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Full of surprises, epic Algeria is an adventurous traveler’s dream.

Africa’s largest country by area has a 1600km (994-mile) coastline fringed with long sandy beaches and dotted with history-rich cities which include some of the best Roman ruins in the world. Inland, a fantastic desert hinterland promises authentic oasis towns, vast sand seas and ancient volcanic mountains covered in rare prehistoric petroglyphs and paintings.

Until recently, Algeria was one of the hardest countries in the world to visit. But this is changing, with tourist visas getting easier to obtain (still, budget two months for the process), and an increasing number of flights from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Curiosity piqued? Read on for 10 places you’ll want to visit in this country, a travel destination that will soon get the attention it deserves.

1. Timgad

Best for fans of epic Roman ruins

The UNESCO-listed Roman ruins at Timgad were built by the emperor Trajan in 100 CE. The site sits at a crucial pass through the Aurès Mountains, a strategic point that gave Rome control of access to the Sahara. Often called North Africa’s Pompeii, Timgad an exemplar of Roman urban planning, the city laid out like a chessboard over 50 hectares (123 acres). You’ll need a full day to explore all the forums, temples, markets, bath houses, theaters, law courts and villas here, as well as a rare public library. Look out for the inscription in the forum which reads “venari lavari ludere ridere occ est vivere” (“to hunt, to go to the bath, to play, to laugh: this is to live”). The on-site museum has 200 stunningly well-preserved floor mosaics.

Planning tip: Timgad is a very exposed site. You’ll need a hat and plenty of water in summer, and a jacket in winter or spring as it can be cold and windy.

2. Constantine

Best for admiring one of the world’s most improbably sited cities

Since the 4th century BCE, Constantine has occupied a rocky pinnacle above the river Rhumel, encircled by 200m(656ft)-deep ravines. It’s a pleasure to admire the ingenuity behind this improbably located city – and to snap pictures from the Sidi M’Cid Bridge and the Monument aux Morts, a WWI memorial that offers a bird’s-eye view. Once you hit the streets, you can visit the finely decorated Ottoman Palace of Ahmed Bey, the National Museum and the beautifully contemporary Emir Abdelkader Mosque, one of the largest on the continent.

Planning tip: Non-Muslims are allowed to enter mosques in Algeria outside of prayer times, so plan your touring accordingly.

3. Annaba

Best for following in the footsteps of North African Christian pioneer

Charming Annaba is where Amazigh theologian St Augustine – a figure crucial to and “Father” of the Catholic Church – taught and wrote works that remain cornerstones of modern Christian theology. Augustine was bishop of Roman Hippo Regius, now a flower-filled ruin in the town suburbs. On a hill above is the Basilica de Saint Augustine, built by the French in the late 19th century and overlooking the Basilica of Peace, where Augustine taught and beneath which he was buried. It is still tended by Annaba’s Augustinian community and a site of Catholic pilgrimage.

Planning tip: Underrated Annaba has a beautiful seaside setting, an atmospheric old town and some lovely sandy beaches.

4. Tassili n’Ajjer National Park

Best for taking in the world’s oldest gallery of art

Tassili N’Ajjer National Park encompasses 72,000 sq km (27,800 sq miles) of extraordinary desertscape, characterized by a surreal sandstone rock forest covered with 15,000 prehistoric petroglyphs and carmine-colored rock paintings depicting herds of elephant, giraffe and buffalo. These images provide a reminder of the Saharan steppeland, where Neolithic pastoralists roamed alongside wild megafauna some 10–15,000 years ago. To see all of Tassili’s treasures, you’ll need a full 10 days, though tours of 5 or 6 days are also possible.

Planning tip: Remote Djanet (served by Air Algérie) is the gateway to the Tassili n’Ajjer National Park. Officially, travelers touring the desert require an agency escort/guide for security.

5. Algiers

Best for discovering a capital with character

Overlooking a beautiful crescent bay, Algeria’s capital city brims with atmosphere, interesting Ottoman and art deco architecture and cafes playing haabi – the Muslim-Jewish fusion style forged in the city’s ancient alleys. Algiers’ historic heart, the Casbah is a snakes-and-ladders labyrinth of staircases, antique palaces and mosques. After occupying the city in 1830, French colonists encircled Algiers with Parisian-style boulevards; added a botanical garden, the Jardin d’Essai; inaugurated the Bardo National Museum; and built the basilica of Notre-Dame d’Afrique. The Martyrs Monument, Maqam Echahid, bookends the south end of the city, commemorating those who died during the long fight for independence, finally achieved in 1962.

