Lithuania Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Northern Europe.

Language

Lithuanian is the official language. Lithuania has a large number of dialects for such a small territory, including High Lithuanian (Aukstaiciai) and Low Lithuanian (Zemaiciai).

Area

65,300 sq km (25,212 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are in use.

Population

3.6 million (2007 estimate).

Population Density

54.7 per sq km.

Capital City

Vilnius. Population: 541,300 (census 2005).

Government

Republic. Gained independence from Russia/Germany 1918-1940 and from the Soviet Union in 1990.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius since 2009.

Head of State

President Dalia Grybauskaite since 2009.

Religion

Predominantly (79%) Roman Catholic with Russian Orthodox and Protestant, including Evangelical Lutheran and Evangelical Reformist.

Recent History

President Valdas Adamkus was re-elected Lithuanian president in June 2004, in a poll that followed the impeachment and dismissal of the previous president, Rolandas Paksas, on corruption charges.

During his first term he was credited with speeding up reforms, steering the country towards relative prosperity and overseeing Lithuania's historic progress towards integration with the West and Nato and EU membership.

In July 2006, Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas formed Lithuania's 14th government in 15 years, ending a political crisis which started when Algirdas Brazauskas, from the center-left Social Democrats, resigned as premier in May. He promised to strive to bring Lithuania into the eurozone, ensure better access to healthcare and curtail emigration.

In May 2009, Dalia Grybauskaite, standing as an independent candidate, became Lithuania's first female president, as the country faces its worst recession in over a decade.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +370.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet

Internet is available; public access is at the Lithuanian National Library and increasingly at Internet centers and cafes in main cities and towns.

Media

Lithuania's TV market is dominated by commercial channels. The radio market is similarly competitive, with more than 30 stations competing for listeners and advertisers. Lithuania's media are free and operate independently of the state, and there are no Government-owned newspapers. However, politicians do occasionally attempt to influence editorial policy.

Post

Post to Western Europe takes up to six days. There is a variety of private companies offering express mail services.

Press

• Newspapers are published in Lithuanian and some in Russian or Polish.
• The major dailies are Kauno Diena, Lietuvos Rytas, Respublika and Lietuvos Zinios.
• Weeklies include Veidas and Atgimimas.

Radio

• LRT operates LR, Klasikos and Opus 3 networks.
• Commerical radio stations include M-1 (pop music and news), Radiocentras (pop music) and Pukas.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
16 Feb Restoration of the State Day (1918)
11 Mar Restoration of Independence Day (1990)
22 Apr - 25 Apr Easter
1 May Mothers’ Day
1 May International Labor Day
4 Jun Fathers’ Day
24 Jun Jonines (St John’s Day / Midsummer’s Day)
6 Jul Anniversary of the Coronation of King Mindaugas
15 Aug Assumption Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
16 Feb Restoration of the State Day (1918)
11 Mar Restoration of Independence Day (1990)
6 Apr - 9 Apr Easter
1 May International Labor Day
6 May Mothers’ Day
2 Jun Fathers’ Day
24 Jun Jonines (St John’s Day / Midsummer’s Day)
6 Jul Anniversary of the Coronation of King Mindaugas
15 Aug Assumption Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
According to Lithuanian Law, all holidays falling on a Saturday or Sunday, including those that are always celebrated on a Sunday, are moved to the following Monday.

Contact Information

Lithuanian State Department of Tourism

A Juozapavicius Street 13, 09311 Vilnius, Lithuania
Tel: (5) 210 8796.
Website: www.tourism.lt

Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in the UK

84 Gloucester Place, London W1U 6AU, UK
Tel: (020) 7486 6401.
Website: http://uk.mfa.lt
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 (consular section); Tues-Thurs 1500-1600 (visa section; appointments not necessary).

Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in the USA

2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 302, Arlington, VA 22201, USA
Tel: (202) 234 5860 (ext 127 for visa section).
Website: www.ltembassyus.org