Lithuanian leisure charter carrier Small Planet Airlines has announced expansion of its route network in Asia.
Besides Cambodia, where the airline has been operating for some time now, it has added two new countries, Saudi Arabia and India.
The carrier explains that the move comes as a solution to seasonality issue.
In the summer season, we perform most of our flights in Europe.
However, in the winter we face a challenging question of how to utilize all the fleet of 21 aircraft. Asia came as the best answer because it has a reverse seasonality and its holiday market is growing rapidly, Vytautas Kaikaris, CEO of the Small Planet Group explained.
According to him, several aircraft will be based in Asia. Today, the group runs two affiliate offices in Cambodia - in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The later also serves as the airline's base airport in the country. In the winter of 2016 two of the carrier's Airbus A320s are based here.
In cooperation with its local partners Sky Angkor and Cambodia Angkor Air, Small Planet operates domestic flights in Cambodia. It also offers flights to China, South Korea and Vietnam.
Two more A320s have been dispatched to the carrier's Indian base in Mumbai to operate domestic flights in cooperation with the low-cost carrier Go Air.
The third Asian base is Saudi Arabian city Jeddah. Two Airbus A321s and an A320 fly local routes to Jeddah, Ha’il, Riyadh, and Dammam. The airline's partner in the country is Nesma Airlines.
As for the European market, Canary Islands, Dubai, Egypt, and skiing resorts remain among the Small Planet Airlines' main winter destinations.
Before the end of the year Small Planet plans to open its 12th base in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.
Currently, Small Planet Airlines operates twenty-one aircraft under their AOCs: seventeen 180-seat Airbus A320s and four 220-seat Airbus A321 aircraft. The group operates out of 11 bases and serves more than 45 leisure destinations.
Small Planet Airlines carried 1.8 million people. Its revenue grew to 182 million euro, profit amounted to 19.2 million euro.
Airports in Lithuania posted record cumulative traffic of 4.3 million passengers in 2016. This is 13% more than a year ago.
The number of flights through the country's airports grew 5% to 52,000 movements, according to data published by Vilnius International Airports, the company that manages airports in Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga.
Traffic though Vilnius airport in the country’s capital grew 14% to 3.8 million passengers, the number of flights increased by 5%. The airport served flights to the total of 62 destinations. Notably, European low-cost carrier Ryanair opened a base in Vilnius last October.
Airport in Palanga, on the Baltic Sea shore, demonstrated the highest growth rate - up 60% from the previous year to 233,000 passengers.
The airport doubled the number of destinations in its route network, adding such points as Kyiv, Luton and Stansted in London, Minsk and Warsaw. The number of aircraft movements grew 17%.
Traffic through airport in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city, remained roughly level with the previous year, 741,000 passengers, although the number of flights increased by 2%, including to new destinations such as Stavanger, Bergen, Alesund in Norway and Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Vilnius International Airports emphasized that the Lithuanian aviation companies' accomplishments are due to help from the Route Development Foundation, which facilitated launching flights to new destinations and increasing frequencies.
The Foundation raised 800,000 euro and allocated subsidies to those airlines that opted to use help, among them Belavia, Adria Airways, Ukraine International Airlines, Ryanair and Turkish Airlines.
The foundation's activity is intended to continue throughout 2017, so Lithuanian airports will keep adding destinations and increasing frequencies. The renewed offer for the airlines will be issued before the end of this month, after which the organization will be open to applications from airlines.
Kaunas will be responsible for handling most flights instead of Vilnius in the coming summer, when the latter is scheduled to close for reconstruction.
The works would take up to 35 day. The Kaunas airport is currently rebuilding its passenger terminal to handle the growing traffic, and the process will take five months.
Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World
Showing posts with label palanga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label palanga. Show all posts
Friday, 17 March 2017
BELARUS: Belavia Surpasses Traffic Targets
In 2016, Belarus’ national carrier, Belavia, outperformed its passenger traffic target. Its traffic growth hit 19.1% compared to the previous year, to 2.5 million passengers, according to the country’s Transport and Communications Ministry.
Last March Belavia’s general director Anatoliy Gusarov forecasted that the annual growth would be within 13-15%.
The main growth driver is the increasing transit traffic between Russia and Ukraine, which suspended direct air connection in 2015.
The growing significance of the transit flow through Belarus is undermined by the fact that the share of transfer traffic through Minsk last year increased from 36.6% to 40%.
The total traffic through the country's airports at the end of 2016 stood at 3.5 million passengers, up 22.2% yea-on-year. It's safe to assume that contribution of regional airports (Brest, Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk and Grodno) was insignificant.
In 2015 they handled just 92,000 passengers.
Belavia's development strategy is aligned with the growing transfer flows.