Planning tip: Explore the Casbah with a guide from Fancyellow. If you have time, take a day trip to the extraordinary Roman ruins of Tipasa and Cherchell.

6. Tlemcen

Best for rich medieval architecture

Tlemcen is an architectural jewel of medieval mosques and palaces set in a green pine forest. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the city was a hub of learning and trade that rivaled Fez, Tunis and Granada, trading gold from Timbuktu and salt from Taghaza with Europe. This explains the hybrid Hispano-Moorish architecture of the Great Mosque (1082), an Almoravid masterpiece, and the El Mechouar citadel, which echoes Spain’s Alhambra. On the western edge of town you’ll find the ruins of the military camp El Mansourah (1299), with a 40m(131ft)-high minaret that is near-twin to the Giralda in Seville.

Detour: Tlemcen remains spiritually significant due to the tomb of Sidi Boumediene, located 1.6km (1 mile) southeast of the city. From here, it’s a 10-minute drive to the El Ourit waterfalls and a half-hour drive to the stalactite-encrusted Grottes des Beni Add.

7. Ahaggar National Park

Best for feeling like you’re at the edge of the world

Older than Tassili, the Hoggar Mountains of Ahaggar National Park are volcanic basalt buttes that rise vertiginously from the desert floor. Ancient river valleys sweeping through them on their way to Lake Chad are lined with more petroglyphs and paintings of wild animals and charioteers, thought to be the Garamantian ancestors of the Tuareg tribespeople. Week-long camel treks and 4×4 tours depart from Tamanrasset to the high plateau of Assekrem (2728m / 8950ft) – which translates to “the end of the world.” Stay at the hostel to see a truly spectacular dawn over the Atakor massif.

Planning tip: Expect to tip guides and drivers the equivalent of an extra day’s payment for each week worked.

8. Ghardaïa and the M’Zab Valley

Best for seeing secretive desert citadels

A collection of five ksours (citadels) built between 1012 and 1350 ( collectively referred to today as Ghardaïa after the principal one), the Pentapolis in the M’Zab Valley is one of the most fascinating places in Algeria. The fortified cities are today inhabited by Mozabites, members of an Amazigh tribe who adhere to the conservative Ibadite sect, observing distinct social codes and clothing, and permitting entry to outsiders only with a chaperone. Engage a guide to explore these closed communities to see, for example, the Sidi Brahim mosque in El-Atteuf, which inspired Le Corbusier. Don’t forget to check out the carpets in Ghardaïa’s market: weaving is a traditional craft here.

Planning tip: To visit Ghardaïa, the government requires tourists be on a group tour with required permits; try Algeria Tours. Within the ksours, you’ll also need to respect community rules, which include modest dress, no smoking and no pictures of people.

9. Sétif & Djemila

Best for gorgeous ancient mosaics

Sétif’s archaeological museum houses some of the best Roman mosaics in the world, including the unrivaled Triumph of Dionysus. Most artifacts come from Djemila (previously Cuicul), a UNESCO-heritage Roman city which sits on an scenic hillside in the Petit Kabyle mountains – and which is an essential excursion. You can tour the lovely ruins in half a day, but you’ll probably want to linger longer to enjoy the picturesque views. An excellent on-site museum exhibits incredible mosaics that cover almost the entire wall space.

Planning tip: Djemila is most easily visited from Sétif (1 hour) or Constantine (1 hours). Stay at Hotel Tadj el Mouada in Setif or Novotel Constantine.

10. Timimoun

Best for oasis life and dune-bashing

Timimoun in Central Algeria is a spectacular desert oasis set at the edge of an escarpment overlooking a sebkha (salt pan) and the undulating dunefields of the Grand Erg Occidental. Since this stunning landscape is miles from anywhere, you’ll feel like you’ve landed on the moon, with the red town rising from the earth like a wind sculpture. From here, you can (and should!) head into the desert. Most hotels can arrange quad biking and sandboarding close to town. Or you can tour the Sebkha Circuit, which takes you to abandoned villages crumbling in the heat on a roller-coaster ride over towering dunes.

