GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TRAVELLERS

GEOGRAPHY. CLIMATE Area: 65200 sq. km. Coastal line: 99 km. Lithuania is a country of plains and lakes. The highest point, the Juozapines Hill, raises 294 m above sea-level. The country boasts 758 rivers more than 10 km long and about 3,000 lakes. Forests cover about 30 per cent of the country's area. The climate is maritime-continental. The average temperature in February is -4.9°C and +17°C in July. Water temperature in August is 17-22°C. The best time to visit Lithuania is June when days are longest and sunniest. July is the hottest summer month with the highest temperature of + 34°C though rains are likely during the first half of the month. The country has 5 national parks: Aukstaitijos, Zemaitijos, Dzukijos, Trakai Historical and Kuronian Spit. The last was established to preserve the unique natural beauty of the Neringa Peninsula which sometimes is called the Lithuanian Sahara. Lithuania is situated midway between Eastern and Western Europe. The shortest way from Germany to Russia crosses Lithuania. The country borders with Latvia in the North, Belorussia in the South, Russia (Kaliningrad Region) and Poland in the West. The National Geographical Institute of France has established that 25 km north of Vilnius is the geographical centre of Europe.

ECOLOGY Lithuania is relatively clean country protected from industrial pollution from the East and West. The Dzukija forests, the environs of Neringa and Palanga are considered to be the cleanest places in the country. The cleanest river is Zeimena, and the cleanest lake is Dusia. A nuclear power plant is situated at the biggest Lithuanian lake of Druksciai in southern Lithuania. The plant has two reactors which after the Chernobyl disaster have received much more attention from both local and foreign experts. The state radio makes daily announcements about the radioactive level in various Lithuanian regions. The level has never exceeded the limit. Water in the sea is usually clean.

Lithuania is a republic governed by Seimas elected for a four-year period. The executive power belongs to president (elected for 5 years) and the government. The right to vote is granted to citizens over 18 years old. Algirdas Brazauskas is the present President of the Republic.

POPULATION LANGUAGE Lithuania's population is 3,848,000 of which 80 per cent are Lithuanians, 9 per cent Russians, 7 per cent Poles, and 4 per cent other nationalities. Thirty per cent of population lives in five biggest cities. About 2 m Lithuanians live abroad, mostly in the USA, Canada, Brazil, the Argentine, Uruguay, Australia, Great Britain, Germany, Poland and other countries. Majority of the population are Christians though other confessions, such as Lutherans, Baptists, Old Believers and others are also represented in Lithuania. The state language, Lithuanian, belongs to the Baltic family of the Indo-European language group. Owing to the fact of the long occupation nearly all the population speaks Russian. An ever increasing number of people understand and speak English, German and other languages.

FOLKLORE The Lithuanian folklore was mostly created by the peasantry. The oldest and most valuable part of it are lyric songs characteristic to Lithuanian nation. The most popular forms of folk art are ceramics, weaving and twining. The most popular art works are made of amber found on the Baltic sea shore.

Secondary education lasts for 12 years. Education is compulsory to children till they reach 16. Lithuania has 6 universities and 5 other higher education institutions. The University of Vilnius established in 1579 is one of the oldest in Europe.

Lithuania is in the central European time zone: GMT minus 2 hours. It means that when it is noon in Lithuania, it is 10 a.m. in London and 5 a.m. in New York. The summer time is introduced on the last Sunday of March when the time is advanced by one hour. The summer time lasts till the last Sunday in October.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS January 1 - New Year. February 16 - Independence Day /1918/. March 30 - Easter. First Sunday in May - Mother's Day. July 6 - State Day. November 1 - All Souls Day. December 24 - Christmas Eve. December 25 - Christmas.

ARMY The last Russian soldier left Lithuania on August 31, 1993. Lithuania has no foreign military bases on its territory. Lithuania has its own army. See the last Soviet tank on the right.

Lithuanian laws governing custom regulations are often changed and do not correspond to Western standards. Unspecified amount of currency is allowed to be taken into the country though the amount as well as other valuables should be stated in custom declaration. Information on custom regulation may be inquired in Custom Department in Vilnius on tel. 613027.

The sole legal tender in the Republic of Lithuania is Litas which is divided into 100 cents. Lithuanian bank notes feature pictures of famous Lithuanian figures. Bank notes of 1,2,5,10,20,50 ir 100 Litas and coins 1,2,5,10,20,50 cents are in circulation. Foreign currency may freely be exchanged into the local one and vice versa. Official State bank rate 1 USD = 4 LTL. You will find numerous currency exchange outlets in Lithuania. Banks accept major credit cards, American Express cheques. Normal banking hours are from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m.

Postal services in Lithuania are quite reliable. Mailing a letter within Lithuania costs 50 cents, and airmail letter abroad costs 1.2 Litas.

ROADS Lithuanian roads are the best in the former Soviet Union. Their total length is 20000 km. Three highways connect Klaipeda with Kaunas, Kaunas with Vilnius and Vilnius with Panevezys.

Petrol stations can be found in every town. The petrol is of the following marks A-76, A-93, A-95, A-95E. Diesel is sold in major towns. A-98 is sold at Lietuvos Kuras, Lukoil, Neste, Statoil, Shell and Texaco petrol stations.

