Tourism in Lithuania

Last updated

Restored Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius Valdovu by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg
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. Nidos uostas by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg
Nida is a resort town in Lithuania, on the Curonian Spit, and the westernmost point of Lithuania and the Baltic States.
Pazaislis Monastery Pazaislis by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg
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]

Contents

Overview

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 Oro balionai virs Vilniaus Najamiescio - panoramio.jpg
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

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

Country201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 127,033132,346 Increase2.svg122,630 Decrease2.svg132,368 Increase2.svg154,124 Increase2.svg161,421 Increase2.svg179,245 Increase2.svg199,651 Increase2.svg50,670 Decrease2.svg54,674 Increase2.svg117,555 Increase2.svg173,497 Increase2.svg
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 144,975152,087 Increase2.svg166,436 Increase2.svg174,494 Increase2.svg179,723 Increase2.svg176,154 Decrease2.svg214,444 Increase2.svg233,407 Increase2.svg47,884 Decrease2.svg51,324 Increase2.svg98,992 Increase2.svg127,401 Increase2.svg
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 76,43186,101 Increase2.svg107,744 Increase2.svg119,673 Increase2.svg137,962 Increase2.svg152,269 Increase2.svg161,660 Increase2.svg168,925 Increase2.svg71,971 Decrease2.svg54,531 Decrease2.svg131,781 Increase2.svg144,323 Increase2.svg
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 117,037163,707 Increase2.svg189,888 Increase2.svg165,410 Decrease2.svg174,070 Increase2.svg177,099 Increase2.svg165,569 Decrease2.svg181,074 Increase2.svg42,946 Decrease2.svg35,439 Decrease2.svg98,328 Increase2.svg141,894 Increase2.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 37,75244,167 Increase2.svg46,136 Increase2.svg54,067 Increase2.svg58,178 Increase2.svg66,365 Increase2.svg77,420 Increase2.svg83,154 Increase2.svg21,439 Decrease2.svg29,076 Increase2.svg67,392 Increase2.svg74,148 Increase2.svg
Flag of the United States.svg  United States Increase2.svg35,230 Increase2.svgDecrease2.svgIncrease2.svg43,524 Increase2.svg48,566 Increase2.svg54,068 Increase2.svg11,746 Decrease2.svg20,883 Increase2.svg54,442 Increase2.svg69,685 Increase2.svg
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Increase2.svg46,789 Increase2.svg59,453 Increase2.svg84,017 Increase2.svg83,193 Decrease2.svg93,701 Increase2.svg134,887 Increase2.svg59,352 Decrease2.svg44,678 Decrease2.svg101,775 Increase2.svg67,032 Decrease2.svg
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 39,71243,183 Increase2.svg48,681 Increase2.svg53,732 Increase2.svg59,579 Increase2.svg63,193 Increase2.svg65,131 Increase2.svg68,302 Increase2.svg42,305 Decrease2.svg22,944 Decrease2.svg52,585 Increase2.svg61,317 Increase2.svg
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 34,74534,166 Decrease2.svgDecrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svg49,937 Increase2.svg16,685 Decrease2.svgDecrease2.svg27,363 Increase2.svg35,503 Increase2.svg
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Increase2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgDecrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svg32,606 Increase2.svg
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 30,13728,912 Decrease2.svg33,790 Increase2.svg40,627 Increase2.svg39,944 Decrease2.svg39,890 Decrease2.svg43,285 Increase2.svgIncrease2.svgDecrease2.svg14,105 Increase2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svg
Flag of France.svg  France Decrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgDecrease2.svg14,491 Increase2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svg
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 26,46129,169 Increase2.svgIncrease2.svg42,397 Increase2.svg39,793 Decrease2.svgDecrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgDecrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svgIncrease2.svg
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 214,337248,536 Increase2.svg226,575 Decrease2.svg154,117 Decrease2.svg155,538 Increase2.svg168,099 Increase2.svg183,750 Increase2.svg196,540 Increase2.svg40,260 Decrease2.svgDecrease2.svg38,081 Increase2.svgDecrease2.svg
Total foreign1,147,9381,260,3361,356,8351,388,4871,517,8901,583,8011,744,7331,937,972511,566505,3611,149,5371,369,549
Y-to-Y change %

Notable places

Cities

Church of St. Anne, Vilnius Les eglises St-Anne et St-Francois des Bernardins (Vilnius) (7670908128).jpg
Church of St. Anne, Vilnius
Minija is known for water tourism Minges kaimas 13.jpg
Minija is known for water tourism

Towns and villages

Specific destinations

Protected areas

Sand dunes in Kursiu Nerija National Park Pilkosios kopos1.jpg
Sand dunes in Kuršių Nerija National Park
Curonian Lagoon, view from the Agila dune in Neringa Nagliu ilanka nuo Agilos kopos.JPG
Curonian Lagoon, view from the Agila dune in Neringa

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

Cultural routes

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

Zemaiciu Kalvarija Church. Zemaiciu Kalvarija Church 2, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg
Žemaičių Kalvarija Church.

