Lithuania is the biggest of the three Baltic States. It borders Latvia in the north, Belarus in the southeast. Poland and Kaliningrad Region in the southwest.
Landscape The country has a diverse landscape - three hilly up-land and three lowland plains. The highest point is Juozapine Hill (293.6 m above the sea level), which is not far from Vilnius. Lithuania has a 99 km coastline covered with sand beaches and dunes. National Geographic Institute of France confirmed in 1989, that the geographic centre of Europe lies just 24 kilometres northwest of Vilnius.
Climate It is transitional varying between maritime and continental. Average temperatures: +17,2°C in summer and -4.8°C in winter.
Language The Lithuanian language is an official state language of Lithuania. It is an ancient Indo-European language. Other languages widely spoken these days are Russian, Polish as well as English and German.
Population The population of Lithuania totals 3.48 million. Lithuanians comprise 83.5%, Russians 6.3%, Poles 6.7%, Byelorussians 1.2%, Ukrainians 0.7%, Jews 0.1% and others 1.5 %. Based on ethnic composition, Lithuania is the most indigenous of all the Baltic countries.
Religion The majority of Lithuanian religious believers are Roman Catholics (79%). There are also Russian Orthodox, Lutherans and Baptists, followers of Islam and Judaism.
Currency The national currency of Lithuania is the Litas (LTL), 1 Litas = 100 cents. The Litas is pegged to the Euro at 1 EUR = 3.4528 LTL. Foreign currencies can be easily exchanged in banks and exchange offices.
Transport Connections
By Air There are three international airports in Lithuania - in Vilnius (www.vilnius-airport.lt), Kaunas (www.kaunasair.lt), Palanga (www.palanga-airport.lt). Flying to Lithuania is also possible trough neighbouring countries combining types, ways and means of transportation. Up-dated schedule and ticket reservation is available on www.lal.lt, info@lal.lt
By Sea The port of Klaipeda, being ice-free all year round, is the biggest in the Baltics. There are 6 regular ferry lines of passengers and cargoes (www.lisco.lt and www.scandlines.lt). You can travel by car, coach or train from Klaipeda to bigger cities of Lithuania and the Baltic States.
By Road Roads in Lithuania are considered to be the best in the Baltic States. The via Baltica motorway connecting Helsinki with Warsaw and running trough three Baltic States is under construction. There is a well-developed domestic and international bus network in Lithuania and they are popular and quite comfortable. You can find a good road map here http://maps.takas.lt/english/It also includes railroad map.
By Rail There is a convenient rail link St. Petersburg-Berlin (via three Baltic States). The daily Baltic Express, which links Poland with Estonia, stops at three Lithuanian destinations. Other rail links include Moscow, Kaliningrad, Minsk, etc. All information about trains in Lithuania, ticket reservation and schedule You can find in www.litrail.lt/wwwEN.nsf
Leisure, active rest, events and festivals Countryside pleasure and rural tourism in Lithuania
Nature has been generous to Lithuania. The country's beauty lies in the diversity of its landscape: rolling hills, vast plains, rivers and lakes, amber set beaches and impressive sand dunes.
There are 5 national, 30 regional parks established all over Lithuania. They are open to visitors and offer a variety of activities. Forests and uplands are ideal for hiking, hundreds of lakes and rivers offer boating and canoeing possibilities. You can even go paragliding from the highest dunes in the Curonian Spit or horse riding in the countryside as well as in the outskirts of Kaunas and Vilnius.
Even Hollywood is well aware of the beauty of the Lithuanian nature, filming its syndicated television show Robin Hood here. Whatever your interests might be - bird watching or parachuting, hunting or cycling - we are ready to offer you a special programme that will suit your needs and will enrich your experience!
All information about rural tourism You can find in this website www.countryside.lt
The biggest Ethnic events in Lithuania
Lithuania has preserved its rich folklore traditions that are eagerly exercised during the numerous ethnic festivities and holiday celebrations, both in winter and summer time.
Shrovetide, a celebration of the end of winter (second part of February), is marked by a colourful carnival, masked people, theatrical street shows and pancakes, that are served as a traditional Shrovetide dish.
Kaziukas Fair is traditionally held in Vilnius on the first weekend in March. A large range of handicrafts are sold in the city's main marketplaces, squares and streets. Amongst the most popular are wooden and straw household items, ceramic, amber and leather goods, as well as Verbos - the region's traditional Palm Sunday flowers.
Jonines or midsummer festival is celebrated on the night to the 24th of June. It is believed that on this shortest night of the year, plants and water acquire special powers. Customs associated with the feast have retained their popularity to this day. Bonfires are lit, wreaths are floated on water and every year people search for the legendary blooming flower of the fern.
These are just a few indications of the variety of folklore traditions in Lithuania and whenever you come for a visit, you will be more than welcome to join any of these inspiring events.
Music events and most famouse festivals
Music events and festivals are an integral part of every city's cultural life, which is rich both in the capital city as well as in all major Lithuanian towns.
Vilnius will invite you for a folklore music festival Skamba, skamba kankliai in spring, St. Christopher Music Festival in summer, international Jazz Festival and spectacular Vilnius Carnival in autumn. Kaunas hosts a famous annual international Jazz Festival in April, City Day celebrations take place in May while a world-famous Pazaislis Music Festival, which is a part of the programme The Baroque Route in Lithuania, initiated by the Council of Europe, lasts during the whole summer. The port city of Klaipeda is a host of an annual Sea Festival and attracts thousands of people from all over Lithuania as well as guest visitors and performers. Trakai Music Festival invites all the lovers of classical opera and ballet. The performances are held on the open-air stage in Trakai Castle, which gives the event a special atmosphere and unique feeling.
Lithuania is the biggest of the three Baltic States. It borders Latvia in the north, Belarus in the southeast. Poland and Kaliningrad Region in the southwest.
Leisure, active rest, events and festivals Countryside pleasure and rural tourism in Lithuania 
The biggest Ethnic events in Lithuania 
Music events and most famouse festivals