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The Best of European Road Trips

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The Most Underrated Road Trip You MUST Take! Your 14-day Guide to Northeastern Europe
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🇱🇹 LITHUANIA

Road Trip PART 1: Things to do, places to stay, and where to eat/drink!

 
Stephanie profile picture
The Gediminas Castle Tower is the remaining piece of the Upper Tower of Gediminas Castle. The castle was built originally in 1409, and later, the 3-story tower was rebuilt in 1933. The tower offers views of Old Town Vilnius and a museum that exhibits...
Gediminas Castle Tower, Vilnius, Lithuania
 
Stephanie profile picture
My husband and I are passionate pizza lovers, and it has always been our tradition to find the best pizza place on the first day of our stay in any new city. Whether we are road-tripping across the states or exploring different countries, discovering...
Casa La Familia
 
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We had an unexpected surprise while waiting for our pizza. This place definitely has its own unique vibe. You wouldn’t expect to walk in and find yourself heading downstairs into an underground-style restaurant. Although we didn't have dinner there, ...
Pelėdos Beer & Snacks Bar
 
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Breakfast at MOSS is an absolute must when visiting Vilnius. Not eating here is doing yourself a disservice. Genuinely. As my husband and I were walking down the street, this corner spot caught my eye, mostly for its aesthetic. We immediately looked ...
MOSS
 
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Booking Lolita's Airbnb was one of the best decisions we could've made when visiting this area. The entire area is walkable and you are steps away from great food, transportation, culture, history and so much more that this lovely Old Town has to off...
Airbnb - Vilnius
 
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If you're looking for a true, authentic experience and trying a traditional 4 course meal, this is the ticket. I have booked multiple experiences through Airbnb for my husband and I, and there is not a single one that has ever left me feeling like I ...
Dinner with a Local Family
 
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The city of Užupis is so unique, full of character, and sits in the heart of Vilnius. It's a place where freedom of expression is truly and fully embraced and people have the right to be exactly who they want to be. 

With so much to do and see, here are my 5 cannot miss recommendations. 

1. Užupis Angel Statue - The angel is both a symbol of revival of the Užupis district, and the artistic freedom of its people. 

The next 3 recommendations you can actually find right next to one another. 

2. Bridge of Užupis - For a little bit of history of the bridge, it was originally made of wood and dates back to the 16th century. In 1955, the current bridge was rebuilt into the metal bridge it is now, due to a catastrophic flood that occurred in 1888. Every year on April 1st (April Fools Day), residents of Užupis celebrate their Independence Day by setting up playful border checkpoints on each bridge entering their “Republic.” In order to cross, visitors are asked to either present identification or make a heartfelt declaration of conscien...

3. Bridge Swing - You'll find this hidden little gem underneath but tied to the Bridge of Užupis. Due to our offseason travel, we were unable to cross the water and experience this for ourselves but it is known to be quite popular in the Summer and s... 

4. Mermaid of Užupis - The mermaid was created in 2002 by a sculptor named Romas Vilčiauskas. You can see this walking across the bridge itself and from underneath while enjoying the Bridge Swing. 

Lastly, I personally, can't pass up an opportunity to place a lock on a bridge with the one I love, or even a bestie. There's something that just makes me excited to take part in what feels like like such a special moment and one that is universally ...
5 Must-Vist Spots When In Užupis
 
Stephanie profile picture
If you’re a history buff like my husband and me, you’ll appreciate the WWII history showcased at the Klaipėda Castle site. During our visit, parts of the castle were still under construction, so make sure to explore the entire exhibit when you go!
A Piece of History: Klaipėda Castle Site
 
Stephanie profile picture
Need a last-minute place to stay? I’ve got you covered. I had initially booked what looked like a fantastic Airbnb, but unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way. After hours of driving from Vilnius to Klaipėda and lugging all our luggage up to the ... 
Around 9:30 PM, we decided we needed to leave. We packed what we needed and carried our bags back down the two flights of stairs before turning to Google Maps for alternatives. 

That's when we discovered the Mercure hotel. What a gem! The staff at the front desk were incredibly helpful, especially when we shared our unfortunate experience. They informed us that while Airbnbs are available in Klaipėda, they are still quite ne... 

A few additional notes about the Mercure: the rooms are exactly what you'd expect and offer a wonderful blend of luxury and affordability. The hotel features a great restaurant and a lobby bar, gated parking, friendly staff, and my favorite touch—hea...
The Mercure: Affordable Luxury in Klaipeda, Lithuania (from $46)
 
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I had an excellent experience at City Port Restaurant, located inside the Mercure Hotel. The warm atmosphere complemented a wonderful dinner and drinks, enhancing the overall experience. This restaurant is not only a great place to enjoy a meal for a...
City Port Restaurant - Klaipėda
 
Stephanie profile picture
Located at the National Hotel, you'll find this awesome gastropub. As soon as you walk in, you can tell that this is one of the local favorites for those nearby. 
What started out as a late evening drink, turned into us grabbing a menu and enjoying a bite to eat. As usual, the service at any place we visited in the area was phenomenal and continued to make for a great experience.  

I highly recommend this spot whether its for a night cap or you're simply looking for a great affordable bite to eat.
Storas Katinas
 
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In December 2000, the Curonian Spit was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its history goes back many years ago which you can find more of, in the link provided. 

If it wasn't for the dinner we planned with Ruta and her husband while in Vilnius, we never would have had this on our list of places to visit. The Curonian Spit is mostly known for a summer destination and bustles with people from all over as well a... 

To get to the Curonian Spit, you'll need to take a car ferry which is offered out of Klaipėda. The Ferry you will want to look for is called Naujoji perkėla, Smiltynė. The ride is about 20 minutes or less. 
Once you arrive, it's time to get exploring and I'd suggest heading in the direction of Nida as there is plenty to see and do along the way. From Sand Dunes, to the Curonian Spit National Park, Hill of Witches and more, you'll be glad you spent a ful...
A UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Curonian Spit
 
Stephanie profile picture
The Hill of Witches dates back to 1979 and sculptures have continued to expand throughout the forest as there are Woodcarving symposia held at the park regularly. The wooden sculptures are said to be characters from Lithuanian folklore and pagan trad... 

It is one of the most unique places I have ever visited and worth making the time to walk through. The sculptures cover a vast amount of the forest in this region so make sure you are prepared to spend some time checking it all out ((:
Hill of Witches
 
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Malkinė Nida gets 5 stars! The pizza was perfection and the latte and cappuccino did not disappoint for this rainy day ((:
Malkinė sits right on the water and is within walking distance of multiple hotels, a gallery museum, an ice cream shop, and so much more. When visiting, I would highly recommend spending an entire day if not a couple so you can get the true experienc...
Malkinė
 
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The amount of beauty the churches and cathedrals possess in Europe is….breathtaking. I never thought there would be a day that a church would leave me speechless but there have been plenty of these moments for both my husband and I as we have travele... 

Here are some churches + cathedrals that I would recommend visiting in Lithuania if you get the chance: 

Vilnius Cathedral - Cathedral Square
Bell Tower of Vilnius Cathedral - Cathedral Square
Church of St. Francis of Assisi - Vilnius
St. Anne's Chruch - Vilnius
Church of St. Theresa - Vilnius
Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos - Uzupis

Of course there are a ton more you can check out if you are an avid cathedral and church seeker like my husband and I but I hope these can get you started on your adventure ((:
Lithuanian Churches & Cathedrals