I asked myself this when I was planning a vacation in Lithuania a few years ago.
Back then Lithuania to me was just one of the Baltic States that I didn’t hear much about. However, my sense of adventure took over as travelling and discovering new places is my passion.
Since I first visited the country I found many things close to my heart and it soon became one of my favourites.
I fell in love with this charming historic place
(not overcrowded by mass tourism yet) and its people who were friendly and welcoming, keeping their traditions and culture live to the present day.
I stayed in a Vilnius apartment right in the centre of the attractive Vilnius Old Town, where my passion for photography was truly rewarded.
I loved wandering Vilnius cosy cobbled streets with church spires always in sight and then having meals at pleasant outdoor cafes.
(Photo right, Cathedral Square).
On my second visit to the country I met my future wife Lija who is Lithuanian and I got to know the country more closely, not just from a tourist point of view.
She showed me lots of places of interest that I wasn’t aware of.
Meeting her family and friends also gave me a deeper insight into the Lithuanian way of life.
We often travel to Lithuania and over time we scoured most of the country.
We visited the historic town of Trakai and its impressive medieval castle surrounded by a lake.
We went to see the famous Hill of Crosses in Siauliai, climbed the majestic sand dunes of the Curonian Spit and explored many other towns
and their historic attractions.
The country's beautiful landscape with many national parks, lakes and incredibly fresh air is also very appealing to me.
One of my greatest pleasures was visiting Lija’s grandfather's farmstead in an idyllic village and experience the country's unchanged rural way of life carried through generations.
What a beach!
My biggest surprise was the enchanting Lithuanian seaside. I loved the unique
peninsular Curonian Spit in the West of
the country.
Its sandy beaches with a backdrop of pine
tree woods, magnificent windswept sand dunes
and romantic sunsets in the Baltic Sea left me with pleasant memories. The whole coast is a part of the UNESCO heritage and I think one of the country's must see places.
For those planning a vacation at a Baltic Sea resort, Palanga is another attractive option in Lithuania.
So Have YOU ever thought of what Lithuania is like?
In this website Lija and I will try our best to share
everything about Lithuania that we discovered.
Read about flights to Vilnius. When I travel to Vilnius from London I usually buy tickets directly from Lithuanian airlines, Fly LaL approximately a month in advance.
When looking for apartments in Vilnius we chose a flat in the centre of Vilnius Old Town: Close to restaurants and bars, yet it's located in a quiet residential street.
If you are looking for a special restaurant in Vilnius, Csarda offers delicious Hungarian food in an old fashioned romantic setting. Highly recommended.
After a busy day I found St. Valentino, an Italian restaurant in Vilnius Old Town absolutely relaxing, offering excellent pizzas and other Italian food.
KGB Museum is a must see place in Vilnius. Only after visiting the museum did I get closer to realising what the people went through under the Soviet rule.
My first impression of Vilnius Old Town was pretty, homely and somehow unpretentiously elegant. It isn’t exactly for those who are looking for a big turbulent metropolis city, which it isn’t.
We liked luxurious Europa Royale hotel in Vilnius, located close to the famous Gates of Dawn for its beautiful, atmospheric rooms set in the renovated 19th century mansion.
