If you have Lithuania on your travel list, you have to know that Lithuania is one of the three Baltic countries. Situated in North-Eastern Europe, member of European Union and of Schengen area, Lithuania is welcoming and accessible. There are a lot of places to visit in Lithuania, even if today it is a small country. It is also interesting to hear one of the two remaining Baltic languages and to find out the history of this very special place.

If you want to know more details about places to see in Lithuania from someone who've spent some time exploring the country, then you're at the right place. It won't be just another post that will talk about touristic Lithuania attractions, no. 

People who're genuinely interested in exploring the culture, traditions, meeting local people and actually expanding their mind will find this article very helpful.

So, here is the Lithuania travel guide for mindful travelers:

Vilnius

Let’s start our list with places to visit in Lithuania with its capital and largest city: Vilnius. Once called the Jerusalem of the North (by Napoleon) and Jerusalem of Lithuania, Vilnius had the largest Jewish community in Europe before the World War II. During the war, the city was captured by Germans and by Soviets, saw ghettos and armies. At the end of the war, 95% of the Jewish population was gone. Lithuania was incorporated into the Soviet Union and remained a part of it until 1990.

Vilnius was a witness to all this history. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its one of the largest medieval areas in Europe. Over 2, 000 buildings are the living proof of Gothic, baroque, renaissance, and neo-classical style. Don't miss the Gediminas Tower, built on a hill. It is the lasting part of the Upper Castle (first completed in 1409) and offers a beautiful panorama. You should also visit some of Vilnius museums, including the one dedicated to Genocide victims.

Besides history and architecture, Vilnius is known for its beer and pastries. Try them and enjoy a rich page in European life.

Uzupis Republica

On 1st of April 1997, a cool neighborhood of Vilnius became an independent republic. The Uzupis Republic has a president and a constitution with 39 articles built on three mottos: "Don't Fight", "Don't Win", "Don't Surrender". It is considered popular among artists and you'll find here a lot of concept stores, arts, and trendy restaurants. Even if Uzupis means “the wrong side of the river”, you should definitely visit it.

Europos Parko

One of the exquisite places to visit in Lithuania is for sure Europos Parko, an open-air museum of modern art. It contains over 90 works from 27 countries. Between them, there is the largest artwork in the world. LNK Infotree is a labyrinth in form of a tree, which includes 3, 000 television sets.

Further Read: Discover More About Lithuanian People, Traditions, Cuisine and Places to Visit!

The museum has sculptures, installations, multimedia presentations, and a lot of interesting things to see. Maybe the most interesting one is the fact that Europos Parko was founded in 1987 by Karosas, a 19-years-old art student, as a new beginning for free art and exhibition mode.

Gruto Parkas

Gruto Parkas is the opposite of Europos Parko. It is a memory from the Soviet era in a form of a garden with statues. The museum aim is to let everybody see the Soviet ideology, which was hurtful to the true spirit of people and arts. The museum is situated near Druskininkai and contains 86 sculptures of Soviet or socialist activists, including Lenin, Stalin, and Marx. It contains elements that remember mass deportations, as guard towers, elements from concentration camps.

At Gruto Parkas there are also an indoor museum, a little zoo, and a space for children. The museum is built like a cultural house from 1940's and 1950's. Fitted with audio and video documentaries, an art gallery, and a reading club, the museum depicts the Soviet ideology and propaganda.

The museum was founded in 2001 by Viliumas Malinauskas, who won Ig Nobel Peace Price in the same year.

Trakai Island Castle

A beautiful island castle from the XVth century is another place to visit in Lithuania. Trakai Island Castle is situated on an island in Lake Galve. With a major strategic importance during the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the castle was built and rebuilt in several phases. Covered in bricks inside-out, the castle is extremely photogenic. Situated into a stunning landscape, dressed in orange, and spoiled by sunshine, the castle is the special attraction of Lithuania.

Trakai Island Castle is just 40 minutes away from Vilnius. Guided tours are organized as a day trip.

The Curonian Spit

On our list of places to visit in Lithuania, there is something made by nature. The Curonian Spit is a sand-dune that separates Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon. It is 98 km long and Lithuania shares it with Russia. The Curonian Spit is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Besides its beautiful landscape, the Curonian Spit has a lot of interesting facts around it. The Teutonic Knights built here three castles around the XIIIth century. At the end of XIXth century, an artists' colony was founded here, for painting landscapes and animals. The artists came from Königsberg. Later on, the place came to the attention of bird watchers and Rossitten Bird Observatory, opened here from 1901 until 1944, was the first bird observatory in the world. Thomas Mann loved this place and had a house here.

Take your time and your history book when you are going to visit Lithuania. It is a special place, carrying with proud its roots and battles, its amazing landscapes and beautiful Baltic people. And take with you the three mottos of the Uzupis Republica: "Don't Fight", "Don't Win", "Don't Surrender".

Book Your Trip and Visit Lithuania Today

Right now, you know exactly what to see in Lithuania. It was very hard to put everything in one article as the country is very diverse and has so many things to offer.

If you want to do a further research on places in Lithuania with pictures, I recommend you to check the postcards and my highlights of Lithuania.