Lithuania

Begin in Vilnius, where Baroque church towers, cobbled lanes and leafy courtyards make the compact Old Town easy to explore on foot. Give yourself time for the independent spirit of Užupis, the views from Gediminas Castle Tower and a quiet coffee in one of the city’s courtyard cafés. A day trip to Trakai adds a different mood: the red-brick island castle rises from Lake Galvė, and the town is closely associated with Karaim culture and kibinai, flaky pastries filled with meat or vegetables. Vilnius and Trakai work well as the opening days of a Lithuania itinerary, especially if you organize walking routes, museum stops and restaurant bookings in Hello’s trip planning tools. Pack comfortable shoes; historic streets can be uneven, and many attractions involve stairs. In summer, reserve popular castle tours ahead of time. For a calmer experience, arrive in Trakai early, walk along the lakeshore before visiting the castle, and leave room for a leisurely lunch rather than rushing back to the capital.

Lithuania is straightforward to navigate without a car, especially between Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda and Šiauliai. City buses and trolleybuses are inexpensive: in Vilnius, a standard ticket is around €1 for 30 minutes or €1.25 for 60 minutes, while day tickets cost about €7.50. Buy through the local transport system or app where possible, since tickets purchased from a driver can cost more. Intercity trains and coaches connect the main cities, with typical fares of roughly €8–€20 depending on distance and booking time. The train from Vilnius to Kaunas takes about an hour, while reaching Klaipėda generally takes three and a half to four hours. Use buses for smaller towns and trains for comfortable mainline journeys. Download route information before setting out, particularly for rural areas where services are less frequent. An eSIM from Hello can keep maps, tickets and translation tools available without roaming charges; buy and activate it before landing so you can navigate immediately.

Lithuanian food is filling, seasonal and made for cool evenings. Try cepelinai, substantial potato dumplings usually filled with meat or curd and served with sour cream and bacon. In warmer months, order šaltibarščiai, a vivid pink cold beet soup traditionally accompanied by hot potatoes. Other worthwhile tastes include kugelis, a baked potato pudding; dark rye bread with butter or cheese; and kibinai in Trakai. Markets and modern cafés often reinterpret local ingredients with lighter portions, making it easy to sample traditional flavors without committing to a heavy meal. Portions can be generous, so sharing several dishes is a good strategy for couples or groups. Hello’s expense splitting feature is useful when one person pays for a shared tasting menu, while budget tracking lets you monitor restaurant spending in euros as you travel. For drinks, look for Lithuanian craft beer, mead and herbal teas, but remember that alcohol sales are regulated and late-night purchases may not be possible. Ask restaurants about allergens clearly; menus are increasingly multilingual in tourist areas.

Beyond the cities, Lithuania rewards travellers who leave space for nature. Klaipėda is the gateway to the Curonian Spit, a slender sand peninsula known for pine forests, dunes and fishing villages such as Nida. Spend a day cycling or walking, then watch the sunset over the Baltic Sea. Inland, the Aukštaitija and Dzūkija regions offer lakes, woodland trails and small villages suited to a slower pace. Summer is ideal for beaches and long daylight, while autumn brings colorful forests and fewer visitors. Weather can change quickly, so carry a light waterproof layer even on bright days. The euro is used nationwide, and cards are widely accepted in cities, though small rural businesses and market stalls may prefer cash. Keep a modest amount of euros available for local buses, snacks and public toilets. Create a flexible route in Hello, combining city stays with countryside nights, and use the app’s budget tracking to see how accommodation, transport and activities balance across your trip.