Top Things To Do For Thrill Seeker’s In Lithuania

The small Baltic nation of Lithuania is quickly gaining a reputation as Eastern’s Europe’s hidden gem among in the know travellers. The combination of beautiful landscapes, unique adventure activities, top-notch hotels and a seriously underrated food scene makes Lithuania a must-see destination whether you’re a thrill-seeker or simply want to relax and soak up the culture.     

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take in the views with a sunrise hot air balloon ride

The perfect way to start your weekend in Lithuania is to take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise and take in the glorious scenery that surrounds the capital Vilnius with Hot Air Lines. Admire the blue lakes and rolling hills from the comfort of a hot air balloon while the breeze gently takes you over the beautiful Trakai Island Castle in Lake Galve. With complimentary champagne you can get your trip started in style and the breathtaking views at sunrise more than justify the early start.

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paddle your way through the city on a kayak 

Now you’ve witnessed the picturesque surroundings of Vilnius from the air it’s time to switch the hot air balloon for a kayak and paddle straight through the heart of the capital city. The Vilnia River cuts directly through Vilnius and you can drift through the city and take in the sights while tackling the occasional rapids.

The river will take you right through Uzupis, the famed art district of Vilnius, where you can admire various art installations that adorn the river banks and hang beneath the bridges.  

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experience Lithanian BBQ while admiring the local street art scene

Once you’ve worked up an appetite kayaking through the city head over to Keulė Rūkė in Vilnius where they serve up Lithuanian BBQ specialties paired with locally brewed beers. Their beer garden is famous for the various street art murals that adorn the walls and there’s no where better to quench your thirst after you’ve conquered the Vilnia River.  

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fly through the air like tarzan

Vilnius is home to Unopark, an adventure park situated in woodland which combines treetop tightropes and a 401-metre zipline course that flies from the treetops straight over and across the Neris River which cuts through the city. With some of the tightropes and ziplines over 50 metres high it’s a daredevil's playground that’s guaranteed to test your nerve and your balance.  

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conquer a Lithuanian swamp

Less than an hour’s drive from Vilnius takes you to Pamusės Village, where you can test yourself at Lithuania’s notorious swamp adventure. This army-style obstacle course goes through water, swamps and marshland and is the ultimate test of grit and determination for those who don’t mind getting down and dirty in the mud. Thankfully an outdoor jacuzzi to relax in awaits those that make it through the course. 

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live like Royalty in a 17th century palace

After a long day of kayaking, ziplining and conquering a swamp you more than deserve to sample a little luxury for the night and thankfully Vilnius has your more than covered in that regard. Vilnius Old Town is home to Hotel Pacai, a recently converted palace which was at one point home to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. 

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The hotel now combines luxurious modern decor with authentic historic character and the restoration has ensured the preservation of various statues and artifacts you can admire throughout the hotel. 

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You’ll also be able to dine like a royal as the hotel is home to two new Baltic dining concepts which are already attracting rave reviews from critics, 14 Horses and Nineteen18, conceived by Claus Meyer the co-founder of the world’s top-rated restaurant Noma in Copenhagen.  

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party like a local in Vilnius 

No trip to Lithuania would be complete without sampling the nightlife and Vilnius is the ideal place to party thanks to the growing number of bars and nightclubs that have been embraced by locals and travellers alike. 

Start your night at Peronas Bar for a truly unique party experience thanks to its location directly on the train track next to Vilnius train station. A favorite amongst locals it stays open until 5AM on Saturdays. From there head to Opium Club, Lithuania’s most famous club venue for techno and house nights which hosts DJ’s from across Europe throughout the year.     

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race on the beach without getting wet

Away from Vilnius is the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 98 km sand dune which is quickly becoming a global hotspot for land sailing thanks to the strong winds and endless miles of golden sand that prove perfect for racing. 

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Here you can jump on a Blokark, a wind-powered land yacht, reach high speeds after barely ten minutes of training and even compete in races along the endless stretches of sand. Lithuania has quickly established itself as a leading destination globally for those that want to race Blokark’s on sand and even ice with the first ever Blokart Ice World Championships staged in Lithuania in 2010. 

make a splash at the ultimate wakeboarding park 

The summer resort town of Palanga is home to 313 Cable Park, a recently opened wakeboarders dreamland which has already played host to a number of Red Bull festivals and competitions. Combining an unparalleled five separate cable towers that pull riders around the huge pool over ramps and jumps it’s the ultimate wakeboarding playground with modern onsite accommodation, restaurant and even a bar with an outdoor sound system. 

This state of the art facility has attracted the world’s top wakeboarders to compete and party there and Lithuania is quickly becoming renowned worldwide for its booming wakeboard scene.

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stay in a fairytale villa in palanga

Within walking distance of both Palanga’s famed Sculpture Park and it’s stunning beach lies Vila Komoda, a newly renovated boutique hotel, restaurant and rooftop terrace. Built in the 19th century for Lithuania’s famous Tyszkiewicz family, the hotel has a glorious garden to explore and it’s interior has been fully restored to its former glory.

The crowning jewel of the hotel is the restaurant, where rising star of the culinary world Lithuanian chef Martyn Meid is pioneering new and exciting dishes by combining Lithuanian influences and ingredients with classic fine dining tradition. The restaurant’s global reputation continues to grow and there’s no better way to complete your trip than by exploring the dinner menu and indulging in some of their exquisite creations.    

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By Joe Sawyer

MTV Travelled with... Lithuania Travel. For more information on attractions, where to stay and what to eat in Lithuania please visit https://www.lithuania.travel/en/ and http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/en/. MTV stayed at Hotel Pacai in Vilnius and Vila Komoda in Palanga. For more information please contact https://hotelpacai.com/en and https://www.vilakomoda.lt/.