Lithuania
Geographic Location: the Republic of Lithuania lies on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. In the north, the country borders on Latvia (588 km), in the east – on Belarus (660 km), in the south – on Poland (103 km) and Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation (273 km). Lithuania holds a 90 kilometre long area of the Baltic Sea coast.
Total area: 65,300 sq. km. nearly one third of the territory is covered by forests, 4.5% – by inland waters. There are over 2,800 lakes larger than 0.5 hectares in size, and 18 rivers longer than 100 kilometres in Lithuania.
Capital: Vilnius. The city was officially established in 1323. But a fortified castle at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers was set up earlier. The Old Town of Vilnius is one of the largest (360 ha) and prettiest in the Eastern and Central Europe included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city boasts excellent public transport with trolleybus, bus and minibus routes; plenty of taxis available.
Transport and Communications
Airlines: Airline connections with Lithuania are excellent. Lithuania has three international airports, i.e. Vilnius (http://www.vilnius-airport.lt/index.php?lang=en), Kaunas (http://www.kaunasair.lt/index.php?lang=2&m=2&p=210), and Palanga (http://www.palanga-airport.lt/en/?). Scheduled flights operated by 11 different airlines connect Vilnius with all major Western and Eastern European hubs; 3 airlines service Kaunas, and 5 airlines service Palanga (holiday resort in close proximity to the Klaipėda seaport). Lithuania has 27 airports and aerodromes in total; the majority of them welcome private planes.
Water Transport. Ferries. Seagoing ferries connect Klaipėda seaport with 6 Baltic Sea ports in Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Poland (http://www.lisco.lt/; http://www.scandlines.lt/). Inland ferries connect Klaipėda with Smiltynė on the Curonian Spit (http://www.keltas.lt/en/).
National Currency and Payments: National currency is the Lithuanian Litas (LTL). It is pegged to the Euro at the exchange rate of 1 EUR= 3.4528 LTL. Cash payments will be accepted only in the Litas, but many shopping centres and other service outlets take credit cards.
Visa. Official web site of Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consular information:
http://www.urm.lt/index.php?332512519
List of Countries, Whose Citizens are Eligible to Lithuanian Visas without Invitation http://www.urm.lt/index.php?1017292585
Republic of Belarus (max. 30 days);*
Republic of Ecuador;
Republic of Kazakhstan (max. 30 days);*
Republic of Moldova;
Taiwan (max. 30 days);*
The South African Republic;
The Russian Federation (max. 30 days);*
Ukraine.
* Visas shall be issued upon presentation of evidence indicating that you can financially maintain yourself during the stay in Lithuania (traveler’s checks worth 40 € per day, credit cards with due bank account statement).
Countries, Whose Citizens do not Require Visas http://www.urm.lt/index.php?155871833
Principality of Andorra;
Republic of Argentina;
Republic of Armenia;*
Australia;
Republic of Austria;
Kingdom of Belgium;
Republic of Bolivia;
Federative Republic of Brazil;
Negara Brunei Darussalam;
Republic of Bulgaria;
Canada;
Republic of Chile;
People's Republic of China;*
Republic of Costa Rica;
Republic of Croatia;
Republic of Cyprus;
Czech Republic;
Kingdom of Denmark;
Republic of Estonia;
Republic of Finland;
French Republic;
Federal Republic of Germany;
Republic of Guatemala;
Hellenic Republic;
Republic of Honduras;
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (only for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders);
Republic of Hungary;
Republic of Iceland;
Ireland;
State of Israel;
Republic of Italy;
Japan;
Republic of South Korea;
Republic of Latvia;
Principality of Liechtenstein;
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg;
Macau Special Administrative Region (only for Macau Special Administrative Region passport holders);
Federation of Malaysia;
Republic of Malta;
Kingdom of Morocco (for holders of diplomatic passport only);
United Mexican States;
Republic of Moldova (for holders of diplomatic passport only);
Principality of Monaco;
Kingdom of Netherlands;
New Zealand;
Republic of Nicaragua;
Kingdom of Norway;
Republic of Panama;
Republic of Paraguay;
Republic of Poland;
Portuguese Republic;
Romania;
Republic of San Marino;
Republic of El Salvador;
Republic of Singapore;
Republic of Slovakia;
Republic of Slovenia;
Kingdom of Spain;
Kingdom of Sweden;
Confederation of Switzerland;
Republic of Turkey;**
Ukraine;**
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland;
The United States of America;
Oriental Republic of Uruguay;
The Holy See (State of the Vatican City);
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;
*For holders of diplomatic and official passport only.
** For holders of diplomatic, official and special passports only.