According to the ministry, the number of flights between Minsk and Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa all three in Ukraine, Almaty in Kazakhstan, Ashgabad ,Turkmenistanand Batumi,Georgia increased noticeably.
New destinations to Palanga in Lithuania and Zhukovsky in Russia are also gaining traction.
Cargo volumes carried by Belarusian airlines increased by 68.7% to 48,200 tons.
But considering that cargo traffic handled within the country stood at just 17,300 tons (up 3.4% year-on-year), the major part of the reported cargo was carried outside Belarus.
There are five airlines registered in Belarus that focus entirely or mostly on cargo- Grodno, Transaviaexport, Rada, Genex and Rubistar.
Last March Belavia’s general director Anatoliy Gusarov forecasted that the annual growth would be within 13-15%.
The main growth driver is the increasing transit traffic between Russia and Ukraine, which suspended direct air connection in 2015.
The growing significance of the transit flow through Belarus is undermined by the fact that the share of transfer traffic through Minsk last year increased from 36.6% to 40%.
The total traffic through the country's airports at the end of 2016 stood at 3.5 million passengers, up 22.2% yea-on-year. It's safe to assume that contribution of regional airports (Brest, Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk and Grodno) was insignificant.
In 2015 they handled just 92,000 passengers.
Belavia's development strategy is aligned with the growing transfer flows.
According to the ministry, the number of flights between Minsk and Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa all three in Ukraine, Almaty in Kazakhstan, Ashgabad ,Turkmenistanand Batumi,Georgia increased noticeably.
New destinations to Palanga in Lithuania and Zhukovsky in Russia are also gaining traction.
Cargo volumes carried by Belarusian airlines increased by 68.7% to 48,200 tons.
But considering that cargo traffic handled within the country stood at just 17,300 tons (up 3.4% year-on-year), the major part of the reported cargo was carried outside Belarus.
There are five airlines registered in Belarus that focus entirely or mostly on cargo- Grodno, Transaviaexport, Rada, Genex and Rubistar.
Monday, 25 July 2016
LITHUANIA: Lithuanian Travel Agencies Increase Sales
The year 2016 is successful for Lithuanian travel agencies
Most of them have increased their sales and the number of tourists. There is a tendency of amalgamation and strengthening of the largest agencies. Travel agencies “Novaturas” and “Omnituras” would be the best examples of this successful cooperation.
According to the business daily made by “Verslo Zinios”, the biggest sales are counted in “West Express”: its sales in 2002 comparing to 2001 increased by 20 percent, “Baltic Clipper” grew by 30 percent, “Novaturas” – by 15. The data of all the agencies show that the biggest companies have become stronger, at that time the smallest ones have become weaker.
According to the number of the inbound tourists in 2002 the biggest travel organizing agencies are as follows: Liturmex, Lithuanian Tours, Delta Tours, West Express and etc.
Foreign guests are welcome in the Lithuanian country tourism
Travelers from the European countries make only a few percent of all the visitors of the Lithuanian countryside. The most usual guests there are Polish and German visitors, people from Scandinavia frequently ask about a country holiday in Lithuania.
Good example of an effective marketing could be Czech Republic, where the Lithuanian country tourism association has its representative. After the information about Lithuania in the Czech language was distributed, 800 tourists from this country came to spend a holiday in 48 farmsteads of Lithuania. According to the Lithuanian country tourism association, Diplomatic Missions of Lithuania could help a lot in advertising the traveling and leisure possibilities in the Lithuania’s countryside.
New Hotels
A new hotel “Audenis” was opened in Birstonas this February. Till that time the hotel service in the resort was provided only by sanatoriums. The hotel “Audenis” was established by the textile enterprise “Kauteksa” in Kaunas. It has decided to take up in tourism as the alternative activity. The 10-room hotel could pretend to be given a 3-star category. The prices there are much lower then in Vilnius and Kaunas.
Besides, the owners of the “Audenis” expect to revive the tourism service market in Birstonas. They plan to organize the flights by hot air balloons, the sightseeing excursions by aircraft (the air port Pociunai is located near the city).
A completely renovated 5-star hotel Congress was opened near the Neris river by the Green Bridge. The hotel has 85 rooms, a 45-seats conference hall. Also there is a European food restaurant in the cellar. A bar will be located on the top floor from which the guests will enjoy the panorama of the center of Vilnius.
After the reconstruction the hotel “Vilnius” will become a luxurious “Marriot” group hotel. The 5-star hotel will have 178 rooms and a 500-sq. m. conference hall. It will aim at the big groups of the business class visitors. The reconstruction should last for 16-18 month.
New entertainment and services
Lithuanians are not very frequent visitors of the largest sanatorium in country “Egle”. 40 percent of the visitors of the Druskininkai sanatorium “Egle” were from Poland, 30 – from Germany. Lithuanians made up only 18 percent of all its clients.
