Best Things To Do in Lithuania 2026

1. Explore Vilnius Old Town

One of the largest surviving Baroque old towns in Europe — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. Wander Cathedral Square, Pilies Street and the Gate of Dawn. The scale and beauty consistently surprises visitors expecting a minor Eastern European capital.

2. Visit Trakai Island Castle

The most iconic sight in Lithuania — a perfectly preserved red-brick Gothic castle on an island in Lake Galvė, 28km from Vilnius. The setting is extraordinary: the castle rising from emerald water surrounded on all sides, with swans and rowing boats in summer. An easy and unmissable half-day trip.

3. The Hill of Crosses

Near Šiauliai — a hillside covered in over 100,000 crosses of every size, placed by Lithuanians over centuries as acts of faith, political defiance (the Soviets bulldozed it repeatedly; Lithuanians rebuilt it each time), and memorial. Pope John Paul II visited in 1993. Nothing else in Europe looks or feels like it.

4. The Curonian Spit

A UNESCO World Heritage Site — a 98km narrow peninsula of shifting sand dunes, pine forests and traditional fishing villages on the Baltic coast. The Parnidis Dune at Nida offers sweeping views. The village itself is one of the most charming places in the Baltics.

5. Užupis Republic

The self-declared independent republic within Vilnius — a bohemian quarter that declared independence on April 1st 1997. The constitution is written in 42 languages on a wall. The president is an artist. Wonderfully eccentric and genuinely creative.

6. KGB Museum (Museum of Occupations)

Housed in the former KGB headquarters — cells, interrogation rooms and execution chamber preserved exactly as they were. One of the most important historical museums in post-Soviet Europe. Essential for understanding what Lithuania endured 1940-1990.

7. Vilnius Food and Craft Beer

Vilnius has one of the best food and craft beer scenes in Eastern Europe. Lithuanian cuisine — cepelinai, šaltibarščiai, black bread — is hearty, delicious and virtually unknown internationally. A full evening of food and drink costs 20-30 EUR per person.

8. Aukštaitija National Park

Lithuania's oldest national park — over 100 lakes, pine forests and traditional wooden villages in eastern Lithuania. Kayaking, hiking, cycling and lake swimming in summer; cross-country skiing in winter. The most immersive nature experience in the country.