Planning tip: Timimoun’s S’Boue Festival lasts seven days and draws thousands who come to celebrate at the mausoleum of Sidi El Hadj Belkacem and enjoy sacred music, poetry and traditional dances.

From dramatic cliffs to pristine forests, our national parks celebrate and preserve the beautiful landscapes that constitute the United States, and fortunately, many venues in and around the parks put together special Thanksgiving celebrations. 

Whether you’re already on the road or looking for somewhere special to chow down on turkey, here are a few national parks where you can celebrate Thanksgiving.

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Tennessee and North Carolina

The country’s most visited national park is the perfect place to celebrate one of the most beloved holidays – Thanksgiving.

In the heart of Southern Appalachia is the Fontana Village Resort, and their Mountainview Restaurant (which offers a vantage of the ancient Great Smoky Mountains) is serving up a veritable feast. For $59.99 ($29.99 for 5-12-year-olds), Thanksgiving guests will feast on roasted turkey, sweet potato gratin, blistered brussel sprouts, cornbread dressing and more. Other notable menu items include an assortment of classic Thanksgiving desserts like pumpkin and pecan pies. Reservations should be made as soon as possible directly with the resort.

2. Yosemite National Park

California

Once known as the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, the Ahwahnee Hotel is upholding that same standard with a grand lobby sporting multiple massive fireplaces and a dining room decorated with lofty 34-ft beamed ceilings.

Celebrating Thanksgiving inside Yosemite National Park is an incredible experience made only more inviting by The Ahwahnee’s decadent buffet and festivities.

This year’s prix fixe menu ($150 per adult, $75 per child) includes roasted butternut squash soup, roasted turkey, prime rib, brown rice salad with fresh veggies, ratatouille, traditional stuffing with Italian sausage, and whipped mashed potatoes. Reservations should be made directly with the hotel by calling 1-888-413-8869.

3. Arches National Park

Utah

Less than 20 miles east of Arches National Park sits Sorrel River Ranch, an upscale resort surrounded by the dramatic red rocks for which the region is known.

Situated on 240 acres along the Colorado River, the serene hotel and spa will offer a Thanksgiving buffet with carved turkey and prime rib, classic sides like sage and mushroom stuffing and candied sweet potatoes, and an array of dessert options like caramel pecan pie and blackberry cheesecake. Tickets are $95 per adult and $35 per child.

4. Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado

Estes Park is the gateway city to Rocky Mountain National Park, and just 10 minutes from the park’s entrance is The Stanley Hotel, an iconic resort (it served as the inspiration for the hotel in The Shining) that hosts an annual Thanksgiving meal.

This year, patrons will order from an à la carte three-course menu filled with Thanksgiving fare like a candied walnut and goat cheese salad, a smokehouse turkey dinner with all the traditional fixings and an elevated pumpkin crème brûlée. Reservations can be made over the phone. Adult seats are $99 each, children 6-12 are $30, and children 5 and under eat for free.

5. Shenandoah National Park

Virginia

Thanksgiving and fall colors go hand in hand, and some of the best autumn foliage is found in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park.

At miles 41.7 & 42.5 on Skyline Drive inside the park itself is the Skyland restaurant, a full-service dining room with a Thanksgiving dinner that can’t be missed. In place of the standard buffet, there will be a special menu filled with roast turkey and classic sides, many with a Southern flair.

The USA packs spectacular biodiversity within its borders, boasting some of the most beautiful places in America.

Within the 50 states, you’ll encounter incredible natural landmarks, including hot desert playas and plateaus, skyscraping mountain ranges topped by glaciers, rolling grasslands where millions of bison once roamed, tropical rainforests, active volcanic zones and polar tundra.

Many of the USA’s most magnificent natural wonders are protected today by the National Park Service (NPS). These specially protected places also provide a safe haven for an astonishing array of wildlife, ranging from tiny eyeless fish living in the dark haunts of Mammoth Cave to the giant grizzly bears of wild Denali National Park. Scattered from coast to coast and beyond, here’s our pick of the most mind-blowing of the USA’s natural wonders.