9.3 thous. people visited the sanatorium during the last year. The heads of “Egle” expect at least 10 thousands visitors this year. Despite the season fluctuation the sanatorium worked profitably. Last year it had profit of 996.8 thousands litas.
Privatized in 2002 the sanatorium “Egle” is going to be not only the largest in Lithuania but also the most modern one. Its owners have ambitious development plans and foresee huge investments. This year they are going to assign 2.7 million litas for the modernization of the enterprise, in the next two years the investments should make up about 5 million litas.
Broker of the charter flights “Navis Expedita” began to render the service of the air taxi in 2002. The service of the air taxi could be described as a carrying of single persons or small groups of passengers according to order without any preliminary timetable. The company has 3-4 such orders per month.
Air taxi is usually ordered by the businessmen, sportsmen or by pop artists. The plane has 5 or 6 seats, the flying speed is 350 km/hr. The price for one hour’s flight – 600 EUR.
“Lithuanian Airlines” started to operate the route Vilnius – Brussels. The need for this direct flight appeared because of the EU integration process. At that time there are intensive tourist flows in this direction. This year the 49-seat SAAB 2000 will carry passengers 3 times a week. In 2004 “Lithuanian Airlines “ plans to increase the number of flights up to 5 times per week. The trip will take 2.40 hour.
Since the 31 of March the Aircompany Lietuva is operating a new route Kaunas – Palanga – Malme every working day.
The new entertainment, sport and business center “Forum Palace” was opened in Vilnius. There is a modern sport club “Forum” with its fitness hall, 3 rooms for aerobics and fighting arts, swimming pool and jacuzzi.
The nightclub “Galaxy” is located even throughout tree floors of the palace. There are 550 seats in its amphitheater hall. Over 1000 people can tape part in disco-parties. Also there are several conference halls. Two rooms could be used for seminars for 20 people, one hall has 100 seats, other two – 180 seats each. Conferences with 500 participants can take place in the nightclub’s premises too.
The first casino “Casino Planet” to be opened in Palanga on Basanaviciaus street this summer. Many other attractions are planed in the resort, because this year Palanga is celebrating its 750-year anniversary. Besides traditional events such as season opening festival, car racing, concerts and sports competitions will be organized especially for the anniversary.
The anniversary summer festival will take place in Palanga on the 6-8 of June, the classic musical project “The Fishs’ song or the incantation of the ship” will be performed in the park on the 30th of August.
Most of them have increased their sales and the number of tourists. There is a tendency of amalgamation and strengthening of the largest agencies. Travel agencies “Novaturas” and “Omnituras” would be the best examples of this successful cooperation.
According to the business daily made by “Verslo Zinios”, the biggest sales are counted in “West Express”: its sales in 2002 comparing to 2001 increased by 20 percent, “Baltic Clipper” grew by 30 percent, “Novaturas” – by 15. The data of all the agencies show that the biggest companies have become stronger, at that time the smallest ones have become weaker.
According to the number of the inbound tourists in 2002 the biggest travel organizing agencies are as follows: Liturmex, Lithuanian Tours, Delta Tours, West Express and etc.
Foreign guests are welcome in the Lithuanian country tourism
Travelers from the European countries make only a few percent of all the visitors of the Lithuanian countryside. The most usual guests there are Polish and German visitors, people from Scandinavia frequently ask about a country holiday in Lithuania.
Good example of an effective marketing could be Czech Republic, where the Lithuanian country tourism association has its representative. After the information about Lithuania in the Czech language was distributed, 800 tourists from this country came to spend a holiday in 48 farmsteads of Lithuania. According to the Lithuanian country tourism association, Diplomatic Missions of Lithuania could help a lot in advertising the traveling and leisure possibilities in the Lithuania’s countryside.
New Hotels
A new hotel “Audenis” was opened in Birstonas this February. Till that time the hotel service in the resort was provided only by sanatoriums. The hotel “Audenis” was established by the textile enterprise “Kauteksa” in Kaunas. It has decided to take up in tourism as the alternative activity. The 10-room hotel could pretend to be given a 3-star category. The prices there are much lower then in Vilnius and Kaunas.
Besides, the owners of the “Audenis” expect to revive the tourism service market in Birstonas. They plan to organize the flights by hot air balloons, the sightseeing excursions by aircraft (the air port Pociunai is located near the city).
A completely renovated 5-star hotel Congress was opened near the Neris river by the Green Bridge. The hotel has 85 rooms, a 45-seats conference hall. Also there is a European food restaurant in the cellar. A bar will be located on the top floor from which the guests will enjoy the panorama of the center of Vilnius.