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

Major pilgrimage sites:

Resorts

Golden sand beach in Palanga Palanga 10.jpg
Golden sand beach in Palanga

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

Resorts

Resort territories

Former places

Military heritage

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

Signage for EuroVelo 11, Vilnius, Lithuania. EuroVelo 11.jpg
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

Museums

The names of the executed Lithuanian partisans are carved on the basement wall of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights Former KGB HQ, Vilnius, Lithuania, 2008.jpg
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 Presidential Palace in Kaunas (2018).jpg
The Historical Presidential Palace in Kaunas

Museums include:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klaipėda</span> Coastal city in Lithuania

Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coast. It is the third largest city in Lithuania, the fifth largest city in the Baltic States and the capital of Klaipėda County, as well as the only major seaport in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaunas</span> Second-largest city in Lithuania

Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius, the fourth largest city in the Baltic States and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a county in the Duchy of Trakai of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Trakai Palatinate since 1413. In the Russian Empire, it was the capital of the Kaunas Governorate from 1843 to 1915.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trakai</span> City in Dzūkija, Lithuania

Trakai is a city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 kilometres west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania or just 7 kilometres from the administrative limits of the Lithuanian capital city. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative centre of Trakai district municipality. The city is inhabited by 5,357 people, according to 2007 estimates. A notable feature of Trakai is that the city was built and preserved by people of different nationalities. Historically, communities of Karaims, Tatars, Lithuanians, Russians, Jews and Poles lived here. Trakai was the medieval capital city of Lithuania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neman</span> River in Northeast Europe

Neman, Niemen or Nemunas is a river in Europe that rises in central Belarus and flows through Lithuania then forms the northern border of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia's western exclave, which specifically follows its southern channel. It drains into the Curonian Lagoon, narrowly connected to the Baltic Sea. The 937 km (582 mi) long Neman is a major Eastern European river. It flows generally west to Grodno within 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) of the Polish border, north to Kaunas, then westward again to the sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Druskininkai</span> City in Dzūkija, Lithuania

Druskininkai is a spa city on the Nemunas River in southern Lithuania, close to the borders of Belarus and Poland. The city of Druskininkai is known for being a spa resort since the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samogitia</span> Lithuanian ethnographic region

Samogitia, often known by its Lithuanian name Žemaitija is one of the five cultural regions of Lithuania and formerly one of the two core administrative divisions of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania alongside Lithuania proper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telšiai</span> Town in Samogitia Region, Lithuania

Telšiai is a city in Lithuania with about 21,499 inhabitants. It is the capital of Telšiai County and Samogitia region, and it is located on the shores of Lake Mastis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aukštaitija</span> Ethnographic region of Lithuania

Aukštaitija is the name of one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. The name comes from the fact that the lands are in the upper basin of the Nemunas, as opposed to the Lowlands that begin from Šiauliai westward. Although Kaunas is surrounded by Aukštaitija, the city itself is not considered to be a part of any ethnographic region in most cases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plungė</span> City in Samogitia, Lithuania

Plungė is a city in Lithuania with 17,252 inhabitants. Plunge is the capital of the Plungė District Municipality which has 33,251 inhabitants (2022). Two parts of the city are separated by the Babrungas River and two bridges are built over it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Varėna District Municipality</span> Municipality in Dzūkija, Lithuania

Varėna District Municipality is a municipality in Alytus County in southern Lithuania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palanga</span> City in Samogitia, Lithuania

Palanga is a resort city in western Lithuania, on the shore of the Baltic Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palanga International Airport</span> Airport

Palanga International Airport is a regional international airport located near the resort town Palanga at the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest airport in Lithuania and focuses on short and mid-range routes to European destinations. It serves the Lithuanian Baltic sea resorts of Palanga and the city of Klaipėda, and parts of Samogitia and western Latvia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birštonas</span> City in Suvalkija, Lithuania

Birštonas is a balneological resort and a spa town in Lithuania situated 30 km (19 mi) south of Kaunas on the right bank of the Nemunas River. Birštonas received its city rights 1529 and was appointed a city in 1966. The city is the administrative centre of the Birštonas municipality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anortė Mackelaitė</span> Lithuanian artist

Marija Anortė Mackelaitė, better known as Anortė Mackelaitė, is a Lithuanian stained glass artist. Along with stained-glass artists such as Stasys Ušinskas, Algimantas Stoškus, Kazimieras Morkūnas, Antanas Garbuskas, Filomena Ušinskaitė, Konstantinas Šatūnas and Bronius Bružas, she has been cited as one of the leading artists in this field in Lithuania and the Baltic States. Her best-known work is the brightly colored stained-glass windows which she contributed to Anykščiai Church, the tallest church in Lithuania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Lithuania-related articles</span>

The following is an alphabetical list of articles related to Lithuania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kėdainiai Bus Station</span>

Kėdainiai Bus Station is the central bus station in Kedainiai, Lithuania. It serves as a terminal for suburban and national coach services.

The National coat of arms of Lithuania is a mounted armoured knight holding a sword and shield, known as Vytis. Since the early 15th century, it has been Lithuania's official coat of arms and is one of the oldest European coats of arms. The coat of arms features a red field with a white (silver) armoured knight on a white (silver) horse holding in his right hand a white (silver) sword above his head.

References

  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. 1 2 "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.