1. Redwood National and State Parks, California

The world’s tallest trees grow on the fog-kissed Northern California coast. Redwoods can reach a height of 379ft, taller than the Statue of Liberty in NYC, and live for up to two millennia. Almost half of the remaining old-growth redwood trees that have never been logged are protected by the chain of Redwood National and State parks.

Planning tip: To hike the 4.5-mile Tall Trees Trail, you will need to apply for a reservation in advance online.

2. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Measuring a mile deep, up to 18 miles wide and more than 275 miles long, no other sight in the USA beats this giant hole in the ground for instilling stupefying awe. Peering over the edge of the Grand Canyon is enough of a thrill for some, but to really appreciate the canyon’s grandeur, hike all the way down inside it to the rushing Colorado River.

Planning tip: To escape the crowds, visit the canyon’s North Rim, which gets a fraction of the visitors at the South Rim. However, beware that the North Rim is seasonal – there are no visitor services and roads close to all vehicles from December 1 to May 14.

3. Yosemite National Park, California

Famous conservationist and wilderness writer John Muir called Yosemite nature’s temple. Gazing up at towering granite monoliths such as El Capitan and at Yosemite Falls, North America’s highest waterfall, you’ll know exactly what he meant. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique geological features carved by glaciers, Yosemite also sustains a variety of rare wildlife inhabiting California’s craggy Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Planning tip: Yosemite Valley’s waterfalls peak in late spring, which is a less hectic time to visit the park than during summer.

4. Niagara Falls, New York

Niagara Falls is not just one, but three waterfalls that gush along the US-Canada boundary between New York and Ontario: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. They aren’t the USA’s tallest waterfalls, but these powerful cascades have a bigger water flow than any others on the planet. Get up close and feel the cool spray on a Maid of the Mist boat tour.

Planning tip: The Canadian side of the falls claims more natural beauty, so bring your passport for international border crossings.

5. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone is the USA’s oldest national park and is a wonderland of unique geology and wildlife. At this UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, you’ll be amazed by the world’s largest collection of geysers and hydrothermal features, including hot springs, boiling mud pots and steaming fumaroles. Look for herds of bison roaming free alongside the park’s main roads.

Planning tip: Vacationing here during early fall avoids some of the biggest crowds, but be prepared for freezing overnight temperatures and, possibly, snowfall.

6. Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

On Hawaiʻi, the Big Island, Kilauea Volcano has been oozing red-hot lava since 1983, making this one of the world’s longest continuous volcano eruptions. Nowhere else in the country can you see geological forces birthing new land like here at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. According to Hawaiian tradition, the fiery lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu Carter is the home of Pele, goddess of fire and volcanoes.

Planning tip: Check the park website for eruption updates and current lava viewing conditions.

7. Denali National Park, Alaska

In the indigenous Koyukon Athabaskan language, it means “the high one,” which is fitting because Denali is North America’s highest peak (20,310ft). Prominently poised above the surrounding wilderness, it’s in fact taller than Everest when measured from its base. Climbers first reached the south summit in 1913, a feat now attempted by more than a thousand people every year.

Planning tip: Flightseeing tours depart from Healy to the northeast of the park, and Talkeetna, a railroad town about 150 miles south of Denali National Park.

8. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

In America’s heartland, aptly named Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest cave system. Almost 400 miles of underground passageways have been explored (so far, that is) inside this limestone karst cave labyrinth sculpted by subterranean rivers. See oddly shaped stalactites, stalagmites and other impressive speleothems (cave formations) on a lantern-lit cave tour.

Planning tip: Bring a sweater or a jacket – temperatures inside the cave average 54°F (12°C).

9. Monument Valley, Arizona

Chances are that those epic landscapes you’ve seen in classic Hollywood Westerns were shot in Monument Valley, where startling sandstone buttes rise up to 1000ft above the sandy desert floor. Today, the valley is a Navajo tribal park. For a grand sense of perspective, sign up for a guided horseback tour.

Planning tip: The Navajo Nation is on Mountain Standard Time (MST), but unlike neighboring Arizona, it observes Daylight Saving Time (DST).

