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Introduction We've listed the information here in the same way it is laid out in the book so it's easy to find your way around. Online Upgrades don't replace the guides û they add important information gathered since the current edition of the book was published. You can print them out and stick them in the back of your current guide. This Upgrade was posted in July 1998. Be aware that things keep changing û even after we post these Upgrades. Always check the latest information on visa requirements and safety warnings with your embassy or consulate prior to departure. |
Lithuania has acquired a new president, Latvia is gearing up for parliamentary elections in October 1998, and Estonia has taken its first great leap into Euroland. Lithuania has taken an even greater leap into confusion by switching timezones: the country is now one hour behind its Baltic sisters.
Despite teething troubles in Riga as Latvia grapples with resolving friction amid its large ethnic Russian community, travelling in and around the region remains largely hassle free.
Facts about the Region
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
The USA backed the Baltics in January 1998 by signing the US-Baltic Charter of Partnership in January 1998 with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in which it gave its support to Baltic integration into western institutions, including NATO.The three Baltic presidents joined forces again in May 1998 to publicly condemn Russia's political and economic pressure on Latvia, warning it was posing a danger to the region's future unity and integration into the European Union (EU).
Estonia became the first of the three ex-Soviet republics to abolish the death penalty in March 1998; two months later, despite EU urgings otherwise, the Latvian parliament actually voted to retain the Soviet-era capital-punishment law.
SOCIETY & CONDUCT
Travellers report that plastic carrier bags bearing bare-breasted women and big-balled rockafellas are no longer such hot items.
Facts for the Visitor
VISAS & DOCUMENTS
Citizens of Canada now need a visa to enter Estonia. Canadians who hold a Latvian or Lithuanian visa still need a separate visa for Estonia.Estonia only recognises Latvian and Lithuanian visas for the passport holders of 12 countries, including France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and Italy (ie if you have a visa for Latvia or Lithuania, you do not need a separate visa for Estonia).
Estonia issues single-entry visas – valid for up to 30 days – at Tallinn airport and all other border crossings. It no longer issues visas at borders to Greek passport holders.
Anyone intending to stay in Estonia for more than 90 days within a six-month period needs a residence permit or, if you intend working, a work permit. Apply at the National Immigration Board (Tel 6126 979), Endla 2, Tallinn.Passport holders of Iceland, the Vatican, Korea, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Singapore (for 14 days only) no longer need a visa to Estonia.
Passport holders of the People's Republic of China, Finland and Sweden no longer need a visa to enter Lithuania.
Passport holders of Finland, Sweden and Switzerland no longer need a visa to enter Latvia.
Latvian single-entry visas (non-extendable; valid 10 days) issued on arrival at Riga airport now cost US$24. Latvia does not issue visas at any other borders.
Try this link to work out visa requirements for any nationality in the world: http://www.travel.com.au/destination/index.html
POST & COMMUNICATIONS
Postal rates in Estonia have increased: 3.60 EEK to send a postcard or letter within Estonia, 5 EEK to CIS and Scandinavian countries, 5.50 EEK to the rest of Europe and 7 EEK to Australia and USA.In Latvia, analogue six-digit telephone numbers starting with the numbers 36, 37, 38 and 39 have been digitalised. Add a 7 to the start of the old six-digit number (eg 7360000 etc).
Some telephone numbers in Lithuania have changed: Dial 307 instead of 469; 340 instead of 740; 341 instead of 741; 342 instead of 742.
Chip cards for public phones have been introduced in Lithuania and Latvia alongside pre-existing magnetic strip phonecards. Public telephones don't yet accept both card types yet. Check which type of card is compatible before getting your card eaten.
