Great places to visit in Lithuania
Lithuania has a lot of great places to visit. Lithuania is known worldwide for its sacred places like the Hill of Crosses, a lot of different style churches and a lot more. There are thousands of religious artifacts in Siauliai and in Vilnius, which any tourist would like to see. Lithuanian sacred sites are influenced by Jewish, Russian, Polish cultures. But that’s not all – for example, Klaipeda was a German city, so it is highly influenced by the German culture.
Unique buildings, a lot of sightseeing possibilities makes Lithuania a great place to visit. The most popular place to visit in Lithuania is probably the old town of Vilnius. It is no surprise, that the capital city has such a beautiful old town, because it was highly influenced by Italian architecture. Such objects like Cathedral Square will make a big impression to you. It is a famous place because of the Bell Tower, the bronze statue of Gediminas and the Wish Stone. You can find pictures of these sightseeing places on the internet, but of course, that won’t make it the same – you should better come to Vilnius and see these beautiful things in reality. To add, you will find the famous Vilnius University, which is the most prestigious science facility in Lithuania very nearly. Also, you might enjoy walking through the Presidential Palace, which is next to the University. You should be impressed by the fact, that Napoleon Bonaparte lived there for some time.
What is more to explore in the capital city is the Castle Complex. Check out the Gediminas’ Tower – it is a historic place, which you could learn a lot of Lithuania’s history from. It does include the Lithuanian National museum and a lot of more interesting and educational places.
Kaunas is also a great place to visit, because it is a city, that has been influenced by mostly Lithuanian culture. It is called the Temporary Capital, because when Vilnius was occupied, Kaunas was the capital at that time.There are a lot of churces and sacred places in Kaunas, which you should check out. Churches like Gerthrude Church and others have been bilt with greatly gothic style, which still looks beautiful nowadays. There are a lot of more great places to visit in Lithuania‘s city of Kaunas. These might include the Town Hall, the Kaunas Cathedral, Lithuanian Literature Museum, Povilas Stulga Museum of Lithuanian Folk Instruments and the famous Museum of the History of Lithuanian Medicine and Pharmacy. Kaunas also has a few great universities, which you might want to look at.
Overall, Lithuania is a great place to visit in Eastern Europe. Lithuanians have great religious traditions, that is why there are so many sacred places in this country. Do not forget to visit the Hill of Crosses in Siauliai and the old towns of both Vilnius and Kaunas, because those will give you a huge impression. Come to Lithuania and see everything for yourself.
Good car rental tips
Renting a car is perhaps the best thing that one can do when on vacation. Absolute freedom of movement, no itineraries or fixes time schedules. You can stop at any place that you find interesting and you can spend there as much time as you want. That is one of the biggest advantages of renting a car.
However, rental car sometimes might turn out to be a real hassle and event cost more that you could have ever expected. That is why it is very important to dedicate some time for a research on various deals that car rentals offer. We will give you some good tips on what you should look for when getting a rental car.
Choosing a vehicle
First of all, size of a car. If you are travelling with children you might want to rent a big SUV, but have in mind that it will cost you more not only in rent price but also in fuel. And of course, the more often you will stop at the gas station, the more often your children will wander off to convenience store. Well, you know what happens then…
Of course, size is not all that matters. You should also pay attention if the car is automatic or has a manual shift. In some countries manual shift prevails, therefore read a fine print in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises when you get to see the car! Make sure that a rental company provides you with all the necessities that you need the rental car to have. For example, ski rack or GPS system. Keep in mind that these features might cost you extra!
Booking your car
Second thing that you need to take into consideration is for how long would you like to book a car. If it is less than a week or just a several days, renting a car from one of the international car rental agencies would be the best idea. However, if you want to rent a car for lets say a week or two, renting it from local agencies would be a better option. Usually that is cheaper and more convenient that renting it from an international company. One should be mindful that local companies usually do not have very good insurance or very wide emergency network, in case the car breaks down. So you have to take than into consideration as well.
At pickup time
It is also very important to consider the time when you want to pick up your car. If you arriving late at the airport it might be a better idea just to take an airport bus and get to the city that way instead of using a rental car and paying one day’s cost when you will use the car just for several hours!
Returning your car
Do not forget to fill up your car with gas when you return it. Otherwise you will not only have to pay for the gas but also a surcharges for not doing it yourself!! And that can be really expensive!
Although it might be scary to rent a car after all these warnings, do not hesitate to do that!! It is a great service and can turn any normal holiday into a splendid one! A holiday that you will never forget!
Best places to visit in Vilnius with Car
Vilnius is the capital of the Republic of Lithuania and is the country‘s largest city. Vilnius is a modern business center of the Baltic region. Its Old Town occupies area of 360 hectares and is one of the largest in Eastern Europe. In recognition of its international importance UNESCO included it in 1994 in its list of World Heritage Sites. Vilnius is unique for being both the northernmost Baroque city in the world and for having one of the largest historic centres in Eastern Europe. The Vilnius is often called city of hundred churches and visitors of Vilnius are amazed by the quantity of churches built in different centuries and various styles.
The centre and the suburbs of the city offer a lot of green places where parks and hills invite people to stop by and relax. For its unique landscapes and architecture, Vilnius is regarded as one of the most beautiful capitals in the Europe.
If you are a tourist who prefers sightseeing cities by car, we offer you a route connecting all the most beautiful sites in Vilnius and its suburbs. If you follow this plan, you will visit all the most beautiful places of cultural, historical, and architectural heritage located in the centre and suburbs of Vilnius.
Let’s start the journey by car: The first objects, you must visit if you arrived first time in Vilnius is:
CATHEDRAL SQUARE . The Cathedral and the Cathedral belfry are the highlights of the square. Lithuania King Mindaugas built the original Cathedral in 1251 after his conversion to Christianity in the place of a pagan temple. The Cathedral was later rebuilt several times, but its interior still reflects earlier architectural periods.
GEDIMINAS CASTLE. The castle tower named after Grand Duke Gediminas, the founding father of the city, is a symbol of the capital. The panorama viewed from the roof of the Castle Tower is a must see, especially in the evening.
THE HILL OF THREE CROSSES. The Hill of Three Crosses is another spectacular place offering one of the most beautiful panoramas in Vilnius. Legend has it that seven Franciscan monks who were sent to spread Christianity in Lithuania were crucified on this hill by people seeking to preserve paganism after the official conversion of Lithuania to Christianity in 1387.
UZUPIS
Uzupis is one of the most beautiful old districts of Vilnius. Surrounded by the Vilnia River, a hilly village started growing in the 16th century. In olden days, this suburb located behind the city wall was popular among craftsmen and small merchants. Uzupis, which has preserved its many-centuries-old system of streets and houses, has notably revived sinced Lithuania gained its independence. This previously shabby district has become a popular place among artists. Uzupis is famous for its art galleries, studios, workshops, and cosy cafes, as well as for its unconventional concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and late-night poetry readings. Uzupis boasts plenty of wonderful places where you can admire panoramas of the Vilnius Old Town.
TV TOWER
The TV Tower is the highest building in Vilnius and Lithuania - 326.5 metres high. If you are lucky enough to have good weather when you visit TV Tower café that is located 165 metres above the ground, you will be able to see the suburbs of Vilnius stretching dozens of kilometres away from it. Since the platform of the café constantly turns, you will have an opportunity to see the entire city in 45 minutes (the platform turns 360° in this time) while sitting at your table.
The next time you look for an interesting city and place to spend your holiday, you should keep Vilnius city in mind.