10. Acadia National Park, Maine

On the wind-blown, tide-splashed Atlantic coast, Acadia is a maritime treasure. Don’t miss hiking Cadillac Mountain (1530ft), the tallest peak on the Atlantic seaboard. Climb to the summit for sunrise, and you can claim to be one of the first people in the USA to see the sunrise that day. For equally stunning panoramas, show up for golden leaf peeping in autumn.

Planning tip: Rent bicycles in Bar Harbor, or bring your own bicycles to explore the park car-free.

Valencia has a sky that’s almost always bright blue: no wonder everyone would rather be outside. Life happens in the street in Spain’s third-largest city, whether that’s catching up with friends on sunny terraces over a caña or sipping mojitos with toes plunged into the golden sand.

Come to Valencia to marvel at modernist architecture and Gothic monuments and when it’s time to unplug, head to the secluded beach in a thriving natural park, wade a stand up paddleboard into the calm ocean, or roll out a yoga mat in one of the lush city parks. Further afield there are mountains to explore and leafy bicycle paths to whizz along.

Whether it’s elegant squares or natural beauty, Valencia’s outdoor spaces inspire people to enjoy the great outdoors.

Jardin del Turia

Draped across the city like a winner’s sash, Jardin del Turia is a 5.6-mile-long green lung. It’s planted in the former riverbed of the Río Turia, which was diverted after a devastating flood in 1957. Today, it’s the largest urban park in Spain. It’s speckled with lemon trees, grassy meadows and cafés serving chilled horchata under rubber trees. Some roped-off areas might look overgrown; these are wild sections, left unkempt to encourage biodiversity. Threaded through the plants are running routes and bike paths, while yoga classes take place under the shade of palm trees. Walk along the paths to reach cultural hubs, like the grand music venue Palau de la Música and the otherworldly Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.

Valencia city beaches

Valencia’s most popular beach, Playa El Cabañal is a lively stretch of butter-yellow sand backed by the old fisherman’s quarter. Begin by exploring the barrio’s character-filled tiled houses and then pop into the local market, Mercat Municipal del Cabanyal for some field-fresh peaches before making tracks to the seaside. Not into sunbathing? Book one of the volleyball courts for free on Playa de la Malvarrosa for you and up to eight friends with the local school BeachBol.

A wealth of water activities await just offshore from all of Valencia’s beaches. From sunset cruises and catamaran sailing to jet skis, windsurfing and paddle boarding, there’s something for every kind of nautical adventurer.

La Devesa

Away from the well-trodden path, this secluded beach just south of Valencia is a sustainability and rewilding success story. The coastline of La Devesa was nearly set to be redeveloped, but thankfully the project was scrapped in favor of keeping the beach natural. The shrub-covered dunes have been reinstated, and now the wild coastline is only accessible by foot. Take the number 25 bus from Porta de la Mar to Embarcador de l’Albufera, then it’s a pleasant 20-minute walk past pine trees and butterflies to reach the hidden sands dotted with shells. Pack a picnic: there are no beach bars shaking up cocktails here. It’s peaceful, undeveloped, and totally relaxing.

Finish with a visit to nearby La Albufera for the region’s famous paella – Bon Aire serves their house special (snails optional) on a terrace beside the rice paddies, or you can escape the elements in the bright and airy Restaurant El Redoli. For a great boat tour of l’Albufera, coupled with delicious paella, look for Nou Racó – it offers traditional flavors with avant garde presentation.

Jardín Botánico

Hidden in a quiet corner of the city center, Jardín Botánico has a fascinating history with roots that stretch back to the 16th century; it was relocated to its current location in 1802. Throughout the 19th century botanical classes took place in this leafy oasis, before it sadly fell out of use. A ten-year recovery project, finished in 2000, restored the old features and added new sights, like the grand orchid and carnivorous plant glasshouse. Now it’s a restorative haven, ideal for morning walks or balmy evening strolls (it’s open until 8pm). Keep an eye on its website for dreamy activities among the flowers.

Plaza de la Virgen

Graceful Plaza de la Virgen is one of Valencia’s most atmospheric squares, and it’s steeped in history. There has been a square of sorts here since Roman times, and thousands of years later people still gather here to socialize under the clear sky. In the center, a reclining figure in the fountain represents the Río Turia, and each woman surrounding him represents the eight irrigation canals that watered the surrounding farmland. For a better view, go to the rooftop of Hotel Palacio Vallier (there’s a €10 minimum spend per person). Up here, there’s an eagle-eye perspective over the shell-pink basilica and the cathedral.

