Lithuania: Why the Country Is a Top Destination for Nature Lovers

Do you love being active outdoors or are you looking for peace in nature? Then we have a special travel tip in Europe for you: Lithuania! Unlike many popular vacation spots in the south like Italy and Spain, this Baltic country is not overcrowded and offers pleasant temperatures even in the summer.

We reveal our eight nature highlights in Lithuania, perfect for hiking, biking, and water fun - or simply for relaxing and recharging your batteries.

One of the most beautiful natural spectacles in Lithuania is the Curonian Spit. This name refers to a narrow, sandy strip of land stretching south of Klaipeda between the Baltic Sea and the lagoon - extending into the Russian region of Kaliningrad.

The Curonian Spit is about 100 kilometers long, but only a maximum of four kilometers wide - at its narrowest point, it's only 400 meters! No wonder this geographical marvel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can reach the Curonian Spit from Klaipeda by ferry, where you'll be greeted by a landscape full of bike and hiking trails. These lead through ancient forests and dune landscapes with quiet lagoons. The wandering dunes of the spit are up to 60 meters high and, as their name suggests, constantly in motion. Therefore, efforts to stabilize them with protective plantings and wooden barriers began in the 19th century.

You can relax on the long sandy beaches, swim, and even try wakeboarding in some places. Bird lovers will especially enjoy it in the spring and fall when countless migratory birds cross or rest on the Curonian Spit. There's even a village on the narrow sand strip: Nida, a cozy artist's place with old fisherman's houses. The best view can be found from the lighthouse there. Also worth seeing is Thomas Mann's summer house, which today hosts a small literature museum.

Another highlight is the Hill of Witches near Juodkrante. Along a forest path, you'll find over 80 carved wooden figures inspired by Lithuanian myths and legends. They tell stories of ancient folk beliefs, witches and devils, protective spirits and mythical creatures.

Another natural highlight of Lithuania is located in the northeast of the country, roughly 78 miles northeast of the capital Vilnius: the Aukštaitija National Park. Established in 1974, it is the oldest national park in Lithuania. What makes this national park special is that 15 percent of its total area of 100,000 acres are lakes! There are about 120 lakes in total.

Without a doubt, Aukštaitija National Park is a paradise not only for hiking and biking but also for water sports, including canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts. You can rent boats at the information center in Paluše, where you'll also find plenty of information on routes, hiking paths, and nature trails.

For the best view in the park, we recommend the Ladakalnis Hill. It's especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset. Besides nature, it's worth visiting some traditional villages in the park, including Paluše itself with its wooden church. At Romnesa, you can even watch how the traditional tree cake is made and taste it at the restaurant.

Žemaitija National Park is located in the west of Lithuania, northeast of Klaipeda, and is a hidden gem for nature enthusiasts. It is characterized by its many hills, forests, and clear lakes. The area around Lake Plateliai, the largest lake in the park, invites you to hike, cycle, and paddle. Of course, you can also just relax by the shore or take a swim in the lake on warm days.

On tours through the park, you'll experience bogs and beech forests and, with a little luck, spot rare orchid species while enjoying magnificent views. Additionally, Žemaitija National Park hides a former Soviet missile silo, which now serves as an underground museum commemorating the Cold War.

The surrounding villages are marked by their proximity to nature, allowing you to discover charming wooden churches, blacksmith workshops, and local farmers' markets. These offer a good opportunity to taste some of the region's products on site.

In southern Lithuania, another natural paradise awaits you: the country's largest contiguous forest area in the Dzukija National Park. You can hike or bike through extensive pine forests, passing clear rivers, moors, and original villages. Depending on the season, you'll find blueberries and mushrooms along the path to pick. And if you prefer water activities, a canoe ride on the Ula is recommended.

Locals especially favor this national park for bird watching: Between April and September, you're likely to spot rare species like the corn crake and kingfisher, and in remote riverbanks, black storks and goosanders.

The national park also hosts Lithuania's largest peatland, the Čepkeliai Marsh. Bird enthusiasts should visit at dawn as they might witness the courtship displays of capercaillies and black grouses. If you get hungry afterward, you can indulge in traditional dishes like blueberry soup and homemade bread in villages such as Zervynos.

In the far southwest of Lithuania, near the border with Kaliningrad, you'll find one of the country's natural highlights - a true bird paradise. In the Nemunas Delta, the Nemunas River divides into numerous branches and floodplains, creating a unique and pristine landscape. It's considered one of Europe's most significant breeding and resting places for waterfowl, with over 300 species already spotted here!

If you enjoy bird watching, you should visit the Nemunas Delta in spring or fall, when countless migratory birds take advantage of the area. Geese, ducks, swans, and plovers particularly appreciate the wet meadows and flat shores as stopovers during their long flights south or north. With a bit of luck, you'll also spot rare and endangered species like the greater spotted eagle or the aquatic warbler.

A special travel tip is Ventes Ragas, a small cape where you find one of the world's oldest bird-ringing stations. Here you can learn more about migratory bird research and perhaps even have a chance to observe the ringing process.

Pajuris Regional Park is located about 12 miles from Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea and is often called a 'piece of untamed coast'. In this 19-square-mile protected area, you'll find one of the most diverse sections of the Lithuanian Baltic Sea - with steep cliffs, sandy beaches, dune landscapes, and rare coastal vegetation. The park is an excellent spot for bird watching during the spring migration season.

You can explore the nature near the coast and its quiet coves on well-marked hiking and biking paths. A highlight is the view from the steep coast near Karkle, where the waves crash against the rugged cliffs. With some luck, you might even find a piece of amber while strolling along the beach. Additionally, the small visitor center in Karkle offers more information about the region's flora, fauna, and geology.

Less than 12 miles west of Vilnius lies one of Lithuania's smaller natural highlights: the Petrified Forest of Šilėnai. It's a hidden gem for those interested in geology, as this natural monument hosts fossilized tree trunks, supposedly over 300 million years old, which were mineralized through natural processes millions of years ago. Today they serve as 'stone witnesses' of a bygone era.

Taking a walk through the forest is like a journey back in time. The petrified remains are scattered across the hilly landscape, which also invites hiking and nature observation. Conveniently, information boards along the paths provide insight into the history of the petrified forest and the significance of this natural phenomenon.

The Labanoras Regional Park is located in eastern Lithuania, about 50 miles northeast of Vilnius, and is a must-see among the country's natural highlights. With 212 square miles, it is Lithuania's largest regional park, known for its extensive forests, lakes, and bogs. The best place to start your exploration is at the visitor center in the village of Labanoras, where you'll learn everything about the region's flora, fauna, and cultural peculiarities.

There, you also get information on the well-marked hiking trails. The best panoramic view of the park's scenic diversity is offered by the Mindunai Observation Tower. At 118 feet tall with 214 steps, it's one of the highest observation towers in the country!

From it, you can see, among other things, the popular Siesartis Lake with its islands and peninsulas and the surrounding Lakajai conservation area. There are over 280 lakes in the regional park, including the particularly picturesque Baltieji Lakajai, surrounded by pine forests. It's great for swimming, fishing, and canoeing.

Another beautiful lake in the park is the so-called Blue Lake (Melynųjų ežerų). The name is immediately apparent, as the water is deep blue and clear - you can even see the fish at the bottom!

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