The present traffic rules and road signs correspond to European standards. Speed limit in towns is 60 km per hour, out of town - 90 km per hour and on highways - 110 km per hour. Head lights on are required in the day time from September 1 till September 7 and November 1 till March 1. Safety belts are compulsory. The allowed content of alcohol in blood is 0,4 promils. Fines for breaching traffic rules range from 20 Litas till 4.000 Litas. Please, drive safely.

If you fall ill, please see a doctor at the nearest policlinic or hospital. First Aid hot line is 03. The medical costs will be forwarded to your insurance company upon filling in IEMS (International Emergency Medical Service) form (detailed information may be obtained at IEMS Lietuva, tel. 8 - 22 - 410916).

SHOPS You can buy traditional Lithuanian souvenirs made of wood, amber, ceramics and flax at numerous art shops and galleries. Food shops normally are open from 8 a.m. till 10 p.m. Some are open around the clock. The Garinai marketplace is the biggest in the Baltics. Here goods are cheaper than in town. Closed Monday.

Air planes. Travelling by air is convenient but expensive. Fourteen regular connections to major European cities: Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Kristianstad, London, Paris, Vienna, Stockholm, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Warsaw and Tallinn. Direct flight Palanga-Hamburg is operated in summer. Regular buses will take you from the airports to city centres.

Ferries. Klaipeda is the only Lithuanian sea port. Two ferry lines are operated: Klaipeda -Kiel (Germany) and Klaipeda - Ahus (Sweden). Daily ferry connection between Klaipeda and the Kuronian Spit (from 7 a.m. till 11 p.m. every half an hour in summer).

Trains. Trains from Vilnius railway stations connect the city to Berlin, Budapest, Kaliningrad, Kiev, Lvov, Minsk and other cities. Custom formalities make the journey rather long. It takes 1,5 to 2 hours to go from Vilnius to Kaunas and 10 hours from Vilnius to Klaipeda though the express train makes it in 5 hours. On the train you will treated to hot tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks.

Buses. Regular intercity buses connect all Lithuanian towns. Express bus will take you from Vilnius to Kaunas in 1,5 hour and to Klaipeda in 6 hours. We advise you to go by express buses because regular buses go rather slowly and avoid highways. Town transport includes buses and trolleys. A one time ticket for a bus or trolley ride costs 60 cents in Vilnius and Kaunas. Kaunas has different tickets for buses and trolleys.

Hotels. An overnight stay at a hotel costs from 80 till 800 Litas. Modern hotel facilities include phone, satellite TV, bath room. Usually a hotel has a cafe, restaurant and bar on its grounds. Breakfast is included into a hotel package though its not a rule. In summer we advise you to book a room in advance.

Restaurants. Lithuanians are fond of restaurants situated in poorly lit ancient basements. Normal open hours are from 12 a.m. till 12 p.m. though some of them are open till 6 a.m. Meat balls in potato jackets and cold vegetable soup are Lithuanian national dishes. Restaurant menu may include 2 to 50 hot courses. Exotic Jewish, Chinese and Japanese restaurants may be found in major towns. Hot dishes, pizza and beer may be ordered from home delivery companies.

Travel agencies. Agencies provide the following services: air plane tickets, guides, interpreters, hotel reservations and lodging in private apartments, holiday and business trips for groups and individual travellers, processes visas.

Museums. The exposition of the Lithuanian National Museum displays historical items of Lithuania's history from the oldest times to the present day. The country's cultural life is reflected by the expositions of the National Art Gallery, Modern Art centre, Museum of Applied Arts, Museum of M.K. Ciurlionis, Vytautas the Great War Museum, M. Zilinskas Art Gallery. Worth visiting are the unique expositions of Rumsiskes Folklore Museum, the Trakai Historical Museum and the Klaipeda Marine Museum. Tickets are priced at 2 Litai. Museum entrance is free of charge on Wednesday. Museums are closed on Monday.

Commercial hunting of wolfs, foxes, boars and dears is organized in Lithuania. Hunting in preserves is prohibited. Hunting license and hunter's ticket is required fir hunting and fishing licence or permit is required for fishing. Fishing licences are issued at Juozapaviciaus 3, tel. 723786. Lithuania has perfect conditions for biking, water sports and tennis.

M1, Radiocentras and Ultra Wires are the most popular Lithuania's commercial radio stations. VOA Europe broadcasts its programme around the clock at 105,6 kHz in Vilnius. Lithuania has 6 TV channels and local cable TV. The biggest national dailies are Lietuvos rytas and Respublika. English weeklies are Baltic Times, Lithuania Weekly, Baltic Outlook and Lithuania in the World.

Public phones using coins are still functioning in major towns though they are being replaced by Lietuvos Telekomas card phones. Telegraph and fax centres are open around the clock in Vilnius, Klaipeda and Kaunas. To make a long distance call dial 8 and wait for a continuos beep, dial area code and the phone number. Lithuania's international country code is 370. To make an international call dial 8, then 10 (international access code), country code omitting the first digit and the phone number. The USA may be reached directly through 8 196 with paying either in Lithuania or the USA. International calls may be booked on 8 - 195 or 8 - 194.

LITHUANIAN TRAVEL GUIDE