Page 366 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

364 SUR VIV AL GUIDE

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

After so many years of being excluded from centres that often extends into small towns
the map of Europe, the Baltic States of Estonia, and offers an abundance of useful literature
Latvia and Lithuania are now drawing a great to help visitors get the best out of their trip.
number of eager visitors to discover the Moreover, with the region’s capitals only a
region’s hidden treasures. These countries are relatively short drive away from each other,
extremely visitor-friendly destinations that it is easy to explore the Baltic States either
offer a wealth of historic sights and cultural individually or as a whole. Tour operators are
activities as well as great natural beauty, good growing in number and offer a good variety
food and fascinating insights into the region’s of packages. The practical information below
complex past. Each country has a well- and on pages 366–7 covers each of the three
developed network of tourist information Baltic States.

When to Visit
The best time to visit the Baltic
States is from May to October,
when the weather is generally
mild and rarely very cold. It is an
ideal time to explore the region’s
natural wonders by visiting one
of the many national parks or
taking long treks in the country-
side, camping or going swim-
ming in the sea or one of the
numerous lakes. The best festivals
generally take place in summer,
while some small museums and
historic sights are only open
between May and September.
The Old Towns of Tallinn and
Rīga are especially crow ded at
the peak of summer. Vilnius’s
larger Old Town, however, is less
cramped. Autumn is often Impressive building of the French Embassy in Rīga, Latvia
splendid in the Baltic States, but
the weather can abruptly turn significantly at any time. The least Travel Safety Advice
chilly as early as October. pleasant time to visit is January, Visitors can get up-to-date travel
The capitals are also very the coldest month, and the rainy safety information from the
atmospheric in winter, when they month of April, when the snow Foreign and Commonwealth
are blanketed in snow, although melts into a mass of sludge. Office in the UK (www.gov.uk/
temperatures can plunge foreign-travel-advice), the
State Department in the US
Visas and Passports
(www.travel.state.gov) and
Citizens of EU member states, the the Department of Foreign
USA, Canada, Australia and New Affairs and Trade in Australia
Zealand only need a valid passport (www.dfat.gov.au or www.
for entry into Estonia, Latvia and smartraveller.gov.au).
Lithuania for a period of up to
90 days in a half-year period.
Those wishing to stay beyond Customs Regulations
the permitted 90 days will need to EU citizens are not subject to
apply for a national long-term visa customs regulations, provided
or a residence permit. Visitors from they adhere to EU guidelines.
other countries should enquire at All visitors should check for any
the relevant embassy or consulate customs duty or special permi-
for visa requirements before travel- ssion required to export a cultural
ling. The official websites of the object, before buy ing it. For
Ministry of Foreign Affairs for detailed information on all these
Street café close to Vilnius Cathedral, each of the three countries offers guidelines, ent rance regulations
Vilnius, Lithuania information on visa regulations. and visa cost, it is advisable to
Velo-taxi on Tallinn’s Town Hall Square