LITHUANIA
Fun Facts From Globus Tours
- By the 16th century, Lithuania was the largest country in Europe.
- Lithuania was the first Soviet republic to declare independence at the breakup of the Soviet Union.
- The Lithuanian language is more ancient than Greek, Latin, German, Celtic, or the Slav tongues. It belongs to the Indo-European group and is nearest to Sanscrit.
Lithuania is the largest of the three Baltic States, with 25,000 square miles of forests, rivers, plains, and lakes, and a population of nearly 2.9 million. It has a checkered history of domination and annexation, the latest of which was overthrown in 1991 by staggering popular protest; not even the tanks of the Red Army on the streets of the capital Vilnius could stop the overwhelming tide of change and the breakaway from the Soviet Union. In the following decades of new-found freedom, this feisty country made great strides in strengthening its economy and its links with Brussels, and in May of 2004, it became a member of the European Union.
Vilnius, the “Green City”, on the banks of the Neris River and surrounded by hills, was founded in 1323. By the 16th century, it had become one of the largest and most important cities in Eastern Europe. It has a rich heritage of gothic, renaissance, and baroque architecture.
Popular national dishes to try are Zrazy (veal or beef roulade), potato specialties, and a summer beet soup called Šaltibarščiai.
VISAS, PASSPORTS, AND OTHER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Visas to Lithuania are not required for US citizens. If you hold a passport from another country, please check with your local consulate about requirements for travel to Lithuania. All passengers traveling internationally are required to have a passport. Please carry proper identification (your passport) on you and do not leave it in your suitcase or hotel room.
It is advisable to carry your passport with you at all times.
COUNTRY CODES
The country code for Lithuania is 370. When calling to Lithuania from overseas, dial your international access code (011 from the US/Canada), followed by the country code, area code, and phone number. Phone numbers in Lithuania are eight digits in length. Dialing from the US/Canada: 011 370+ #+### ####.
CURRENCY
The official currency of Lithuania is the Euro.
Bank hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Euro coins differ according to country, but they can be used in any Eurozone state. Bank notes are of uniform EU design (depicting European architectural styles throughout seven ages, from Classical to Modern times).
1 EURO (€) = 100 Cents (c)
- Banknote denominations: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500
- Coin denominations: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2
For the most current exchange rates, please go to our website at Globusjourneys.com/Currency.
Credit cards are widely accepted (mostly Visa and MasterCard), and you should have no problems using them in larger shops and restaurants. Smaller shops may ask you to pay in cash or have a minimum amount required to use a credit card.
BUDGETING AND SHOPPING
The following budget guidelines are just approximate values or starting values for meals and are per person. Actual prices will vary widely by restaurant and city within a country but below are some averages as provided by our experienced personnel.
- The approximate cost of a soft drink/mineral water/coffee is €2-4.
- An average lunch consisting of a salad or sandwich and a soda or water starts at approximately €10-20.
- Dinner at a mid-range restaurant with dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage starts at approximately €20-40.
Shopping specialties: Baltic amber.
TIPPING
For restaurant services, if a service tip is not included in the bill, tip 10-15%, depending on the quality of service.
For taxis, tip 10% of the fare.
Tip hotel staff approximately €1-2 for room service.
A few coins will be needed for public toilets.
ELECTRICITY AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS
Outlets
Voltage for outlets is 230V. North American voltage is generally 110V. Therefore, you will need a converter for your travels. Adapters will be necessary to adapt your plug into the outlet, but these may not convert the voltage, so both devices are necessary. Lithuania uses a round, 2 or 3-prong plug that looks like:
TEMPERATURES
Lithuania’s climate is mild though it can be very cold in the winter. Summer temperatures are average with plenty of rain. Summer is usually its wettest season with warm rains and cloudy skies. Spring is warm and dry. Winter months are cold with snowfall a common daily experience. To help you plan, below are average low and high temperatures for Lithuania.
To convert to Celsius, subtract 30, then divide by 2. While not exact, this simple formula will give a close estimation.
FOOD SPECIALTIES
Zrazy (veal or beef roulade), Šaltibarščiai (chilled beetroot soup), pancakes, potato dishes including Cepelinai (stuffed potato dumplings).
FEW WORDS OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE
Lithuanian:
Hello: Labas / Sveikas, Goodbye: Sudie / Viso gero, Please: Prašau, Thank you: Ačiū / Dekoju, Yes: Taip, No: Ne, 1: Vienas, 2: Du, 3: Trys, 4: Keturi, 5: Penki, 6: Šeši, 7: Septyni, 8: Aštuoni, 9: Devyni, 10: Dešimt, Where is…?: Kur…?, Telephone: Telefonas, Bathroom: Tualetas, Tea: Arbata, Coffee: Kava, Wine: Vynas, Beer: Alus, Bottled water: Mineralinis vanduo, Cheers!: I sveikata!
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE COUNTRY INFORMATION
Additional country-specific information for US citizens can be found on the US Government’s website www.travel.state.gov. Here, you can find the most up-to-date information about destination descriptions, passports/visas, safety and security, transportation, travel local laws, alerts/warnings, vaccinations, and more. For citizens of other nations, we recommend you consult your local consulate for travel information, regulations, and requirements.