Bioparc and Oceanográfic

Opened in 2008, Bioparc is an enormous zoo found at the western end of Jardin del Turia. This huge park has been cleverly designed to feel more immersive: traditional fences and cages are replaced with streams, rocks and lakes. Recreated habitats include the African savannah with rhinos and antelopes, and the Kenyan wetland with crocodiles and hippos. Even the café is set in a round hut-inspired building, with giraffes ambling past the terrace. Over in the Madagascar zone, lemurs with long, bouncy tails scuttle along fences and between the ankles of visitors. Keep an eye out for Makena, the first baby elephant ever born in Valencia.

Spain’s most famous aquarium, Oceanográfic, is the southernmost building of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. The sharks, complete with tunnel, are an obvious favorite, while a series of beautiful tanks present species from temperate, Mediterranean, Red Sea and tropical zones. Out of the water, An aviary presents wetland birds, while polar regions feature penguins, and there are seals, sea lions and walruses, too.

Parque Central

Russafa is one of Valencia’s most culture-packed barrios, and in 2019 a new park was designed to bring some greenery to this vibrant area. Parque Central is a multi-faceted leafy space with peaceful water features, native flora and modern installations; it’s perfect for picnics and taking a breather after action-packed sightseeing. In the height of summer, children love dashing and squealing through the interactive fountains called Estanque de la Panderola while families celebrate birthdays on picnic benches in the shade. In the center, a walkway shaded by a canopy of pink bougainvillea leads to a large grassy expanse and a flower garden interspersed with trickling pools. Pick up some seasonal fruit and other local delicacies from Ruzafa Market en route and spread out a blanket next to the roses for a blissfully unhurried afternoon.

From our sponsors: Visit the official tourism website of Valencia to start planning your trip today.

Lithuania is the unsung star of the Baltics. With a wealth of baroque and art deco architecture, sobering relics of a Soviet past, a thriving, ever-evolving dining scene and ample natural attractions, the country delivers something for every traveler.

Lithuania is one of the best countries to visit next year. See our full list of Best in Travel 2025 winners.

Its rich history goes back millennia – and in spite its ever-changing borders over the years, including by its forcible incorporation into the USSR, Lithuania has always managed to hold true to its language, culture and national character. Even today, traditional villages, where crops are still gathered by hand and artisans practice crafts honed over centuries, thrive alongside cosmopolitan cities. Lithuania’s dense forests attract numerous foragers, while the Baltic Sea draws sun worshippers to the amber-speckled coast.

The following advice from a veteran visitor will help you turn your trip to Lithuania into an unforgettable one.

1. Explore the bewitching Curonian Spit

Cloaked in pine forest and bumpy with giant sand dunes that have given it the nickname “Sahara of Lithuania,” the Curonian Spit – a sliver of land barely more than 1km (0.6 miles) across – juts out into the Baltic Sea. Its four fishing villages of Nida, Juodkrantė, Pervalka and Preila make for restful stays, with the cycling on trails between Nida and Juodkrantė a great way to take in the highlights. Don’t miss the giant Parnidis Dune or the state-of-the-art Mizgiris Amber Museum in Nida. Climb Vecekrugas Dune (67m / 220ft) en route to Preila, and Nagliu Dune near Pervalka for fantastic views of the so-called Dead Dunes, cooling off with refreshing dips in the Baltic Sea as you go. Finally, swing by Witches’ Hill in Juodkrantė to commune with wood carvings of devils, witches and other mythological figures along a woodland sculpture trail.

Practical tip: Rent a bicycle from one of several outlets in Nida or Juodkrantė. Local buses connecting the villages have bicycle racks. A wonderful alternative way to explore the spit is by walking the long-distance Baltic Coastal Trail, which spans its coastline.

