A gregarious Baroque city of party folks and folksy arts. Lithuania owes much to the rich cultural currents of central Europe: it once shared an empire with neighbouring Poland that stretched from the Baltic Sea almost to the Black Sea. Its capital Vilnius boasts a Baroque Old Town that is the largest in Eastern Europe and praised as the 'New Prague'.
Capital: Vilnius
President: Valdas Adamkus
Prime Minister: Andrius Kubilius
Government: parliamentary democracy
Time zone: GMT +2
Area: 65200
Population: 3425324
Languages: One of only two surviving languages of the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family. The other is Latvian. Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam, Judaism
Currency: Lithuanian Litas (Lt)
Country Dialing Code: 370
Frequent flights operate between Vilnius or Kaunas and most European capitals. There are no direct flights between Lithuania and North America, Australia and Asia. Vilnius airport is 5km (3mi) south of the city centre, in the suburb of Kirtimai, while Kaunas airport is 10km (6mi) north of the Old Town. Buses are the cheapest method of reaching Lithuania, with direct buses from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus (and pretty much from everywhere else in Europe if you can handle making a single change of bus in Warsaw). Lithuanian border guards are pretty nonchalant nowadays. They certainly don't bother stamping EU passports and manage the odd smile. International trains to/from Vilnius are limited to Moscow, St Petersburg and Minsk; change in Kaliningrad to get to/from Berlin. Few trains pass through Belarus these days but it's always wise to check beforehand - if yes, a Belarus transit visa is imperative. Ferries link the west coast port of Klaipeda with Å rhus and Aabenraa (Denmark), Kiel and Sassnitz (Germany), Karlshamn (Sweden) and Gdansk (Poland).
Buses and trains are the best ways to get around, as they go just about everywhere. Although buses are quicker and slightly cheaper, train travel is far from dear: you can track 100km (62mi) on little more than small change in general seating class. Driving isn't a bad option since the main roads are good, traffic is light and distances are small. It's best to bring your own vehicle, because car rental is very expensive. Lithuanians drive on the right and a zero blood-alcohol level is strictly enforced. Cycle touring is slowily taking off in Lithuania, the country's flatness, small size and light traffic making it good pedalling territory.
The Lithuanian climate is relatively temperate, with a slight edge that gives it that fresh eastern European charm. It verges on the continental as you move inland where, in winter, it's typically 2° C (36° F) to 4° C (39° F) colder than on the coasts but in summer may be a degree or two warmer. From May to September, daytime highs are normally between 14° C (57° F) and 22° C (72° F) with moderate rainy periods. Coastal waters at this time average between 16° C (60° F) and 21° C (70° F). Winter (November to March) is a long dark affair with temperatures rarely rising above 4° C (39° F) and frequently dipping below zero (32° F), particularly in January. Annual precipitation ranges from 500mm (20in) to 600mm (24in) in the lowland areas to 700mm (28in)to 900mm (35in) in the uplands. About 75% of it falls as rain, 25% as snow. The Gulfs of Finland and R ī ga freeze occasionally, and the straits between Estonia's islands and the mainland usually freeze for three months from mid-January. The open Baltic Sea coast almost never freezes.
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