Tourism in Lithuania

Lithuania experiences a constant increase of foreign visitors. In 2017, the accommodation establishments of Lithuania received 3.25 million tourists, which is by 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 by 7 per cent more than in 2016. Number of Lithuanian tourists grew by 12.8 per cent, foreigners – by 3.3 per cent. The hotel room occupancy rate stood at 54.3 per cent (in 2016, 51.7 per cent), 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 is 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]

Tourism information centres operating in all majors cities and smaller towns, national parks and other places, attractive for domestic or international tourism.[5]

If the nature of the tour is that the guide 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

Most visitors arriving to Lithuania on short term basis in are from the following countries of nationality:[8]

Rank	Country	2018	2019
1	Germany	214,444	233,407
2	Poland	179,245	199,651
3	Russia	183,750	196,540
4	Belarus	165,569	181,074
5	Latvia	161,660	168,925
6	Ukraine	93,701	134,887
7	United Kingdom	77,420	83,154
8	Estonia	65,131	68,302
9	United States	48,566	54,068
10	Finland	40,801	49,937
Total foreign		1,744,733	1,937,972

Žemaičių Kalvarija Church.

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

Major pilgrimage sites:

• Gate of Dawn (Vilnius)
• Hill of Crosses (Samogitia)
• Žemaičių Kalvarija (Samogitia)
• Šiluva (Samogitia)

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:

• Kaunas Fortress, a massive system of forts built around Kaunas during the Russian Empire rule in the 19th century;
• Plokštinė missile base, a former Soviet nuclear launch site in Samogitia.[14]

EuroVelo 10
Gdynia Gdańsk Elblag Poland Russia Kaliningrad Russia Lithuania Klaipėda Baltic Sea Lithuania Latvia Liepāja Ventspils Liepāja Jūrmala Rīga Latvia Estonia Tallinn Narva Estonia Russia Sankt Peterburg Vyborg Russia Finland Helsinki Turku Pori Vaasa Oulu Finland Sweden Luleå Baltic Sea Umeå Uppsala Stockholm Linköping Ystad Malmö Sweden Denmark København Denmark Germany Kiel Lübeck Rostock

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).[15] 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.

• Kaziuko mugė
• Užgavėnės
• Vilnius International Film Festival
• Kaunas International Film Festival
• Klaipėda Sea Festival

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:

• Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology
• Palanga Amber Museum
• Vilnius Amber Museum-Gallery[16]
• Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
• Church Heritage Museum[17]
• Lithuanian Museum of Ancient Beekeeping
• National Gallery of Art[18]
• M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum
• Vytautas the Great War Museum
• National Museum of Lithuania
• Vilnius Castle Complex
• Vilnius Picture Gallery [19]
• Vilnius Toys' Museum [20]
• Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
• Lithuanian Aviation Museum
• MO Museum[21] – Museum of modern and contemporary Lithuanian art
• Tartle [22] – Museum of Lithuanian art heritage and artefacts.
• Klaipėda Clock and Watch Museum [23]
• Šiauliai Photography Museum [24]
• Akmenė Akemenė fossil museum [25]
• Ornithological station and a museum in Ventė Cape

• Castles in Lithuania
• List of palaces and manor houses in Lithuania
• List of landmarks in Lithuania
• List of museums in Lithuania
• List of national parks of Lithuania
• List of regional parks of Lithuania
•  Lithuania portal

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lithuania.

• Lithuania – Real is Beautiful – The Official Travel Guide by the State Department of Tourism
• Lithuanian State Department of Tourism
• Media related to Tourism in Lithuania at Wikimedia Commons
• Žemaitija National Park’s website
• Lithuanian Guides Database