Lithuania has been named the top-ranked tourism destination in Europe for 2025, by travel guide publishers Lonely Planet.
Lithuania also placed second on a global level, according to the rankings, surpassed only by Cameroon.
Key attractions highlighted by the guide include the capital, Vilnius, the Kuršių Nerijos National Park, the ‘Hill of Crosses’ and the Aukštaitijos National Park.
Commenting on the achievement, Aušrinė Armonaitė, the Minister of the Economy and Innovation, noted that this recognition follows on from Lithuania’s recent breakthroughs in fields such as economics, innovation, technology, and culture, as well as the country’s willingness to engage internationally.
‘Significant’ for tourism
Elsewhere, Olga Gončarova, head of Lithuania Travel, noted that the recognition is “significant” for Lithuania’s tourism infrastructure as well as its culture, nature, and gastronomy, adding that the country’s inclusion in the Lonely Planet recommendations means that it has been able to meet high selection criteria and the expectations of numerous experts.
Strongest performance to date
This year’s recognition marks the highest ranking Lithuania has ever received from Lonely Planet. The country first appeared on this list a decade ago, securing the third spot in 2015, and in 2018, Vilnius was included in the top ten most recommended places to visit in Europe.
In 2023, Lithuania welcomed 1.4 million foreign tourists, contributing significantly to the nation’s economy. These visitors typically spent several hundred euros each on services during their stay, including accommodation, dining, transportation, and various attractions.
In addition to Lithuania, the Lonely Planet recommendations for 2025 include Fiji, Laos, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Slovakia, and Armenia. The ranking evaluates not only tourism infrastructure and service quality but also safety, the cost-quality ratio, uniqueness, and sustainability.
The annual recommendations list is compiled by Lonely Planet’s internal editorial team, which includes a global network of travel experts and authors. The recommendations consider various criteria to ensure a mix of well-known tourist attractions and lesser-known destinations. Read more here.
