Lithuania can experience its first snowfall as early as mid-November, however, it’s in December that the winter season truly kicks in. The winter months bring heavy snows, especially in January and February, with the average daytime temperature in the mid 20’s F, and falling into the teens at night. Lithuania’s winter can be very cold due to the coastal winds.

A traditional event in the winter season is the horse race of the Sartai Lake. Winter is also a magical time to visit when the snow adds to the charm of the medieval city centers. Also, you can visit the Vilnius Christmas market. Rivers, lakes and parts of the Baltic Sea freeze over. Be sure to pack plenty of warm clothing.

Events and Festivals

– December Solstice (Season) – Dec 21

– December 25 – Christmas

– Second Day of Christmas (National Holiday) – Dec 26

– January 1 – New Year’s Day

– Valentine’s Day – Feb 14

– Day of State Restoration – Feb 16.

Spring in Lithuania officially begins in March, you still can find some patches of snow on streets, fields and in forested areas. Its in April that springtime colors begin to transform the landscape, with the countryside becoming green. The spring also brings some wind, rain, and lots of fluctuation in the weather, especially in April and May. Normal temperatures in April are in the low 40’s F, and in may it’s reaches up to the mid 50’s F. Late spring is a great time to visit Lithuania, particularly in May when you can comfortably stroll through the city centers without large crowds or freezing cold weather. If you enjoy bird watching, March and April is also a great time to visit.

Events and Festivals

– Easter Sunday – End of March/Early April

– International Workers’ Day – May 1st

– Mother’s Day – First Sunday of May.

Summers in Lithuania are relatively short, lasting roughly from June to August. July reaches the highest temperatures averaging in the high-60’s F, followed by August in the mid-60’s F. This is the wettest season in Lithuania, showers start in July and continues on through the end of summer. This is also the time to enjoy the beaches near the port town of Klapedia or to get out in nature and explore the Curonian Spit or Samogitia National Parks. Summer is full of different events, such as music festivals, World Lithuanian Song Festival, and Kristopher Summer Festival to name a few.

Events and Festivals

– ST. John’s Day – June 24

– State Day (Day of King Mindaugas coronation) – July 6th

– Sea Festival – July weekend

– Granatos Live Music Festival – 3 Days in July

– Zoline / Virgin Mary Assumption Day – August 15th

– Song Festival – Summer.

Lasting from September to mid-November, autumn sees temperatures rapidly start to cool. However, this is also an incredibly scenic time to visit as the leaves of deciduous trees turn beautiful shades of golden brown. Similarly to May, September is a great time for exploring Lithuania’s cities outside of the busier summer months. And September to October is also ideal for bird watching.

Events and Festivals

– June Solstice (Season) – June 21

– Midsummer Eve (National holiday) – June 23

– Midsummer Day (National holiday) – June 24.

The currency of Lithuania is the Euro, US dollars are not accepted. In Lithuania there are plenty of ATMs in and around the country to withdraw cash. Citadele Bankas, Lithuania`s Amex representative, exchanges currency.

It’s common to tip even for the locals. However, you should always check if service is already included on the bill. If it isn’t, then you should tip 10-15% for good service.

In bars or cafes tips are welcome, but there are no standard rules. Most of the times you may see a tip jar on the counter to throw change in, so you don’t need to tip bartenders or baristas directly. The only exception might be expensive, luxury bars where you are expected to tip the barman directly.

Tipping hotel staff isn’t common, but definitely appreciated. More and more international hotel chains are opening their branches in Lithuania in recent years. And if the majority of tourists staying there are from Western world, staff is already accustomed to western style tipping culture. So, you should follow common tipping rules.

If you are staying at a cheaper mid-class local hotel, there are no standard rules. Variety of people visit Lithuania and some of them don’t tip at all and it’s considered to be OK.

Tipping a taxi driver isn’t common or expected. Especially today, when most of taxi companies have apps to hail cars and use non-cash transactions (Using an app is also a good way to make sure a driver is not overcharging you, since the price of the ride is shown before you even request a ride). If you decide to pay cash, you can round up to make things easier.

Another way to show appreciation of good service is to leave a 5 star review – which is possible through the same apps.

Tips are always expected in free tours – your tip is the only earning guides get. They are not getting paid by the city or other entities on top. However, there is no standard rule for what to tip. We suggest tipping about 10 euros per person.

For regular payed tours or private ones, tips are always appreciated. Especially, if you really enjoyed it and learned lot’s of new things, but there are no standard rules.

Overall, tipping is not very common and there are no standard rules. But it can show your appreciation of good service you received. Also keep in mind, that hospitality sector in Lithuania is not the highest paying in terms of monthly salaries, so in some cases your tip might mean more than you think!