After the reconstruction the hotel “Vilnius” will become a luxurious “Marriot” group hotel. The 5-star hotel will have 178 rooms and a 500-sq. m. conference hall. It will aim at the big groups of the business class visitors. The reconstruction should last for 16-18 month.
New entertainment and services
Lithuanians are not very frequent visitors of the largest sanatorium in country “Egle”. 40 percent of the visitors of the Druskininkai sanatorium “Egle” were from Poland, 30 – from Germany. Lithuanians made up only 18 percent of all its clients.
9.3 thous. people visited the sanatorium during the last year. The heads of “Egle” expect at least 10 thousands visitors this year. Despite the season fluctuation the sanatorium worked profitably. Last year it had profit of 996.8 thousands litas.
Privatized in 2002 the sanatorium “Egle” is going to be not only the largest in Lithuania but also the most modern one. Its owners have ambitious development plans and foresee huge investments. This year they are going to assign 2.7 million litas for the modernization of the enterprise, in the next two years the investments should make up about 5 million litas.
Broker of the charter flights “Navis Expedita” began to render the service of the air taxi in 2002. The service of the air taxi could be described as a carrying of single persons or small groups of passengers according to order without any preliminary timetable. The company has 3-4 such orders per month.
Air taxi is usually ordered by the businessmen, sportsmen or by pop artists. The plane has 5 or 6 seats, the flying speed is 350 km/hr. The price for one hour’s flight – 600 EUR.
“Lithuanian Airlines” started to operate the route Vilnius – Brussels. The need for this direct flight appeared because of the EU integration process. At that time there are intensive tourist flows in this direction. This year the 49-seat SAAB 2000 will carry passengers 3 times a week. In 2004 “Lithuanian Airlines “ plans to increase the number of flights up to 5 times per week. The trip will take 2.40 hour.
Since the 31 of March the Aircompany Lietuva is operating a new route Kaunas – Palanga – Malme every working day.
The new entertainment, sport and business center “Forum Palace” was opened in Vilnius. There is a modern sport club “Forum” with its fitness hall, 3 rooms for aerobics and fighting arts, swimming pool and jacuzzi.
The nightclub “Galaxy” is located even throughout tree floors of the palace. There are 550 seats in its amphitheater hall. Over 1000 people can tape part in disco-parties. Also there are several conference halls. Two rooms could be used for seminars for 20 people, one hall has 100 seats, other two – 180 seats each. Conferences with 500 participants can take place in the nightclub’s premises too.
The first casino “Casino Planet” to be opened in Palanga on Basanaviciaus street this summer. Many other attractions are planed in the resort, because this year Palanga is celebrating its 750-year anniversary. Besides traditional events such as season opening festival, car racing, concerts and sports competitions will be organized especially for the anniversary.
The anniversary summer festival will take place in Palanga on the 6-8 of June, the classic musical project “The Fishs’ song or the incantation of the ship” will be performed in the park on the 30th of August.
Tuesday, 25 August 2015
LITHUANIA: Discover Lithuania:
Downtown Vilnius
Lithuania attracts many tourists from neighbouring countries and all over the world.
Statistics Lithuania issues national tourism reports. They are based on statistical surveys, visits to tourist information centers, statistics compiled by the Ministry of Economy, and aggregated data from the Bank of Lithuania's balance of payments records.
Lithuania experiences a constant increase of foreign visitors. As of the first half of 2006 the number of visitors (except from the member states of the European Union and member states of EFTA) has risen 11.1 percent compared to 2005 and reached 985,700. Lithuania attracts foreign visitors mostly from Russia, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Estonia and Finland. Druskininkai and Birštonas resorts experienced around 50 percent increase of occupiers in 2005 compared to 2004; while the increase of arrivals staying in Neringa and Palanga averaged 22 percent. The majority of visitors staying in hotels and lodging houses come from Germany, Poland, Latvia, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Finland.
From January to September 2006, Lithuanian hotels have experienced a 13,7 percent increase of occupiers compared to 2005, 51 percent of them being foreign visitors (nearly 620,000). Among them, a number of foreign occupiers in Druskininkai has increased 25,7 percent and 27,5 percent in Palanga. Almost a half of the foreign visitors were staying in the capital, Vilnius, that experienced an increase of 10,6 percent. More than twice as many foreigners had stayed in Birštonas' sanatories, compared to 2005.
In 2013, 2.2 million tourists, of whom 1.2 million were from other countries, stayed at various accommodations in Lithuania. This represented an increase of 10.5 percent from 2012.
The new Vilnius City Center
Hill of Crosses
Agrotourism has also gained extreme popularity in the country among the locals as well as foreigners.
