Travel to the southernmost part of the Baltics and journey to the top 8 places to see in Lithuania. Also known as “The Iron Lady” of the Baltics, the Republic of Lithuania is a newly independent, sovereign nation that just got out of the Russian shadow in the 1990s. It is a fairly new European Union member and is a part of the Schengen area. For so many years, Lithuania belonged to the Soviet Union which had brought many trepidations to its citizens. With the recent developments that underwent after its independence, Lithuania has now become a true tourist destination with its raw natural resources and the remnants of its colonial past.
Before heading to this northern European country, make sure you have secured your Schengen visa first. While there are several nations that are exempted from this visa, there are still a number of passport holders that are required to apply for a Schengen visa. You need not fret about this because the requirements and the entire application process is quite easy to handle. Here are the requirements:
- Valid passport and copies of the front and back pages
- Current passport-sized photos with white background
- Completed Schengen Visa application form
- Proof of travel such as flight booking, travel itinerary, and hotel booking – You may get a Flight Booking for Visa and Hotel Reservation for Visa just for your visa application without having to pay for the airfare or hotel booking.
- Travel Insurance – It is better to acquire this from Schengen Travel Insurance, an affordable and reliable insurance company.
- Personal Coverage Letter
- Bank Documents
Top 8 Places to See in Lithuania:
Have you secured your Schengen visa already? Then it is time for you to explore the top 8 places to see in Lithuania!
Top 8: Curonian Spit:
This 98-km sand dune is declared as a protected natural area by UNESCO and is actually one of the few national parks shared by two countries – Lithuania to the north and Russia to the south.
Majority of the park is under the care of Lithuania and fortunately most of the heritage sites on the dunes are carefully preserved by the government.
When you do decide to visit the Curonian Spit make sure to visit the Witches’ Hill – a hiking trail laced with wooden sculptures of devils, witches, and other weird creatures. Another site to see here is the Thomas Mann Memorial Museum. Thomas Mann was a famous German writer and Nobel Prize awardee who spent most of his summers in this quaint blue-red house. His house is now converted to a museum to commemorate his works and life.
Do not leave the Curonian Spit without experiencing the famous Musical Ferry. This ferry ride starts a couple of hours before the sunset and it will bring tourists to see the entire Curonian Lagoon and will finally end with the romantic view of the Curonian sunset.
Top 7: Klaipeda’s Old Town:
After seeing the UNESCO Site, Curonian Spit, it is best to see the nearby area known as the Klaipeda’s Old Town. Located in the third largest Lithuanian city, the Old Town in Klaipeda boasts of Scandinavian as well as German architectures.
The main attraction in this Old Town is the Theater Square. This is where many musical festivals like the Jazz Festival takes place. When you visit this structure, do take notice of the sculpture of the barefoot girl known as the Tawara Anike. This sculpture is built in memory of the famous composer Simonas Dachas.
Top 6: Hill of Crosses:
Lithuania is not actually a famous pilgrimage site but the country actually has one of the distinct and somewhat uncanny pilgrimage sites known as the Hill of Crosses.
Located at the outer rim of Siauliai, the Hill of Crosses truly deserves to be one of the top 8 places to see in Lithuania because of the variety of crosses, religious idolatries, effigies, and religious relics that are to be seen here. These artefacts are left by the pilgrims and are now appreciated by the thousands of either curious tourists or religious visitors.
Top 5: Saint Disciple Peter and Paul Cathedral:
While spending your time in the pilgrimage site of Siauliai, you may also want to visit the nice cathedrals in the area.
One of the most beautiful cathedrals here is the Saint Disciple Peter and Paul Cathedral. Also known as the Siauliai Cathedral, this structure’s architect followed the Renaissance and Mannerism style that showcases pointed spires and clean, white façade.
Top 4: Kaunas Castle:
Venture to the second largest city of Lithuania, Kaunas, and visit the ever-famous Kaunas Castle. Believed to have been built sometime in the 14th century, this castle boasts of a Gothic-style architecture clad with red bricks and red roofs.
The entire castle grounds is built along the banks of Nemunas River which made it accessible even to the royal adversaries. Due to this the castle had been battered by the series of wars; fortunately about one-third of the castle still stands and is now used as a museum and venue for festivals.
Top 3: Pazaislis Monastery:
Another top tourist destination in the city of Kaunas is the Pazaislis Monastery. Built in the 1600s, this monastery is a great example of Italian Baroque architecture and is the largest religious monastery in the country.
Tourists who go to this monastery love the romantic and somewhat ethereal ambience of the compound especially during winter season. Today, the monastery is made famous by the annual music festival that showcase classical tunes of Mozart and even pop tunes of ABBA.
Top 2: Vilnius Cathedral:
Do not end your Lithuanian adventure without making a routine stop at the country’s capital, Vilnius. There are many deserving sites to see in this city but one of the most imploring is the Vilnius Cathedral.
The architecture of this cathedral is not like any other Roman Catholic church found in other parts of the globe which is why it deserves to be in the top 8 places to see in Lithuania list. The façade of the cathedral looks more like a Roman government building than a religious site; however its interiors is filled with wooden pews, religious paintings and sculptures.
Top 1: Vilnius Old Town:
Lithuania has at least 3 different Old Towns but the best of all is found in the capital, Vilnius.
This Old Town is the largest, best-preserved medieval town in Europe with over 1,000 colorful and historical structures that show how thriving Vilnius was during the medieval times. While traversing its narrow streets, go and visit the Presidential Palace, All Saints Church, and the Vilnius Dungeons.
Top 8 Places to See in Lithuania – Fly now!
Excited to see the grandeur of Lithuania? Then apply for your Schengen visa now so you can board the next flight to this Baltic country. f you plan to extend your itinerary to other European countries, it is best for you to know the different countries part of the Schengen area so you can apply for the most appropriate type of Schengen Visa. Should you need further assistance in getting a visa or itinerary, contact us through our website or our WhatsApp (+1 201-554-8735).
Go to the unexplored part of Europe and visit the top 8 places to see in Lithuania.
