Five frequently asked questions about travelling to Lithuania

After writing about this topic for some time now, I see that the there are certain topics people take greater interest in than others. After a year of half-assed blogging about Lithuania, the time therefore seems to be ripe for a FAQ-post. Here are the five most frequently asked questions:

1. Is it safe in Lithuania?

The short answer is yes. Compared to most countries it is very safe for foreigners here, unless you behave like an idiot. In other words, one should take the same precautions here as in the rest of Eastern Europe. If a holiday for you is not complete without getting drunk and behaving like an idiot, the safest places for doing so is the hotel bar or the more expensive nightclubs. Although there are a considerable number of criminals in Lithuania, they seem to rarely target foreigners. Those who do probably emigrated to where the foreigners live. Most of the people you will meet are honest and peaceful. On the other hand, if you are black, homosexual or in other ways not exactly the not a poster boy for the local, traditional way of life - avoid making this fact too apparent. After all, this is still a society with largely traditional values. The again, us often disliked minority groups know how to become invisible if we have to. Don`t ask me how I know. When in Lithuania I try to blend in, and I know I have succeeded when locals start asking me directions.

2. Can you drink the water in Lithuania?

Of course you can. What happens to you later, on the other hand can be more of an open question. Most Lithuanians boil their water before using it, and even then, it is mostly used for cooking. Drinking water is commonly store bought by those who can afford it, most likely because of the taste. The strongest indication of this assumption being true is that most people seem to brush their teeth with tap water. This would probably not be the case if tap water was considered toxic waste. In some areas, tap water might even for all I know be perfectly clean. There are many clean lakes in the country, and any water coming from those can`t possibly be any worse than what can be found even in my own home country. But for your own peace of mind, you are probably best of buying bottled water.

3. Is it safe to drive in Lithuania?

No, it is not. Driving is not safe anywhere, neither for you nor your car. On the other hand, when in Lithuania, your car is probably more at risk than you are. At least if you travel a bit off the beaten path. If you do, you will discover that side roads in Lithuania are exactly that – beaten paths. If traveling for a long times on such gravel roads, particularly your suspension will suffer significantly. You on the other hand will be quite safe, since the speed on these roads are quite modest. Most people who die in Lithuanian traffic do so on paved roads, with high speed and drunk driving being the reason for the accident. The average speeds on these roads are however not very high, since many of them are riddled with potholes, so if you can avoid the occasional oncoming drunk and/or speeding motorist, you will most likely be OK. Compared to for instance Poland, driving in Lithuanian is a dream.

4. What are the most important cities to visit in Lithuania?

That depends on how much time you have available. If you have only the weekend, you are best off with just Vilnius, but you will still be nowhere near of having “done the city” when Sunday comes. If you have a week, you should spread out, with visits also to both Kaunas and the seaside. At the coast, you should see either Palanga or Klaipeda, or perhaps even both if you are the restless type. If on the other hand you are visiting Lithuania to relax and enjoy life, you should spend much time in places like Neringa or Druskininkai. Others, who might have special interests, should go directly to where the sites they want to visit are located. This could take them to cities such as Šiauliai or Panevėžys, which can be interesting enough in themselves, but are not commonly recommended, for travelers with a limited amount of time at their disposal.

5. Can you flush toilet paper in Lithuania

Yes, of course you can. Whether you should is a different matter. Most public (and for that matter private) toilets in Lithuania are equipped with a small basket next to it, intended for the disposal of toilet paper. Us western visitors, who have long since forgotten that we are only a few generations away from the times when our ancestors were wiping their asses with purpose made twigs and suitable leaves, quite often find this practice revolting. We are so accustomed to the “fire and forget” concept of flushing toilet paper and pretending that nothing has happened that many feel the need to ignore the local custom of collecting it in a bin. The reasons for which, I must admit, still remains elusive to me. The potential damages of ignoring it, on the other hand, strongly suggests that one uses the bin. At least if you are staying in the same hotel for a long time. If for a whole week, you deposit no paper there, and the pipes get clogged – you will be the most likely suspect. So to stay safe and in the clear, I suggest following the example of the locals. However nasty you may find this practice; they are at least used to it.

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