Major cities
Vilnius - capital of Lithuania
Kaunas - temporary interbellum capital of Lithuania with prominent Functionalism architecture
Klaipėda - sea port with an attractive old town and heritage of the German culture
Panevėžys - capital of Aukštaitija
Šiauliai - famous for nearby Hill of Crosses
Kėdainiai - city in central Lithuania with prominent Renaissance architecture monuments
National parks
Aukštaitija National Park
Žemaitija National Park
Kuršių Nerija National Park
Dzūkija National Park
Trakai Historical National Park
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Kernavė - a complex of historical hillforts and an archeological site, nicknamed "Lithuanian Troy"
Curonian Spit
Vilnius Old Town - the old capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, is among the largest in the Eastern Europe
Resorts
Seaside resorts
Palanga - the summer capital of Lithuania with sandy beaches
Nida - a world heritage site with unique heritage and nature
Juodkrantė - a former German luxury resort
Spa towns
Birštonas
Druskininkai - a developed spa town with the largest water park in the Eastern Europe.
Pilgrimage sites
Lithuania is a perfect spot for people who are looking for some spiritual energy and to come in peace with themselves. It has many holy sites, especially in Samogitia, which are worth a visit.
Major pilgrimage sites:
Gate of Dawn (Vilnius);
Hill of Crosses, (Samogitia);
Žemaičių Kalvarija, (Samogitia);
Šiluva.
Military heritage tourism
Due to former Soviet occupation of Lithuania, the country has many military sites left and may be very interesting place as a place of Militarism heritage tourism. It might be interesting for everyone to see, who is interested in history of the warfare or the Cold War.
Major militarism heritage sites in Lithuania:
Kaunas Fortress, a massive system of forts built around Kaunas during the Russian Empire rule in the 19th century;
Former Soviet Nuclear launch site near Žemaičių Kalvarija in Samogitia.
Tourism
Before visiting Lithuania, try to answer to yourself what you wish to see and do here. Despite being a relatively small country, Lithuania has much to offer to a visitor, from many types of leisure activities and entertainment to a wide list – of around 1000 – of sightseeing objects. Therefore, we recommend you try to see more of the country, not just its principal towns.
You will see that the condition of roads is truly good here for travelling by car or that you can reach practically any place of the country by train or bus. Try to stop off at UNESCO and national heritage sites, visit different ethnographic regions, taste authentic meals, stop by valuable cultural and architectural sites and museums, have a walk in parks, enjoy the beauty of landscape dotted with lakes and rivers.
We have much to offer also to those who prefer spending their leisure time actively. They can take a canoe down a fast-flowing river or make a bicycle tour of the country, go hang- or motor-gliding or fly on board of a hot air balloon.
Citizens of 78 states do not need visas to come here, yet some of them must hold diplomatic, service, special or biometric passports. Therefore, before coming, be sure to find out if a visa is required and how it can be obtained.
Before and during your stay in Lithuania, take a minute to learn some key phrases in the Lithuanian language and do not forget such important information as speed limits applicable on country roads, how to find addresses and routes, how to call a trusted taxi and how to seek assistance and obtain required information.
Why to Visit?
You are in Lithuania. Feel the surrounding green nature: meadows and hills are everywhere. Hear how the land is praised by singing birds. Five national parks are waiting for you. Travel through refreshing forests, see cultural monuments: castles, mounds, churches, crosses.
Lithuania’s rivers and lakes are calling to be explored; numerous resorts and spa centres are ready to share the healing secrets of mineral springs. Hear the soughing of the sea, feel the grains of sand on your fingers as they disappear from your palm. Get a raditional amber necklace and bring a piece of Lithuania back home.
Did you know that the name Lithuania is a thousand years old? Discover Lithuanian history and art. Theatres, exhibitions, concerts, festivals – all for your entertainment. In Lithuania you can listen to world-class classical music, watch numerous plays and operas in the country’s 30 theatres and enjoy high quality contemporary art.
Need a good place for a conference, seminar or meeting? Look no further. Experienced Lithuanian travel agencies will help you find conference halls and make sure everything goes smoothly. Hotels, holiday camps, homesteads, guest and recreation houses are ready for your stay.
Taste Lithuania, literally. Take a bite of brown bread and feel the golden rye. Spread some honey, put a slice of white cheese on top and enjoy... Don’t forget to thank those little workers buzzing in the meadows. If you are thirsty, have a sip of Lithuanian kvass. Smile. You are in Lithuania.
Why to Visit?
You are in Lithuania. Feel the surrounding green nature: meadows and hills are everywhere. Hear how the land is praised by singing birds. Five national parks are waiting for you. Travel through refreshing forests, see cultural monuments: castles, mounds, churches, crosses. Discover Lithuanian history and art. Taste Lithuania, literally. You are in Lithuania.
