Vilnius is a city of many faces, of many names, of mysteries and contradictions. The medieval Germans called it wilde, whereas the Jews of the world recall it as the Northern Jerusalem, and we ourselves would sometimes like to call it the Athens of the North. Some are surprised to find this gem of the Italian Baroque, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, in such a remote corner of the Europe, but in fact it is less than 20 kilometres from the geographic centre of Europe.

 

THE BASICS

Time

Local time is GMT+2

Electricity

European style two-pin sockets at 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Language

Lithuanian is the official language, but Russian and English are widely spoken.

Travel health

EU citizens are entitled to emergency medical treatment if they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their country of origin. Medical facilities are fair and there are plenty of doctors. There are a few private clinics of high standard.

Tipping

Tipping is not required as a matter of course, but is appreciated for exceptionally good service. Rounding up the bill to avoid accumulating small change is customary.

Safety information

Safety in Lithuania is not a major issue for travellers as the country is devoid of civil unrest and the terrorism threat is low.

Business

Business in Lithuania is usually conducted formally, though the younger generation is less conservative. Face-to-face meetings are key, with good eye contact and a firm handshake upon greeting. Business cards are usually exchanged and it is important to be punctual. Use titles and surnames, unless otherwise indicated. Suits and ties are the norm. Lithuanians are hospitable and friendly and any invitation should be accepted, as this is a good opportunity to forge better business relations and build trust. Meetings tend to start with some small talk and can sometimes end with a summary of the discussions, though decision making and results can be slow. Business hours are usually from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Communications

The international dialling code for Lithuania is +370. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK) and the country has three-digit area codes. There are three major mobile GSM network service providers and connections are excellent. The Internet is well established in Lithuania and cities teem with internet cafes. Small towns and villages have public internet access points in libraries, post offices and tourist information centres.

Duty free

Duty free allowances for travellers to Lithuania include 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco; 1 litre spirits, 2 litres wine or 5 litres beer; perfume for personal use.

 

For more information about Vilnius see the following website:  Vilnius Tourism office