It’s Where I’m Going: Lithuania
Lithuania is a European country and part of the Baltic States. It borders Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and Russia (Kaliningrad). It ranks high in many surveys as being a very “happy” place to live. The 2024 World Happiness Report shows Lithuania as the happiest place on earth for those under 30 years old. Below breaks down why I want to prioritize it for a visit!
Lithuania has always been a country that has interested me. Part of that comes from my lineage. I am 8% Lithuanian according to AncestryDNA. That said, that 8% gave me my surname, as my great-great paternal grandmother was born and lived in Lithuania until she immigrated to the US via Canada. Recently, with an itch to explore a new country, Lithuania seemed to be a country worth putting on my radar to at least take a deep dive into.
As you may know if you have explored the site, everywhere is on the list, but there has to be some priority to it. I’m not trying to leave a footprint in every country on earth. It’s about learning new cultures and learning from new cultures. Anyway, with all that said, my deeper dive into my 8% homeland quickly put Lithuania on the list. It’s old, unique, and, from everything I have read, welcoming!
Getting there is a bit more challenging than, say, the UK. But all that typically means for us is that it becomes a part of a bigger trip. Sorry, Vilnius (the capital), it’s unlikely you’ll be a weekend getaway. I was unable to find a direct flight to Vilnius from any US airport, which did not surprise me. That said, its position in the middle of Europe makes it easy to connect from places like London, Amsterdam, or Helsinki, which are all well connected to the US. In fact, a 1989 survey by France’s National Geographic Institute placed the geographical center of Europe just north of Vilnius. It could be a Baltic trip with a visit to other countries in the region, or maybe combine it with Poland. I have labeled it as medium difficulty to reach for those reasons, but it is far from difficult. A quick Google Flights search will sum it.
Have you been to Lithuania? Should it be as high on my list as I am making it? Let me know in the comments below.
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Lithuania is in Europe and is one of the three Baltic States. It borders Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and Russia’s Kaliningrad region.
Yes. Lithuania ranks well in many happiness surveys, and the 2024 World Happiness Report ranked it the happiest country in the world for people under 30.
At the time of writing, I could not find a direct flight from any US airport to Vilnius. Most travelers connect through major European hubs.
Connecting through London, Amsterdam, or Helsinki is a common option, since all three have strong flight connections to the US.
Yes. Lithuania works well as part of a larger Baltic trip with Latvia and Estonia, or combined with a visit to Poland.
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and a spot just north of the city was named the geographical center of Europe in 1989.
Featured photo by Julia Karnavusha on Unsplash