Lithuania is a relatively small country, but you will be surprised at how much there is to see and visit. You can choose among different ways to explore the country – you may want to limit your sightseeing to UNESCO or national heritage objects or you may want to visit individual ethnographic regions to get a feeling of their lifestyles, dialects, behavioural specifics, or authentic cuisine.
Before coming to Lithuania, find out if a visa is required and how it can be obtained. A visa-free entry to Lithuania is granted to citizens of 78 states; yet, arrivals from some of them must be holders of diplomatic, service, special or biometric passports. Citizens of other states should apply to Lithuanian diplomatic missions or consular offices for a Schengen or national visa.
Once you have reached our country, whether by air, water or land, do not limit your stay to its bigger towns - visit the whole country. You will see that the condition of roads is truly good here for travelling by car and that a train or a bus can take you to practically any place of the country. Getting comfortable bed-and-breakfast accommodation will not be a problem wherever you decide to go.
What to See
Lithuania is a relatively small country, but you will be surprised at how much there is to see and visit. You can choose among different ways to explore the country – you may want to limit your sightseeing to UNESCO or national heritage objects or you may want to visit individual ethnographic regions to get a feeling of their lifestyles, dialects, behavioural specifics, or authentic cuisine.
A trip to the bigger towns of the country will be equally interesting. Larger towns will meet you with more bustle and urbanity, while in smaller towns time seems to run much more slowly. Take an advantage of this: see valuable objects of culture and architecture, visit museums, have a walk in a park, see the beauty of landscape pierced by lakes and rivers.
Another way to see Lithuania is to visit its national parks – territories managed by the state where the landscape, authentic settlements and cultural valuables are preserved. Lithuania has five national parks: Aukštaitija, Žemaitija, Trakai Historical, Dzūkija, and the Curonian Spit. All of them are quite different.
We have much to offer also to those who prefer spending their leisure actively. They may take a canoe down a fast-flowing river or make a bicycle tour of the country, go hang- or motor-gliding or fly on board of a hot air balloon.
Anxious to escape the teeming city? Then take refuge in a countryside tourism homestead. A hot bath in a barrel in the open air is a must! Even the hardest frost is not to be feared, and just think of the romance floating in the air under a starry night sky!
Travelling Tips
Before coming to Lithuania, find out if a visa is required and how it can be obtained. A visa-free entry to Lithuania is granted to citizens of 78 states; yet, arrivals from some of them must be holders of diplomatic, service, special or biometric passports. Citizens of other states should apply to Lithuanian diplomatic missions or consular offices for a Schengen or national visa.
Before and during your stay in Lithuania, take a minute to learn some key phrases in the Lithuanian language and do not forget such important information as speed limits applicable on country roads, how to find addresses and routes, how to call a trusted taxi and how to seek assistance and obtain required information.
Plan Your Trip
Once you have reached our country, whether by air, water or land, do not limit your stay to its bigger towns – Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda or Palanga. Take a trip to other places.
You will see that the condition of roads is truly good here for travelling by car and that a train or a bus can take you to practically any place of the country. Getting comfortable bed-and-breakfast accommodation will not be a problem wherever you decide to go.
If you travel by car, make a stop in parking areas, many of which are located at particularly spectacular spots at highways and national or regional roads. On your way, you will also see many cafes and restaurants as well as petrol stations, where you can have a snack or do some shopping.
As you set off, be sure to take note of the speed limit on the road concerned and do not exceed it. Many speed cameras are installed and police regularly patrol on roads, and speeding carries heavy fines.
Culinary heritage is another area to be explored: as you visit the ethnographic regions of Lithuania – Aukštaitija, Suvalkija, Žemaitija and Dzūkija – try their traditional meals, apple and berry wines, homemade kvass and beer.
Useful links for planning Your trip:
www.lietuvosmarsrutai.eu - information about places of interest in Lithuania.
www.maps.lt - interactive map of Lithuania.
www.poiplaza.com - maps for GPS navigation.
Lithuania attracts many tourists from neighbouring countries and all over the world.
Statistics Lithuania issues national tourism reports. They are based on statistical surveys, visits to tourist information centers, statistics compiled by the Ministry of Economy, and aggregated data from the Bank of Lithuania's balance of payments records.
Lithuania experiences a constant increase of foreign visitors. As of the first half of 2006 the number of visitors (except from the member states of the European Union and member states of EFTA) has risen 11.1 percent compared to 2005 and reached 985,700. Lithuania attracts foreign visitors mostly from Russia, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Estonia and Finland. Druskininkai and Birštonas resorts experienced around 50 percent increase of occupiers in 2005 compared to 2004; while the increase of arrivals staying in Neringa and Palanga averaged 22 percent. The majority of visitors staying in hotels and lodging houses come from Germany, Poland, Latvia, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Finland.
