Tourism in Lithuania

Polish tourist buses in Vilnius Old Town.

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.[1]

Statistics

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.[1] This represented an increase of 10.5 percent from 2012.[1]

The new Vilnius City Center

Agrotourism has also gained extreme popularity in the country among the locals as well as foreigners.

Arrivals by country

Most visitors arriving to Lithuania on short term basis in 2015 were from the following countries of nationality:[2]

Rank Country Number
1 Germany 170,100
2 Belarus 163,500
3 Russia 149,700
4 Poland 127,200
5 Latvia 116,600
6 Ukraine 59,500
7 United Kingdom 54,100
8 Estonia 52,600
9 Norway 42,400
10 Italy 40,600

Major cities

National parks

View from Ladakalnis Hill

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Resorts

Curonian Lagoon in Nida

Seaside resorts

Spa towns

Pilgrimage sites

Žemaičių Kalvarija Church.

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.

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.

Fishing resources

Tourism in Lithuania gallery
Gate of Dawn, Vilnius 
Vilnius Cathedral 
Trakai Island Castle 
House of Perkūnas, Kaunas 
Water park at Druskininkai 
Hill of Crosses 
Old houses in Klaipėda 
A street in Kėdainiai 
Kernavė 

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tourism in Lithuania - 2013" (PDF). Statistics Lithuania. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  2. ↑ Number of guests and overnights in Lithuanian accommodation establishments. '000. All markets. 2014-2015
  3. ↑ Žemaitijos nacionalinio parko teritorijoje veikiantys muziejai
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lithuania.
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