TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
U.S
Driving Permit and International Driving Permit required |
| Currency |
(LTL)
Litas |
| Electrical |
220 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 370, Vilnius 5+7D, Kaunas 37+6D, Gargzdai 40+6D, Varena
310+5D |
Climate:
Temperate climate, but with considerable temperature variations.
Summer is warm with relatively mild weather in spring and autumn.
Winter, which lasts from November to mid-March, can be very cold.
Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with the heaviest
rainfall in August. Heavy snowfalls are common in the winter months.
Time:
GMT + 2.
Electricity:
220 volts AC, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are in use.
Telephone:
IDD is available. Country code: 370. City codes: 2 for Vilnius,
7 for Kaunas, 6 for Klaipeda. Outgoing international code: 810.
There are two kinds of payphone: rectangular telephones which
take magnetic strip cards and rounded telephones which take chip
cards. Phonecards are sold at kiosks and post offices. Plans are
underway to introduce one type of phonecard, compatible with both
phones.
Food
& Drink: Local specialities include skilandis (smoked
meat), salti barsciai (cold soup), cepelinai (made from grated
potatoes with a minced meat filling), vedarai (potato sausage)
and bulviniai blynai (potato pancakes). Smoked eel is a famous
Baltic delicacy. Waiter service is the norm in restaurants and
cafes, but self-service restaurants, bistros and snack bars are
numerous.
Local brands of beer and imported drinks are popular. A famous
Lithuanian spirit is midus, a mild alcoholic beverage made from
honey.
Shopping:
Amber, linen goods and local crafts are good buys. National artists
sell their works in specialised art galleries in major towns.
Shopping hours: Grocery shops open Mon-Fri 0800-2000.
Tipping:
Taxi fares and restaurant bills include a tip. Otherwise, tips
are discretionary.
Currency:
Litas (Lt) = 100 centas. Notes are in denominations of Lt500,
200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of
Lt5, 2 and 1, and the worthless 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 centas.
Credit
& debit cards: Most major credit cards are accepted
in the main hotels, restaurants, shops and in some petrol stations.
Check with your credit and debit card company for details of merchant
acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers
cheques: Not accepted by retailers and can only be exchanged
at a few outlets. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers
are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars.
