Amber tours

From the tower of Gediminas Castle visitors are presented with breathtaking views of the baroque Vilnius Old Town. The abundance of churches is particularly eye-catching: it is often said that regardless of where in the Old Town you are, you are always next to a church. From the gothic masterpiece of St. Anne’s to be a baroque splendour of Sts. Peter and Paul, the architectural variety demonstrates the rich heritage of the city, drawing from influences of different cultures.

The Užupis quarter in Vilnius, favoured by artists and those with bohemian inclinations, is a veritable republic with its own traditions, border crossing points and even a constitution of this is at least what many Užupis residents posit. Contrasting with the renovated and commercialized Old Town, Užupis offers a real look into the avant-garde as working artists open their studios to the public, sculpture pieces and tucked alongside the river and local cafes play host to poets scribbling verse and students having animated philosophical debates.

A small town surrounded by lakes, Trakai, once the capital of Lithuania, is proud of its rich history. Its beautifully restored medieval red brick castle on an island in the lake, the residence of Lithuanian dukes, looks as if it could only exist in fairytales. Medieval buffs will surely spend some quality time exploring the castle and its surroundings. This popular tourist destination also offers a chance to acquire Lithuanian souvenirs or to learn more about the local Karaite food specialities.

The Hill of Crosses is a special monument of faith. Tens of thousands of crosses crowd the slopes of the hill. The first crosses were put here for those fallen during the 1831 uprising against the tsarist regime. Since then new crosses were constantly being put up there. The hill that was seen as a symbol of resistance was razed four times under the Soviet regime, but it was resurrected every time. Pope John Paul II visited this site in 1993. A cross donated by him still stands.

The Curonian Spit is a long and thin peninsula, separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. Covered in sand, it has been preserved due to human effort to counter the natural erosion process by deforestation. The landscape of the Curonian Spit, an entry in the UNESCO heritage list, is dominated by picturesque sand dunes and pine tree forests. The beaches here are exceptionally clean. Resort towns on the Curonian Spit manage to preserve their old fishing village charm. This is a splendid place for a tranquil seaside family repose.

In 1998 the French national geographical institute determined that the geographical centre of Europe lies about 26 km north of Vilnius at 54°54′N 25°19′E. Some other Central European countries claim their own centres of Europe, ascertained by using different methods, but the Lithuanian one is in the Guinness Book of World Records. The exact spot is marked by a column that as erected to commemorate Lithuanian accession to the EU.

Traces of ancient civilization dating back to 11 000 years ago have been discovered in the unique Kernavė archaeological reserve, which was also an important political centre for Lithuania in early Middle Ages. The reserve is inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Every year in the beginning of July, on the Day of Statehood, a Lithuanian national holiday, the Days of Living History & Archaeology are held in Kernavė. The event offers a chance for visitors and locals to learn about the daily life of pre-historical and early medieval Lithuanians with an emphasis on the lives of artisans and craftsmen.

Established in 1201, the old centre of Riga was encircled by fortifications until the mid 19th century. Here are the oldest buildings in Rīga: the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, St. John's Church, St. Jacob's Church, the ‘Three Brothers’ houses, and Rīga Castle, which also houses the Latvian History Museum and the Foreign Art Museum. The centerpiece of Rātslaukums Square is the reconstructed Blackheads' House, which was destroyed in World War II and is now owned by Rīga Council.

Riga's Jugendstil buildings amaze everyone both in their quantity and their high quality of workmanship. Although Alberta and Elizabetes Streets are particularly well-known for Jugendstil architecture, these beautiful buildings can be seen in all parts of the city that were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.