🇱🇹 Lithuania

Safety

No concerns at all, we felt very safe – in Vilnius as much as out in the forests.

Local Attitudes Toward Campers

People seem a little reserved at first, but are friendly and helpful once you get talking. Nobody ever minded us parking up.

Noise & Peacefulness

The nature itself is pure silence, but Lithuania seems to have a very popular hobby: racing around in loud cars, pulling into car parks, revving the engines, blasting music and accelerating as fast and as loudly as possible. Often until late into the night and without any consideration for others. Unfortunately, there's hardly any escaping it, not even on remote spots in the forest.

Cultural Highlights

The hill forts of Kernavė, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the "Troy of Lithuania". And the little villages in Aukštaitija, where time seems to have stood still: old wooden houses, wells, huge vegetable gardens and wooden crosses and Catholic shrines everywhere. Like everywhere in the Baltics, Lithuania has wonderful public parks and squares, with great playgrounds for kids and outdoor gyms for adults, proper ones with adjustable weights.

Language & Communication

We got by with English almost everywhere. When English didn't work, sometimes German did, or the universal hand signs. One way or another, we were always able to communicate.

Road Quality & Driving Conditions

Highways are fine, but expect plenty of gravel roads in the countryside and national parks. Some country roads are merely a collection of potholes or badly maintained patches of asphalt.

Toll Roads & Vignettes

No vignette needed for vehicles under 3.5 t. Since 2024 there is an e-vignette for heavier and commercial vehicles.

Border Crossings

Lithuania is part of the Schengen area, so there are no border checks coming from Poland or heading on to Latvia.

Police Attitude & Checks

We did not have any experience with the police.

Free Camping Availability

Very easy outside the cities. There are lots of free spots by lakes and in forests, often with fire pits and picnic tables.

Paid Campsites

We stayed at one in Kernavė, and it was wonderfully eccentric (read the post!). In Vilnius the only proper campsite was fully booked.

Motorhome Infrastructure

Dedicated motorhome service points are rare, so plan ahead for fresh water and grey water.

Groceries & Dining Out

Groceries are roughly at German prices, sometimes a bit cheaper. Eating out is good value.

Fuel Prices

Diesel is a bit cheaper than in Germany, but not by much: at the time we travelled, the global rise in fuel prices had hit Lithuania too. LPG is cheap at around 0.90 €/l.

Camping Costs

We mostly stood for free, and the campsite in Kernavė was reasonably priced.

Laundry

We didn't do any laundry in Lithuania.

Mobile Internet Quality

Excellent 4G/5G almost everywhere, even in the national parks.

SIM Card Access

Thanks to EU roaming, we didn't need a local SIM card.

Wi-Fi Availability

We didn't pay much attention, but cafés in Vilnius have it.

Water Access

At gas stations and campsites, though not quite as easy to find as in Poland.

Dump Stations & Toilets

With our dry composting toilet this was no issue for us. Dump points for chemical toilets are rare, though.

Shopping & Supplies

Supermarkets everywhere: Maxima, Iki, Rimi and Lidl.

Laundromats

Can't comment.

Best Time to Visit

Late spring to early autumn. Late September brought us a lot of rain. Also watch out for deer keds: from late summer into autumn, these little flies land on you in the forest, crawl into your hair and make hikes rather unpleasant.

Weather Extremes

Nothing extreme while we were there, but winters are bitterly cold.

Bug/Mosquito Factor

Even in late September, the mosquitos at the lakes in Aukštaitija were relentless. Add the deer keds in the forests and you'll want to keep your insect repellent handy.

Hidden Gems or Disappointments

Aukštaitija National Park and Kernavė! And the Soviet-era outskirts of Vilnius were quite a surprise compared to its beautiful old town.

Apps That Helped

Park4Night

Local Etiquette

Respect the many shrines and crosses. The whole of the Baltics is spotlessly clean: we didn't see litter lying around anywhere, not in the cities, not along the roads, not at rest stops. Amazing compared to Germany! So please take your rubbish with you.