Lithuania

SAFETY:good
No particular risks are reported. Petty crime is at normal levels.

TRANSPORT SYSTEM:good
The road situation is generally good. The rail network is limited in extent, but can be a good alternative on certain routes. International air links are good.

Main airports: Kaunas, Klaipeda, Vilnius.

Main ports: Klaipeda.

ACCOMMODATION:good

The range of hotels is fairly wide, varied and of good quality.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Republic of Lithuania – Location: Eastern Europe. Borders: Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east, Poland to the south, Kaliningrad (Russian exclave) to the south-west, the Baltic Sea to the west – Time zone: UTC+2, i.e. +1 compared with Italy; daylight saving time applies – Area: 65,000 sq km – Capital: Vilnius – Population: 3,575,000 – Religion: 79% Catholic, 4.1% Orthodox, 1.9% Protestant, 5.5% other religions, 9.5% non-religious – Languages: Lithuanian (official language), Russian, Polish – Measurements: metric system.

CURRENCY: Euro– Credit cards: VISA and Mastercard are commonly accepted (American Express less so).

ELECTRICITY: 220 V, 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Sockets: two-pin type; bring an adaptor.

DOCUMENTS: identity card valid for travel abroad, with validity extending beyond the planned stay. There are no customs restrictions on personal luggage (Schengen) – Driving: Italian driving licence – Car: for Italian vehicles, Italian third-party insurance is sufficient.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 00370– Code for Italy: 81039 – GSM: coverage across the whole country. Local operators: Omnitel, Bitė Lietuva and Tele2. Standard: GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100 (as in Italy) – Internet: available in all the main urban centres – Web domain: .lt– Emergency numbers: single emergency number 112; assistance 8 800 00 000 (freephone), 5 2104421/2, 1888 (from mobile phones).

RULES, LAWS AND CUSTOMS: the use and possession of narcotics, even in minimal quantities, are prohibited under local law. Drug dealing is punishable by 5 to 20 years' imprisonment. Sexual offences and violence against minors are also severely punished. Homosexuality is legal but not yet fully accepted socially, so discretion is advisable.

HEALTH: no compulsory vaccinations are required. Some cases of salmonellosis have been reported in rural areas. In wooded areas there is a risk of contracting Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis. Local health facilities are of an adequate standard, as is the availability of medicines. Italian citizens on temporary visits who hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/TEAM) receive the care provided by the local public health service.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year's Day; 6 January, Epiphany; 6 February, Anniversary of Independence (1918); 4 March, St Casimir's Day; 11 March, Anniversary of the Restoration of Independence (1990); 6 July, Anniversary of the Coronation of Mindaugas (1253); 1 November, All Saints' Day; 2 November, All Souls' Day; 24-25 December, Christmas.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: Mon-Fri 9.00-18.00, Sat 9.00-13.00 – Banks: Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00 – Shops: Mon-Sat 9.00-18.00 – Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: temperate continental, with short, cool summers and cold winters. The best time to visit the country is summer, from June to August.

Table of monthly max/min temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/monthly rainfall in mm

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY 

Embassy and Consulate of Lithuania
Viale di Villa Grazioli 9 – 00198 Rome – Tel. 06 8559052 – Fax 06 8559053

Honorary Consulates
Via Dante 65 – 70121 Bari – Tel. 080 5237676 – Fax 080 5237676
Viale Belfiore 33 – 50144 Florence – Tel. 055 363045
Santa Croce 764 – 30135 Venice – Tel. 041 5241131 – Fax 041 5530520

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN LITHUANIA

Italian Embassy
Vytauto Gatve 1 – LT 08118 Vilnius – Tel. 00370 5 2120620/2120621 – Fax 00370 5 2120405 – Web: www.ambvilnius.esteri.it – E-mail: ambasciata.vilnius@esteri.it

Lithuanian State Department of Tourism
Gedimino ave 38 – LT 01104 Vilnius – Tel. 00370 70664976 – Fax 00370 706 64988 – Web: www.tourism.lt – E-mail: vtd@tourism.lt