Three tiers of ideas for experiencing winter while traveling around Lithuania
Visit a newly reopened manor, discover the only museum in the Baltics dedicated to emotions, or explore a unique space for sensory experiences. Taste gingerbread with herring, join Christmas events in towns and cities, or perhaps even rise above it all in a hot-air balloon – or dive into activities that are completely unaffected by unpredictable winter weather.
The national tourism promotion agency Lithuania Travel says that travel experiences within Lithuania during the cold season shouldn’t slow down – in fact, they should gain momentum. Today, the agency announces the launch of the “I Winter in Lithuania” campaign and invites everyone: if we are holidaymakers in summer, let’s become winter-makers in winter!
“As statistics show, out of the 2.7 million domestic tourists who actively traveled around Lithuania last year, about 600,000 stayed at home during the cold season. In other words, almost as many people choose not to travel in winter as there are residents in Vilnius. I believe this initiative will encourage people to travel even outside the peak season, to rediscover towns and cities already decorated for the major holidays of the year. And for those who don’t make it before the festivities, experiential journeys – for both the soul and the palate – await. Many of the offers for local travelers can be found just outside the major cities,” notes Vice-Minister of the Economy and Innovation, Guoda Burokienė.
Hundreds of curated ideas for winter trips around Lithuania, along with the most appealing experiences and recommendations for local travelers, can be found on the website www.lithuania.travel as well as on Lithuania Travel’s social media channels.
“Summer is far too short to discover all the new things happening in Lithuanian tourism – there is so much to explore, from the most innovative spa in Europe to the largest Jewish history museum in the Baltic States. Our selected winter recommendations for local travelers cover the main tourism products: cultural and gastronomic experiences, nature and active tourism, and the increasingly popular wellness travel segment. Traveling around Lithuania can be a wonderful way to embrace winter, spend quality time with loved ones, get into the holiday spirit, or simply treat yourself. After all, the best stories are the ones we experience ourselves,” reminds Olga Gončarova, Head of Lithuania Travel.
Before choosing the most suitable winter travel option on the Lithuania Travel website, it’s important to determine your winter traveler level. For example, beginner winter travelers aren’t quite sure whether they actually like sub-zero temperatures. They approach the cold cautiously and moderately, and prefer safer, warmer options such as museums, restaurants and cafés, escape rooms, spas, saunas, and water parks.
Intermediate winter travelers are more willing to embrace the magic of the season – especially when swept up in the festive atmosphere of holiday events and Christmas markets. They enjoy visiting manors and often choose glamping for overnight stays.
Advanced winter travelers fear no cold; the lower the temperature drops, the higher their happiness levels rise. They are ready for all activities that come with freezing weather: ice sledding and other outdoor adventures, visits to animal farms, time spent in winter nature (forest bathing, boardwalk trails, observation towers, hillforts, or even the seaside).
“Perhaps traveling in Lithuania during winter requires a bit more creativity and preparation, but it also comes with many advantages. For example, tickets to certain museums are cheaper in winter than in summer. And even if you’ve already visited all the boardwalk trails and observation towers, at this time of year they look completely different and offer unique nature-therapy sensations. Some adventure parks, open-air museums, or manor parks do not close for the winter – they transform into light festivals or Christmas kingdoms. For those who prefer warmer temperatures, we’ve selected tropical experiences in Lithuania and indoor activities: heated sand arenas, the largest padel courts, go-kart centers, and even escape rooms in unexpected locations,” explains Neringa Sutkaitytė, local tourism expert at the national tourism promotion agency Lithuania Travel, listing the reasons why you shouldn’t slip into winter hibernation but should choose to travel instead.
Join the “I Winter in Lithuania” initiative and get inspired for your travels around Lithuania here.