In Lithuania there are 103 cities (in Lithuanian: singular – miestas, plural – miestai). The term city is defined by the Parliament of Lithuania as compact areas populated by more than 3,000 people of whom at least two thirds work in the industry or service sector. Those settlements which have a population of less than 3,000 but historically had city status are still considered to be cities. Smaller settlements are called miestelis (plural miesteliai) which is translated as towns. Even smaller settlements (villages) are called kaimas (plural kaimai). Often the official status is not clear and people refer to both towns and villages as gyvenvietė (plural gyvenvietės) which in essence means settlement.
The cities started to form in the 13th-14th century together with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The first city to receive city rights was Klaipėda. According to medieval law, a city could have its own fairs, taverns, guilds, courts, etc. Some former cities lost their status are now just towns or villages, for example Kernavė or Merkinė. Most of the cities in Lithuania are old, established before the 18th century. Their location is mostly determined by trade and transportation routes. Some of the newer cities grew because of railroad construction, for example Kaišiadorys, Vievis, Radviliškis, Ignalina or Mažeikiai. In the last century cities grew new to big industry centers, for example Visaginas, Elektrėnai or Naujoji Akmenė. Five cities – Birštonas, Druskininkai, Neringa, Palanga and Anykščiai – have a special resort status.
Most of the cities are small. There are only 19 cities with population of more than 20,000. Cities are quite evenly spread out through the territory of Lithuania. This forms a good network to support economic development throughout the country. About 66.7% (as of 2001 census) of the population lives in cities and the percentage is growing.
Welcome to VilniusVery pleasant and very beautiful, that’s what comes to ones mind when talking about Vilnius. The city displays a variety of both architectural expression and willpower. This is perhaps due to the interesting history that rests in this attractive town, which not always has been the capital of Lithuania. However, for over five centuries, untill he 18th century, Vilnius had been political and cultural center of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Old Town is Vilnius was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994 just because the town "has preserved an impressive complex of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and classical buildings as well as its medieval layout and natural setting". 2009 Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture.
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Welcome to KaunasKaunas (pop.364.1 thousand), the second largest city of the country, is situated on the confluence of the Nemunas and the Neris. The city originated in the 13th century when the first brick castle in Lithuania, the biggest defense fortress then, was built. In 1408 the city was granted the Magdeburg rights. Afterwards Kaunas began growing at a fairly rapid pace, especially its importance as the center and main port for trade with Western Europe. In the 16th century Kaunas was one of the best developed cities in the Lithuanian Grand Duchy.
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Welcome to KlaipedaLithuania's third largest city is located at the narrow strait linking the Curonian Lagoon to the Baltic Sea. Today, Klaipeda has a population of more than 206,000 and is vital to Lithuania's economy as the country's main seaport.
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Welcome to TrakaiTrakai, the ancient capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, is nestled amidst picturesque lakes. It is best known for its captivating 14" century fairytale castle on an island on lake Galve, now housing a museum. Other than exploring the Gothic red bock castle, the town of Trakai itself with its quaint architecture is well-worth wandering around. There also are plenty of options for fun on the placid waters of the surrounding lakes. Due to its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular day trip destination.
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Welcome to PalangaThe tourism destination for many Lithuanians, Palanga (pop. 20,000) has a beach that seems to stretch forever. There are two must-see in Palanga: Birute's Hill-is a tall sand-dune which originally boasted a pagan temple to Thunder god Perkunas that was guarded by Vestal Virgins. Grand Duke Vytautas, smitten by one of the guardians, Birute, kidnapped her and made her his wife. The hill is now topped with a chapel and a statue of Birute rests at the foot of the hill. The second and most interesting tourist site is the Amber Museum, which has tens of thousands of different amber pieces on display, including some bigger than you can imagine.
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