2. Encounter traditional Lithuanian culture in Dzūkija National Park

Rural tradition runs strong through the very south of the country. In the villages amid Dzūkija’s woodlands, locals still harvest their crops with scythes, weave their own wool and linen, and practice elaborate wood carving and basket weaving. To delve into this traditional way of life, check in for a farm stay in Merkinė, Marcinkonys or other villages. Explore Dzūkija either by walking or cycling the designated hiking trails in the national park, and interacting with pottery masters along the 12km(7.5-mile)-long Secrets of the Black Clay trail that connects Merkinė to other villages that practice this ancient ceramic art.

Planning tip: Join locals in foraging for mushrooms between August and November, and attend the mushroom festival in Varėna in September.

3. Reflect atop the Hill of Crosses

A mesmerizing sight greets you 10km (6 miles) north of Šiauliai: a small hill covered in thousands of crosses of various styles and scales. Rosary beads adorn some; others are fine examples of ironwork, or carved wooden folk-art masterpieces, mingling with Lithuanian koplytstulpis (wooden sculptures of a figure topped with a little roof) and magnificent sculptures of the Sorrowful Christ (Rūpintojėlis). Crosses have been placed here since the 14th century – and began reappearing as symbols of hope and defiance in Soviet times, when planting a cross was an arrestable offense. Today, the devout come from all over Lithuania and beyond.

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Planning tip: Come here early in the morning for some quiet contemplation, and take your time wandering past the rows of crosses and around the hill’s base, drinking in the details. You may spot a memorial to 9/11 victims, recent tributes to those killed by COVID, blue-and-yellow ribbons in memory of civilians who have perished in Russia’s war on Ukraine and a cross fashioned from bicycle gears.

4. Admire Kaunas’ art deco buildings

During its two-decade stint as the country’s capital (when Vilnius was captured by Poland), Lithuania’s second city embodied inter-war optimism – a mood captured through a wealth of well-preserved art deco buildings from the era. To fully appreciate Kaunas, first take in its cobbled Old Town and its medieval castle, before taking the tree-lined Laisvės alėja to New Town, with its museums and fabulous 20th-century architecture, such as the Resurrection Church (1933) and the still-functioning Romuva Cinema (1940). Immersive visits to the Art Deco Museum and the Amsterdam School Museum are unmissable highlights. During these intimate tours of apartments that still boast their original period furnishings, you’ll sip sparkling wine while listening to the life stories of their former owners.

Practical tip: Visits to the private Art Deco Museum and Amsterdam School of Architecture museums must be booked in advance – and are worth planning your entire visit to Kanaus around.

5. Enjoy a quintessential Lithuanian summer in Aukštaitija National Park

Cloaked with pine and spruce forest and dotted with dozens of lakes, Lithuania’s oldest protected area is where city dwellers head every summer. You can join them in hiking or pedaling along the myriad woodland trails, summiting Ladakalnis Hill (a sacred pagan site in centuries past), foraging for bilberries and wild strawberries, swimming wild in the lakes, and canoeing or paddle boarding. In addition to outdoor pleasures, you can explore the ethnographic heritage of the tiny villages, from the Ancient Beekeeping Museum near Stripeikiai to Ginučiai’s still-working 19th-century watermill.

Practical tip: The town of Ignalina has the biggest range of accommodation and dining, while Palūšė is the main water-sports center. LitWild offers active, tailor-made guided tours of the national park.

6. Taste Biržai’s farmhouse beer

Northern Lithuania has been the land of barley-malt beer for over 1000 years, with villagers brewing unpasteurized, unfiltered kaimiškas alus (village beer) using locally grown hops. During Soviet times, the farmhouse brewing tradition was all but wiped out – but is now happily seeing a resurgence, particularly in and around Biržai, where ale-makers have resurrected ancient recipes. Rinkuškiai Brewery offers walk-through tours of the brewing facilities, where you get to witness the process from malting, milling and mashing up through to fermentation and bottling. The visit also includes a tasting of six types of unfiltered beer, from the black ale and porter to the pale ale, plus the smoky house gira (kvass).

Planning tip: Try to find yourself in Biržai during the exuberant two-day fiesta in August, when all of the town’s breweries offer their wares on the street.

