Tourism in Lithuania

Lithuania attracts many tourists from neighbouring countries and all the world.

tatistics

Lithuania experiences a constant increase of foreign visitors. As of the first half of 2006 the number of visitors (except from the EU Member States and EFTA Member States) has risen 11.1 percent compared to 2005 and reached 985.7 thousand. 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.

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

easide 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 one self. It has many wholly sites, especially in Samogitia, which are worth paying a visit.

*Major pilgrimage sites:
** Gate of Dawn (Vilnius);
** Hill of Crosses, (Samogitia);
** Žemaičių Kalvarija, (Samogitia).

Military heritage tourism

Due to former Soviet occupation of Lithuania, 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. [ [http://www.oginski.lt/MUZIEJAI/Zem_nacionalio_parko_muziejus.lt.htm Žemaitijos nacionalinio parko teritorijoje veikiantys muziejai ] ]

Fishing resources

* Rusnė.

ee also

* List of national parks of Lithuania
* List of regional parks of Lithuania
* Castles in Lithuania
* List of landmarks in Lithuania

References

External links

* [http://www.tourism.lt/en/default.htm Lithuanian State Department of Tourism]
* [http://www.oginski.lt/MUZIEJAI/Zem_nacionalio_parko_muziejus.lt.htm Žemaitija National Park’s website]