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Why Lithuania is your best destination in 2016? Magnificent and always vibrant Old Town of Vilnius and a bountiful supply of new and traditional events will attract Latvian neighbours to rediscover Lithuania in 2016. Revelations at the innovative Canopy Walkway erected in Anykščiai, joyous moments spent with the family at the Dolphinarium of the Lithuanian Maritime Museum will make your holidays in Lithuania memorable. Lithuania representing Stand No L36 by the State Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy of Lithuania welcomes everyone to discover tourism news as well as main events in Lithuania this year.

Steeped in history, the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, welcomes tourists with its Baroque buildings, ornate churches, and intimate, cosy courtyards. The Old Town of Vilnius, one of the largest in Eastern Europe (360 ha), earned Lithuania one of its entries on UNESCO World Heritage List. A stroll in the Old Town will take you to the “independent Republic” of Užupis, Bernardine Gardens located at the foot of the Gediminas Tower, museums and cosy cafés. 

In 2016, Vilnius tourists will spot talking sculptures in the city. This is an interactive cultural-educational project which combines several areas of art and modern technologies. Fifteen sculptures in Vilnius Old Town will invite visitors for a conversation on the phone. During the call you will to get to know the real persons or characters immortalized in the sculptures and also the cultural, historical and architectural heritage of Vilnius. 

On 4–6 March, the annual Kaziukas Fair will take place in Vilnius. Dating back to the 19th century the event brings together craftsmen from all over Lithuania. It is one of the most popular holidays among the residents of Vilnius. 

On 21 May, the Street Music Day will be organised in Lithuania. It brings thousands of people to the streets to play music. Professionals, amateurs and simply music fans play rock, classical music, avant-garde music or beat African rhythms in the streets. The event engages all cities and towns in Lithuania in creative spirit and communication with musicians. 

In the night from 17 to 18 June, Vilnius will host the Culture Night. The event invites residents of Vilnius to enjoy culture and art in the darkness of the night. A range of projects continue until 2 a.m. The event is a gift from various artistic, cultural and educational organisations to the city of Vilnius and its guests.

On 2–4 September, the largest city festivity, Capital Days, will be organised in Vilnius for the residents of the city and its guests. The programme includes pop, jazz, rock and classical music concerts, opera, and craftsmen and culinary fairs.

On 7–13 November, Vilnius Gastronomy Week will be organised for the third time during which the best restaurants and chefs in Vilnius will compete to win the recognition of food connoisseurs. To this end, all week the restaurants will serve a special tasting menu for visitors.

In 29–31 July, the 57th Sea Festival will be held in Klaipėda. Each year over half a million people visit the festival. It is worth paying a visit to the renovated Dolphinarium of the Lithuanian Maritime Museum in Klaipėda. This is one of the most popular museums in Lithuania, which attracts about half a million visitors each year. During the renovation, a water screen, modern sound and light, and ventilation and heating systems were installed in the renovated viewing hall and a new and modern dolphin therapy area adapted for people with disabilities was opened in the Dolphinarium. The area includes three pools, a space for music and art therapy, sensory integration, and physical activity. The facility can accommodate both the disabled children and their parents. This multi-purpose therapy centre is unique and the only one in the Baltic States.  

The Canopy Walkway erected in Anykščiai Regional Park will remain an exceptional tourist attraction within the context of green tourism. The 300-metre walkway meanders above the treetops and leads to a 35-metre tower which serves a good vantage point to admire the picturesque Forest of Anykščiai and the loops of the River Šventoji. This is the only tree canopy walkway in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe. The closest treetop walkways are available in Germany and Austria. The Canopy Walkway in Anykščiai was awarded the most innovative tourism project at the 12th UN World Tourism Organization’s Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism.

On 4–6 July, the Second FAI Women’s Hot Air Balloon World Championship will take place in the resort town of Birštonas. Sixty teams have already registered. The town of Birštonas is known for its high salinity water springs and old spa traditions. Sanatorium Eglė, which opened in Birštonas in 2015, offers more than 100 various therapeutic procedures. 

Cyclists can cover more than 5,000 km on bicycle routes in Lithuania and go boating in the rivers nearly 3,000 km. 

Around 40% of Lithuanian rural tourism farmsteads are situated in remote homesteads, which are nature oases. Your stay with family or friends in the natural environment may be supplemented with crafts sessions, active educational and recreational activities or Lithuanian sauna treatments. 

The participation is initiated by State Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy. It is implemented and financed by the European Regional Development Fund.