From January to September 2006, Lithuanian hotels have experienced a 13,7 percent increase of occupiers compared to 2005, 51 percent of them being foreign visitors (nearly 620,000). Among them, a number of foreign occupiers in Druskininkai has increased 25,7 percent and 27,5 percent in Palanga. Almost a half of the foreign visitors were staying in the capital, Vilnius, that experienced an increase of 10,6 percent. More than twice as many foreigners had stayed in Birštonas' sanatories, compared to 2005.
In 2013, 2.2 million tourists, of whom 1.2 million were from other countries, stayed at various accommodations in Lithuania. This represented an increase of 10.5 percent from 2012.
The new Vilnius City Center
Hill of Crosses
Agrotourism has also gained extreme popularity in the country among the locals as well as foreigners.
Major cities
Vilnius - capital of Lithuania
Kaunas - temporary interbellum capital of Lithuania with prominent Functionalism architecture
Klaipėda - sea port with an attractive old town and heritage of the German culture
Panevėžys - capital of Aukštaitija
Šiauliai - famous for nearby Hill of Crosses
Kėdainiai - city in central Lithuania with prominent Renaissance architecture monuments
National parks
Aukštaitija National Park
Žemaitija National Park
Kuršių Nerija National Park
Dzūkija National Park
Trakai Historical National Park
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Kernavė - a complex of historical hillforts and an archeological site, nicknamed "Lithuanian Troy"
Curonian Spit
Vilnius Old Town - the old capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, is among the largest in the Eastern Europe
Resorts
Seaside resorts
Palanga - the summer capital of Lithuania with sandy beaches
Nida - a world heritage site with unique heritage and nature
Juodkrantė - a former German luxury resort
Spa towns
Birštonas
Druskininkai - a developed spa town with the largest water park in the Eastern Europe.
Pilgrimage sites
Lithuania is a perfect spot for people who are looking for some spiritual energy and to come in peace with themselves. It has many holy sites, especially in Samogitia, which are worth a visit.
Major pilgrimage sites:
Gate of Dawn (Vilnius);
Hill of Crosses, (Samogitia);
Žemaičių Kalvarija, (Samogitia);
Šiluva.
Military heritage tourism
Due to former Soviet occupation of Lithuania, the country has many military sites left and may be very interesting place as a place of Militarism heritage tourism. It might be interesting for everyone to see, who is interested in history of the warfare or the Cold War.
Major militarism heritage sites in Lithuania:
Kaunas Fortress, a massive system of forts built around Kaunas during the Russian Empire rule in the 19th century;
Former Soviet Nuclear launch site near Žemaičių Kalvarija in Samogitia.
Tourism
Before visiting Lithuania, try to answer to yourself what you wish to see and do here. Despite being a relatively small country, Lithuania has much to offer to a visitor, from many types of leisure activities and entertainment to a wide list – of around 1000 – of sightseeing objects. Therefore, we recommend you try to see more of the country, not just its principal towns.
You will see that the condition of roads is truly good here for travelling by car or that you can reach practically any place of the country by train or bus. Try to stop off at UNESCO and national heritage sites, visit different ethnographic regions, taste authentic meals, stop by valuable cultural and architectural sites and museums, have a walk in parks, enjoy the beauty of landscape dotted with lakes and rivers.
We have much to offer also to those who prefer spending their leisure time actively. They can take a canoe down a fast-flowing river or make a bicycle tour of the country, go hang- or motor-gliding or fly on board of a hot air balloon.
Citizens of 78 states do not need visas to come here, yet some of them must hold diplomatic, service, special or biometric passports. Therefore, before coming, be sure to find out if a visa is required and how it can be obtained.
Before and during your stay in Lithuania, take a minute to learn some key phrases in the Lithuanian language and do not forget such important information as speed limits applicable on country roads, how to find addresses and routes, how to call a trusted taxi and how to seek assistance and obtain required information.
Why to Visit?
You are in Lithuania. Feel the surrounding green nature: meadows and hills are everywhere. Hear how the land is praised by singing birds. Five national parks are waiting for you. Travel through refreshing forests, see cultural monuments: castles, mounds, churches, crosses.
Lithuania’s rivers and lakes are calling to be explored; numerous resorts and spa centres are ready to share the healing secrets of mineral springs. Hear the soughing of the sea, feel the grains of sand on your fingers as they disappear from your palm. Get a raditional amber necklace and bring a piece of Lithuania back home.
Did you know that the name Lithuania is a thousand years old? Discover Lithuanian history and art. Theatres, exhibitions, concerts, festivals – all for your entertainment. In Lithuania you can listen to world-class classical music, watch numerous plays and operas in the country’s 30 theatres and enjoy high quality contemporary art.
