The Lithuania sojourn: Clean, green and serene

T-Mag Thursday 21/June/2018 14:40 PM
By: Times News Service
The Lithuania sojourn: Clean, green and serene

The first impression you get when you land at the Vilnius International Airport, Lithuania is that it’s a small but clean, green and serene nation of three million.
And as you take the city roads from the airport to the nearby urban centres such as Kaunas or Birštonas, you realise how pollution-free the atmosphere is and how disciplined people are on the streets and in general.

This is simply because Lithuania is not just about old buildings, tourist spots, food, and events. It is also about the people — simple folks with dreams and love for their city, who also face daily challenges of life, yet rise above them.

“Vilnius is a city where you can walk aimlessly with the locals. The Old Town is alive with contemporary culture and that great Vilnius vibe,” said Boleta Senkiene, honorary consul of Oman in Lithuania.
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A land of surprises, independent Lithuania (Lietuva) is fast being recognised as one of Europe’s gems and is now looking at receiving more tourists from all over the world.

“Take in a concert or catch a street performance, browse through one of our charming boutiques or urban fairs, or just sip on a mug of hearty Lithuanian ale while enjoying that marvellous mix of European architecture that makes Vilnius Old Town so special — including one of the highest concentrations of Baroque architecture this side of the Alps,” she added. Tourists say that every time they visit the city, Vilnius tastes different. “It is like a pickle with different flavours and the largest living museum of the world. This city lives in constant friction and constant peace,” said one of them, who regularly visits the Old Town.

Vilnius, which bagged the eighth place on Lonely Planet’s Best in the Europe 2018 list, has one of the continent’s oldest towns. There are buildings here that date back to the 15th century and the entire Old Town is a Unesco Heritage Site.
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But what is so special about old buildings? “Well, apart from the uniquely immersive experience of history that they convey, ours are fun to hang out in,” said Senkiene.
What’s more, nearly one-half of Vilnius is simply green space. With several urban parks, forests, lakes, and two rivers, tourists have countless options when it comes to staying active.

From hiking, cycling, tennis, kayaking, golfing, wakeboarding, and beach volleyball in the summer, to ice skating, sledding and even skiing and snowboarding in the winter, the greatest challenge in Vilnius is often just deciding what to do. “For those with a more relaxed view of what constitutes activity, we’re big on spas and saunas. Options abound in and around the city,” she added.

Once you decide which destinations you want visit, the next decision is where to stay. From spa hotels to luxury villas, these are Lithuania’s best:

Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square
It is located in the very centre of Vilnius’ Old Town, right on Cathedral Square, and all tourist attractions are within walking distance. The exquisite décor and the legendary Kempinski service make this new hotel the first choice for international travellers, business, and leisure alike.

The hotel produces natural raw honey from the beehive on its roof for its restaurant and its guests. Officials said the idea came from the Kempinski corporate initiative‚ “Best Breakfast in Town”, to upgrade the honey presentation at the breakfast buffet and strengthen the selection of healthy options on the menus.
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Medical Spa “Eglės sanatorija” in Birštonas
The spa located in Loops Regional Park greeted its first guests some five years ago. It is famous for its mineral water springs and curative black and white mud (extracted from private “Eglės sanatorija” wells and reservoirs) procedures and other wellness treatments.

The spa is a complex of four interrelated blocks; therefore guests can conveniently, without going outside, reach the treatment centre, living rooms, canteen, and other spots. The spa has modern single, double, and double joint rooms, luxury two-room suites, as well as rooms designed for people with disabilities, and rooms with anti-allergic floor covering. Up to 730 guests can stay here at the same time.

Harmony Park
One of the most luxurious hotels in the Baltic region, the exclusive five-star hotel is surrounded by nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Here, guests can choose from 26 tastefully furnished rooms in 200 hectares of natural environment.
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For guests who value exceptional comfort, the hotel offers a presidential suite equipped with the most luxurious bathrooms with massage tubs.
In the water area, visitors can enjoy a sauna, an infrared sauna, the steam room, and the kelo sauna. Those that prefer calm water recreation can enjoy the 25-metre swimming pool, whirlpool with cascades, hydro-massage bays, and underwater geysers.

The hotel also boasts of an indoor horse riding area, and an outdoor riding arena that meets international standards, several ponds for swimming, a stage area, and various small inns, and attracts visitors through its exquisite luxury and modernity coupled with a locally renowned spa.

Harmony Park can accommodate 240 people in villas and hotels, in addition to numerous camping sites.

Vytautas Mineral Spa
A new, state-of-the-art wellness and relaxation complex in idyllic Birshtonas. Exceptionally designed rooms and a fine-dining restaurant complement the spa facilities.

Nestled amid a lush pine forest and along the banks of the winding Nemunas River, the spa boasts a rich and historic mineral water source. Since 2016, Vytautas mineral spa has become one of the hallmarks of the idyllic Birštonas resort town. It offers treatments using mineral water with tremendous healing properties. Drawn from a source some 715 metres underground and millions of years old, the water at Vytautas spa contains more than 70 different minerals, making it unique to Europe and comparable to the mineral content of the water in the Dead Sea. —[email protected]