This year marks the 100th anniversary of Lithuania’s Restoration of Independence, celebrated through July 6. Pick up the White restaurant guide for recommendations on artisanal cheeses, local farmers’ markets and craft breweries. Here are a few suggestions for how to spend the rest of your time.
Explore the Curonian Spit peninsula, bordered by the Baltic Sea. This unique landscape includes a wildlife and marine sanctuary recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, with long, desert-like sand dunes that have been used as film locations. The peninsula is dotted with colorful fishing villages linked by a popular cycling path; along the route you can find the Juodkrantė sculpture garden and other local attractions.
Visit the Sea Museum in Klaipėda to view exhibitions that trace Lithuania’s maritime history. Klaipėda also hosts a resident colony of penguins and features an extensive aquarium with an underwater tunnel. Each summer the seaport town celebrates with a Sea Festival that offers food, music, dance and family-friendly events.
Stroll through Kaunas to admire its modernist and Art Deco architecture. Lithuania’s second-largest city was named a UNESCO Creative Cities Network Design City and will serve as a European Capital of Culture in 2022. Notable sights include the tower of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, one of the country’s largest churches—climb to the top for sweeping views over the city.