Need a good place for a conference, seminar or meeting? Look no further. Experienced Lithuanian travel agencies will help you find conference halls and make sure everything goes smoothly. Hotels, holiday camps, homesteads, guest and recreation houses are ready for your stay.
Taste Lithuania, literally. Take a bite of brown bread and feel the golden rye. Spread some honey, put a slice of white cheese on top and enjoy... Don’t forget to thank those little workers buzzing in the meadows. If you are thirsty, have a sip of Lithuanian kvass. Smile. You are in Lithuania.
Why to Visit?
You are in Lithuania. Feel the surrounding green nature: meadows and hills are everywhere. Hear how the land is praised by singing birds. Five national parks are waiting for you. Travel through refreshing forests, see cultural monuments: castles, mounds, churches, crosses. Discover Lithuanian history and art. Taste Lithuania, literally. You are in Lithuania.
Lithuania is a relatively small country, but you will be surprised at how much there is to see and visit. You can choose among different ways to explore the country – you may want to limit your sightseeing to UNESCO or national heritage objects or you may want to visit individual ethnographic regions to get a feeling of their lifestyles, dialects, behavioural specifics, or authentic cuisine.
Before coming to Lithuania, find out if a visa is required and how it can be obtained. A visa-free entry to Lithuania is granted to citizens of 78 states; yet, arrivals from some of them must be holders of diplomatic, service, special or biometric passports. Citizens of other states should apply to Lithuanian diplomatic missions or consular offices for a Schengen or national visa.
Once you have reached our country, whether by air, water or land, do not limit your stay to its bigger towns - visit the whole country. You will see that the condition of roads is truly good here for travelling by car and that a train or a bus can take you to practically any place of the country. Getting comfortable bed-and-breakfast accommodation will not be a problem wherever you decide to go.
What to See
Lithuania is a relatively small country, but you will be surprised at how much there is to see and visit. You can choose among different ways to explore the country – you may want to limit your sightseeing to UNESCO or national heritage objects or you may want to visit individual ethnographic regions to get a feeling of their lifestyles, dialects, behavioural specifics, or authentic cuisine.
A trip to the bigger towns of the country will be equally interesting. Larger towns will meet you with more bustle and urbanity, while in smaller towns time seems to run much more slowly. Take an advantage of this: see valuable objects of culture and architecture, visit museums, have a walk in a park, see the beauty of landscape pierced by lakes and rivers.
Another way to see Lithuania is to visit its national parks – territories managed by the state where the landscape, authentic settlements and cultural valuables are preserved. Lithuania has five national parks: Aukštaitija, Žemaitija, Trakai Historical, Dzūkija, and the Curonian Spit. All of them are quite different.
We have much to offer also to those who prefer spending their leisure actively. They may take a canoe down a fast-flowing river or make a bicycle tour of the country, go hang- or motor-gliding or fly on board of a hot air balloon.
Anxious to escape the teeming city? Then take refuge in a countryside tourism homestead. A hot bath in a barrel in the open air is a must! Even the hardest frost is not to be feared, and just think of the romance floating in the air under a starry night sky!
Travelling Tips
Before coming to Lithuania, find out if a visa is required and how it can be obtained. A visa-free entry to Lithuania is granted to citizens of 78 states; yet, arrivals from some of them must be holders of diplomatic, service, special or biometric passports. Citizens of other states should apply to Lithuanian diplomatic missions or consular offices for a Schengen or national visa.
Before and during your stay in Lithuania, take a minute to learn some key phrases in the Lithuanian language and do not forget such important information as speed limits applicable on country roads, how to find addresses and routes, how to call a trusted taxi and how to seek assistance and obtain required information.
Plan Your Trip
Once you have reached our country, whether by air, water or land, do not limit your stay to its bigger towns – Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda or Palanga. Take a trip to other places.
You will see that the condition of roads is truly good here for travelling by car and that a train or a bus can take you to practically any place of the country. Getting comfortable bed-and-breakfast accommodation will not be a problem wherever you decide to go.
If you travel by car, make a stop in parking areas, many of which are located at particularly spectacular spots at highways and national or regional roads. On your way, you will also see many cafes and restaurants as well as petrol stations, where you can have a snack or do some shopping.
As you set off, be sure to take note of the speed limit on the road concerned and do not exceed it. Many speed cameras are installed and police regularly patrol on roads, and speeding carries heavy fines.
Culinary heritage is another area to be explored: as you visit the ethnographic regions of Lithuania – Aukštaitija, Suvalkija, Žemaitija and Dzūkija – try their traditional meals, apple and berry wines, homemade kvass and beer.
Useful links for planning Your trip:
www.lietuvosmarsrutai.eu - information about places of interest in Lithuania.
www.maps.lt - interactive map of Lithuania.
www.poiplaza.com - maps for GPS navigation.
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