7. Tour Vilnius, the country’s capital

Trying to decide how to spend your time in Lithuania’s capital city is a conundrum. You can’t go wrong with a stroll through the marvelously intact Old Town, where locals actually live, and where cobbled streets are lined with exceptional baroque, Gothic and Renaissance buildings. Take in its centuries-old university, Cathedral Square with its leaning bell tower and the views from Gediminas Hill. Then check out the offbeat, renegade-artists’ “republic” of Užupis, admire contemporary art at MO Museum, peruse the sobering Holocaust Museum and the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, and see the scene at Lukiškės 2.0, a former Soviet prison turned funky arts venue.

Detour: Take a day trip by bus or train to scenic Trakai, home of Lithuania’s most impressive castle, which sits on an island in Lake Galvė. Paddle around it in rented watercraft and sample kybinai (meat-filled pastries) – the signature dish of the local Karaite ethnic minority – at lakeside restaurants.

8. Take the healing waters in Druskininkai

The pine-fringed riverside spa town of Druskininkai has been famous since the 18th century for the allegedly healing properties of the salty mineral water gushing from its springs. You can drink this healing elixir at the Health Resort Druskininkai, soak in it at the Grand Spa Lietuva, Spa Vilnius and Mineral Spa Draugyste, or stay in one of the spa-hotels and partake in treatments ranging from mud baths and salt-room sessions to deep-tissue massage and oxygen therapy.

Detour: Commune with Lenin and Stalin statues and other salvaged communist monuments and memorabilia at Grūto Parkas, 8km (5 miles) east of Druskininkai.

9. Go bird watching in the Nemunas Delta

Where the Nemunas River spills into the Curonian Lagoon south of the port of Klaipėda, the land dissolves into a wetland delta that teems with birdlife: 270 out of the 294 bird species found in Lithuania, to be precise. The conditions here make bird watching almost absurdly easy. Storks stare down at you from their nests on top of electricity poles as you travel south to Ventės Cape, which extends far into the lagoon. Near the tip of the cape, stop by the Ventės Ragas Ornithological Station, a bird-ringing station on the path of a busy bird-migration route that stretches from the Arctic to East Africa, to see cranes, tits, finches, geese and other migratory birds passing overhead in early autumn and in spring.

Practical tip: Bring birding binoculars to spot great crested grebes and white-winged black terns paddling on the lagoon.

10. Descend into a nuclear bunker at Žemaitija National Park

Deep in the heart of the densely forested and lake-speckled Žemaitija National Park, the only Soviet nuclear missile base in the region once housed four medium-range ballistic SS-4 missiles, armed with two-megaton-power thermonuclear warheads – enough firepower to flatten all of Europe. Descend into one of the underground bunkers, explore the reconstructed headquarters of the bunker commander, interact with the multimedia displays – and marvel at how close the world came to nuclear Armageddon.

Practical tip/detour: To explore the rest of the national park, rent a bicycle in Plateliai, the region’s main town. While you’re there, swing by Plateliai Manor to check out an incredible collection of traditional Shrove Tuesday masks.

11. Party it up in Palanga

One of Lithuania’s most popular seaside resorts since Soviet times, Palanga is a pounding party spot in summer. While pedestrianized Basanavičiaus gatvė becomes abuzz with arcade machines, merry-go-rounds, electric cars, buskers and late-night bars playing thumping music, much of tree-lined Palanga is incredibly tranquil. Take the coastal path through pine forest, detouring to the beach for sunbathing and swimming. Another highlight is the Amber Museum in the vast Botanical Park, with over 15,000 examples of Baltic gold on show inside a neoclassical palace. Expect everything from ancient insects trapped in a golden tomb to striking, contemporary jewelry by present-day amber masters.

12. Visit a nuclear power station in Ignalina

If you’ve seen the 2019 HBO miniseries Chernobyl, then you’ll recognize parts of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) in Visaginas. While it’s currently an epicenter of “nuclear tourism,” the plant has been decommissioned due to the similarity of its design to that of the ill-fated nuclear power station in Chernobyl in Ukraine, and its reactors are in the process of being dismantled. Complete the online application form weeks or months in advance to take an in-depth, 3-hour guided tour of the facility, including the turbine hall, the RBMK reactor hall and unit control room. You can also get an overview of the history of the plant and its challenges during an Information Center tour, complete with VR headset.

Detour: The LitWild team will bring you into a simulator INPP control room near Visaginas, where the plant staff used to receive training on how to handle emergencies.