Page 395 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

TRA VEL INFORM A TION 393

and transport. West Express
organizes specialized tours, such
as Jewish Vilnius. Balloon flights
with Ballooning Centre are
especially memorable.

Car Hire
A convenient alternative for
getting around the city and
taking day-trips to nearby
Martono Taksi, an expensive but reliable option attractions such as Trakai is to
hire a car. International car
and Ekipažas are generally shopping, festivals and parades, rental companies, such as
reliable. All taxis must have a besides being an attraction in Europcar, Avis and Hertz, and
working meter, so check the itself. Stretching from Cathedral local companies such as Aunela,
initial reading as you get in. Square in the east to Žvėrynas offer insured vehicles.
in the west, it becomes
ped estrianized in the DIRECTORY
Cycling
evenings. The lush districts of
Conditions for cyclists vary Žvėrynas and Užupis are on Buses and Trolleybuses
considerably around the city. either sides of the Old Town. Vilnius Transport
Bicycle routes are clearly The former leads to the Sodų 22. Tel 216 0054.
marked on many of the pave- splendid views of the Neris ∑ vilniustransport.lt
ments in the Old Town, along river and Vingis Park, reachable
roads such as Gedimino and by a pedestrian bridge. A walk Taxis
Konstitucijos avenues and into to Užupis may culminate in a
districts such as Žvėrynas and peaceful wander around Ekipažas
Vingis Park. EuroVelo route 11 is Bernadinų Cemetery, or you Šv Stepono 33a. Tel 233 7958.
an Eastern European cycle route could continue on as far as ∑ ekipazastaksi.lt
that runs through the eastern Belmontas and the Church of Romerta
Baltic region, taking in Vilnius Sts Peter and Paul. Garsioji 9. Tel 275 6969.
and Tartu. It has now been ∑ romerta.lt
extended to Vilnius from the
southwest to the northeast, Cycling
towards Verkiai. However, Baltic Cycle
cycling along roads that do Vytenio 6–110. Tel 6995 6009.
not have bicycle lanes is not ∑ bicycle.lt
recommended. Bicycles can
be rented at Baltic Cycle. Sightseeing Tours
Ballooning Centre
Walking Upės 5. Tel 6520 0510.
∑ ballooning.lt
Each sight is just a few steps
from the next one, allowing Senamiesčio Gidas
visitors to expe rience the Old Aušros vartų 7. Tel 6995 4064.
Town’s magnificent archi tecture ∑ vilniuscitytour.com
from close quarters. There are Visit Lithuania
many pedestrianized streets L Stuokos-Gucevičiaus 1.
and, despite the occa sional Visitors walking down Pilies Street towards Tel 262 5241.
reckless driver, traffic is rarely Upper Castle, Old Town ∑ visitlithuania.net
a hindrance. West Express
Crossing roads in Vilnius can Sightseeing Tours A Stulginskio 5. Tel 255 3255.
sometimes be hazardous. At Tour guides in Vilnius are ∑ westexpress.lt
many crossings a “red man” and professional and speak fluent
“green man” guide pedestrians English. A typical sightseeing Car Hire
on when to cross. However, at tour arranged by Senamiesčio
road junctions, there are traffic Gidas includes a trip to the Old Avis
lights just for cars. When at a Town, Užupis and the Church of ∑ avis.com
pedestrian crossing without Sts Peter and Paul. Customized Europcar
lights, cars must give way to tours can also be arranged. ∑ europcar.com
pedestrians, but they do not Travel agencies such as Visit Hertz
always do so. Gedimino Avenue Lithuania also arrange guided ∑ hertz.com
is the city’s main street for tours as well as accommo dation