaunas and the Angel Museum in Anykščiai, both of which are full of worldly artwork and stories related to their themes.
