Unfortunately, Lithuania does not have the Alps for skiing and incredibly beautiful mountains for hiking. However, winter sports are alive and well here and are becoming more and more popular these days. Lithuania used to have very snowy and cold winters, but today things have changed a bit. In any case, there are several weeks in winter when Lithuania is full of snow and has temperatures of -30 °C, so the cold season is the best here. It can become a country of winter sports, where you can do various activities and admire beautiful landscapes. So, here is a small winter guide on where to hike and ski in Lithuania.
Ski resorts in Lithuania
It is worth starting with Snow Arena in Druskininkai, an artificial indoor ski resort. It is good to know that this resort is open all year round. However, in winter, Snow Arena also organizes outdoor tracks. So, in total, the complex has two indoor and a couple of outdoor tracks for skiing. In addition, in this arena, you can find the Snow Park, an area full of various events, where new types of skiing figures are exhibited every month. In addition, Snow Arena is located in a very beautiful Lithuanian resort town Druskininkai, so it is a great opportunity to escape from the noisy cities.
Liepkalnis is a ski park in Vilnius that has nine tracks with a total length of 2,6 km, as well as a snow park with 20-30 different obstacles. Like Snow Arena, Liepkalnis has artificial snow, so you don’t have to wait for real snow. Liepkalnis has long working hours and relatively low prices. This place can be reached by public transport in Vilnius. Since it is located near the airport, you can enjoy a beautiful view from the plane while skiing.
Another ski resort in Lithuania is Kalita, located in the cozy town of Anyksciai, in the eastern part of the country. There are 300 meters of slopes for skiing and snowboarding. The length of the main ski area is 250 meters, and the difference in altitude is about 40 meters.
The most mountainous region of Lithuania is its eastern part with the beautiful Aukštaitija National Park. Deep and long forest with narrow walking paths can be the best winter activity. Since there are different types of paths (from more difficult to easier), you can go here with the whole family. Also, all paths have orientation signs and rest areas. The management of Aukštaitija National Park provides maps and all additional information. So this is the best place in all Lithuania for a nice and easy Saturday walk.
Another important thing that should not be missed when visiting Aukštaitija National Park is the Anykščiai Treetop Walkway. It is located in the authentic and famous pine forest of Anykščiai, is 300 meters long and up to 21 meters high. The highest part of the path is a 34-meter tower. The history of this pine tree and walkway is beautiful. The Anykščiai Treetop Walkway is an incredibly beautiful place in the summer, but in winter, when everything is covered with fluffy snow, it is difficult to find words to describe the views.
Winter can be the most beautiful time of the year. Lithuania is full of interesting cities and incredibly rich nature to visit during the cold season. Now that you know that Lithuania also offers hiking and skiing, there is no doubt that you will experience the full charm of winter here.
