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- GETTING TO THE BALTICS
Enjoy direct flights from most European cities.
Helsinki - 0,5h
Stockholm - 1h
Copenhagen - 1,5h
Berlin - 2h
Frankfurt - 2,5h
Amsterdam - 2,5h
Munich - 2,5h
London - 3h
Paris - 3h
Rome - 3hTo Vilnius direct from more than 14 European cities - Vilnius Airport.
To Riga direct from more than 50 European cities - Riga Airport.
To Tallinn direct from more than 22 European cities - Tallinn Airport. - WHAT ARE ALL THESE VIDEO CLIPS WITH PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE BALTICS?
They are small documentary clips that show and tell about the Baltics in an unrefined format. They are not commercials. You can hear various people expressing their unrehearsed opinions about their favorite things to see and do in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. This is a fragment of a bigger project "Proud To Know Baltics", created by "Taivas Ogilvy". The part, featured in this website is co-sponsored by theBALTICTRAVEL.eu and theTRAVELER.eu
- PASSPORT & VISA REQUIRMENTS
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all travelers except EU nationals holding a valid national ID card do not require a passport to travel.
All three Baltic countries joined the Schengen Agreement on 21 December 2007 for overland entry points and seaports, and on 29 March 2008 for airports. The Schengen Area is a group of twenty-five European countries, which have abolished internal border controls. Once a visa is obtained it is valid for all countries in the Schengen Area.
For stays up to 90 days, visas are not required for citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others.
- IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL?
It is as safe as travelling in Germany or Sweden. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have been member states of the European Union and NATO since 2004.
- CLIMATE
Four distinct seasons with cold winters and relatively warm summers. The Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Ocean contribute to relatively mild maritime weather, much milder than in similar latitudes in the continental US and Canada. Inland areas are more influenced by continental conditions resulting in more extreme variability. Average temperatures range from 23° C (73° F) in summer to -10° C (14° F) in winter, but can reach greater extremes in separate years. Variable clouds and rain showers throughout the year. Travel season April – October.
- TIME ZONE
GMT + 2
(Daylight savings time is GMT + 3 from last the Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October). These dates differ from start and end dates in North America and Australia/New Zealand. See - WorldTimeZone
- BUSINESS HOURS
Business hours for offices are 9-5 with possible closure for lunch hour. In general, shops in the Baltics have much longer working hours than elsewhere in Europe and often work 7 days/week.
- CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Major credit cards generally accepted. ATM machines are widely available in larger cities and most towns.
Currency exchange rates:
- CUISINE
Although Baltic restaurants have not made it into the Michelin guides yet, a growing number of smart restaurants serve high quality fusion cuisine. Traditional dishes are rich and heavy, especially during the winter months, making use of all those root vegetables in the cellar. Beef, chicken and mutton are available, but the most abundant and best quality meat is often pork. Fish, both fresh and smoked are also popular. During the summer and autumn markets are filled with a tantalizing array of fresh vegetables, local fruits, berries and mushrooms. There is a growing political and economic awareness of ecological farming and clean produce, which comes quite naturally to the nature loving Balts. The bread of choice is dark rye, the result of artistry passed down through the generations. A variety of light ryes, sourdoughs and various multi-grain breads can also be found, and each bakery has its own secret recipes. Dairy products especially cottage cheese, sour cream and curdled milk are classic dietary staples. Each country has its classic must-try specialties.
In LithuaniaLIETUVIŠKAS MIDUS — Lithuanian mead, fermented drink made with water, honey, berries, spices and hops - one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world.
CEPELINAI — potato dumplings with meat.
In Latvia
RĪGAS MELNAIS BALZĀMS — 45 proof jet black liquor distilled from 14 special ingredients including oak bark, wormwood and linden blossoms.
PĪRĀGI — classic pork and onion filled pastry.
In Estonia
VANA TALLINN — sweet strong syrupy liquor.
KAMA PORRIDGE — a mixture of various roasted and ground grains that are usually eaten with curdled milk or kefir.
- ELECTRICITY
220v AC/ 50 Hz.
Round European Two-pin plugs are used for C and F type sockets. - LANGUAGES
In Lithuania: Lithuanian (82%), Russian (8%), Polish (5.6%);
In Latvia: Latvian (58.2%), Russian (37.5%);
In Estonia: Estonian (67.3%), Russian (29.7%)
- SECOND LANGUAGES
In urban centers you may find that many people speak at least three languages, often the local language plus English and Russian in varying degrees of competence. A good rule of thumb is that those younger than 40 will speak ENGLISH, those between 40-70 will speak RUSSIAN, and those older than 70 will speak GERMAN as a second language.
- SHOPPING
All major European luxury brands as well as democratic shopping malls. Local art & fashion galleries are abundant, as are locally crafted wood products, textiles, amber and jewelry, as well as export quality food and drink. Local luxury items:
in Lithuania: Fashion by Ramune Piekautaite and jewelry/amber by Jurga Karciauskaite-Lago;
in Latvia: Linen by Lauma Kaugare;
in Estonia: Ilves sportsware and Estonian pianos - TRAVEL FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Luxury hotels do not present any accessibility problems and most tourist sights are accessible as well, but please ask theBALTICTRAVEL.eu staff if you have any questions and do not hesitate to make special requests. In general people in the Baltics are practical and understanding and have become more educated in disability awareness over the last years, but we still have a way to go before the Baltics catch up to the best examples from Western Europe.
- VACCINATIONS
No vaccinations are required for entry, but keeping up-to-date with Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and Tetanus vaccinations is recommended. Rabies and Typhoid warnings vary from year to year.
- SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
You can travel with a purpose in the Baltics, contributing to a variety of causes including work with the disabled, elderly or underprivileged, teaching conversational English and other skills at an orphanage, work with AIDS awareness instruction or the preservation of historically and ecologically valuable sites. Socially responsible travel activities are not yet included in the programs we offer through our website, but at your request the theBALTICTRAVEL.eu will tailor a satisfying and rewarding socially responsible travel program for you.
- ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
The Baltics don’t have environmental organizations that coordinate carbon offsets or renewable energy credits, but we encourage you to participate in these schemes in your home country. The Baltics are clean and green and we are doing everything we can to stay that way forever.
- PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
2010 LT LV EE JAN 1 x x x New Year's Day 7 x x x (Russian Orthodox Christmas celebrated) FEB 16 1918 Lithuanian National Day 24 1918 Estonian National Day MAR 11 1990 Lithuanian Restoration on Independence Day APR 2 x x Good Friday 4 x Easter 5 x x Easter Monday MAY 1 x x x International Labor Day 3 x Mother's Day 4 1990 Latvian Restoration of Independence Day 31 x White Sunday (Pentecost) JUN 23 Līgo Võidupüha
Midsummer's Eve in LV and Victory Day: the anniversary of the battle of Võnnu in EE 24 Jonines Jāņi Jaanipäev Midsummer's Day or St.John's Day JUL 6 1253 Anniversary of the Coronation of King Mindaugas AUG 15 x Assumption Day 20 1991 Estonian Restoration of Independence Day NOV 1 x All Saints' Day 18 1918 Latvian National Day DEC 25 Kaledos Ziemassvētki Jõulud Christmas Day 26 x x x Boxing Day 31 x x x New Year's Eve
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