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Lithuania
VisasIn order to reside up to 90 days in Lithuania visa is not required from citizens of UK, USA, Shengen Zone, Canada, Australia, Poland, Hungary, Czech Rep., Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Israel, Latvia and Estonia. 10 days visas will only issued at the Vilnius airport to the citizens of South Africa and several South American countries. Pay attention that visas are not issued at the border, if you don't have the proper documentation you will be turned away Getting to Lithuania There is a regular air connection between Vilnius and a big number of European destinations: London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Helsinki, Berlin, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Istanbul, Tel-Aviv, Moscow and Kiev. Ferries operate between Klaipeda and a ports of Germany (Kiel, Mukran and Travemunde), Sweden (Stockholm, Ahus), Copenhagen, Poland. Railway connection include a daily train to Berlin via Poland, there are also daily trains to Moscow, Minsk, St. Petersburg, Lvov. In addition there are several domestic international lines: Tallinn via Riga, Warsaw, Byalostok, Suwalki, Kaliningrad.. A direct train between Berlin and Vilnius cross through Grodno in Belarus, it means, that you will be woken up in the middle of the night four times by customs officers and you must have the Belarussian transit visa ! There is no chance to get a visa at the border and you will be turned away without one. A citizens of Poland and Russia only can cross the border without Belorussian visa. A visa must be obtained in advance in one of the Belorussian embassies around the world. It cost in Berlin around $30, and usually takes three days. The best way not to spend time ,money and to avoid troubles is to travel by another daily train between Berlin and Tallinn, which called "Baltic express" and stops in Kaunas. This train doesn't cross through Belorussian territory. You can spend a night in Kaunas and then to continue to Vilnius (100 km). An average price of this trip is $35. Also, you can continue to Riga and Tallinn ($55). It is advisable to be sure that you don't need a transit visa to Poland. Many nations don't need one: UK, USA, Shengen Zone, Israel, Cyprus, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czech Rep., Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova , Latvia and Estonia. Canadians do need a visa ! Visas are not issued at the border. The price of Polish transit visa in their consulate in Berlin is $20. The price of usual tourist visa is $45 (90 days). Going to Lithuania Trakai This picture perfect castle is a half hour from Vilnius on an island in the middle of a lake. The castle was founded in 1321 by Grand Duke Gediminos, for to became a capital of his lands, before he moved again to Vilnius. The bus and train stations are located long enough walk away from the castle, but you can get there by local buses, which depart from the train station all day. Kaunas Kaunas was Lithuanian capital between the wars, when Vilnius was occupied by Poland. Since its population completely ethnic Lithuanian as opposed to Vilnius's 50 percent, some claim that Kaunas is the "real Lithuania", and not Vilnius. The best place to start exploring the Old Kaunas is Town Hall square. There are several interesting churches, a plenty of small cafes along the streets, museums. If you have enough time, you can visit the Ninth Fort, a former Nazi camp, near the city. Very interesting Pazaislis monastery outside Kaunas is additional option. Kaunas is an easy day trip from Vilnius. Regular buses and trains connect both cities all the day. The trip takes around two hours, and cost $2-3 one way. |
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