INTERNET RESOURCES
Relevant Web sites include:Baltics Online is the Web site of the Estonian-based City Paper and includes a discussion forum, bulletin board and tourist guide:
http://www.balticsww.comDaily news updates from the Baltic News Service (BNS):
http://www.bns.eeDaily news reports and back issues from the online newsgroup of Radio Free Europe (RFE) and Radio Liberty (RL):
http://www.rferl.org/newslineEstonia's biggest search engine:
http://www.ee/www/welcome.html'Music and Lithuania' touts plenty of links to Lithuania's music-related sites (and there are lots):
http://www.pit.ktu.lt/%7Emarsav/mr.htmlLinks to Lithuanian travel-related courtesy of Omnitel:
http://temos.omnitel.net/travel.htmlOmnitel's choice links to Lithuanian transport-related sites:
http://temos.omnitel.net/transport.htmlHotels in Lithuania:
http://www.hotelstravel.com/lithuania.htmlLithuania's hostels:
http://www.hostels.com/lt.htmlHoliday apartment rental:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/LITHUANIAMany links to Latvian sites courtesy of the UNDP:
http://www.undp.riga.lv/links/lat.htmMore Latvian links:
http://www.lvnet.lv & http://www.latnet.lvEstonia's transport schedules:
http://www.ee/timetableTIME
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are no longer in the same time zone. Lithuania is one hour behind Estonia and Latvia after switching from the Eastern European Time Zone (GMT+2) to the Central European Time Zone (GMT+1) on 29 March 1998.BUSINESS HOURS
Lithuanian employees can choose between two sets of working hours: 8 am to 5 pm for those keen to keep in line with their Baltic neighbours; or 9 am to 6 pm for Lithuania's Eurofans keen to tune in to Europe's working day.ACCOMMODATION
The correct tel/fax number for Bed & Breakfast Rasastra Ltd, Sadama 11, EE0001 Tallinn is Tel/fax 6412 291.Getting There & Away
There is a new email address for UK Baltic travel specialists, Regent Holidays (regent@regent-holidays.co.uk).
AIR
Airport taxes (usually included in the price of an airfare) in June 1998 stood at US$25 for Riga airport and US$10 for Vilnius airport. Tallinn airport does not levy an airport tax.There is no longer a Lufthansa flight between Tallinn and Frankfurt, Germany. The airline has no immediate plans to resume this service. Estonian Air flies five times a week between Tallinn and Hamburg (no Tallinn-Frankfurt flights).
British Airways now flies London-Vilnius.
LOT's direct flights from Estonia to Poland have been cancelled.
German carrier, Eurowings, has inherited the Baltic routes of the now defunct Hamburg Airlines.
Air Lithuania (http://www.airlithuania.lt) no longer flies from Kaunas to Zurich or Helsinki. It has three Oslo-Kaunas-Oslo flights a week.
LAND
Border Crossings
Crossing the Grenstale-Salociai road border between Latvia and Lithuania is substantially faster these days, thanks to the common checkpoint operated at the border by the two countries since August 1997: motorists now only have to show their documents to one set of border guards (instead of two).
Bus
There is a Saturday morning bus from Tallinn to Novgorod in Russia; it returns to Tallinn on Sunday.Train
The Baltic Express (Balti Ekpress) train between Tallinn and Warsaw (via Tartu, Riga, Kaunas, Šeštokai) now runs every second day.
Southbound, it departs from Tallinn on even days at 5.20 pm, arriving in Riga at 00.05 am (odd days), Šeštokai (where you have to change to a different-gauge train) at 7.25 am (odd days), and in Warsaw at 1.26 pm (odd days).Northbound, the Baltic Express departs from Warsaw on odd days at 2.30 pm, arriving in Šeštokai at 10.17 pm (odd days), in Riga at 5 am (even days), and in Tallinn at 12.15 pm (even days).
For travellers only wanting to travel between Tallinn and Riga, one of the seven daily buses (including a couple of night buses for those wanting to save on a night's hotel accommodation) between the two capitals is a better option than the train. Journey time is 5¼ to six hours.
Travellers heading east to St Petersburg from Estonia can save money by buying tickets for onward destinations in Russia and CIS countries in Estonia where tickets are cheaper. Tickets bought in Tallinn cost about 20% less than those bought in Moscow.
SEA
Many of the ferry companies have web sites (most containing current schedules): Krantas Shipping (http://www.krantas.lt), Estline (http://www.estline.ee), Nordic Jet Line (http://www.NJL.fi) and Silja Line (http://www.silja.com).Getting Around the Region
AIR
Within Estonia, Air Livonia operates a twice-weekly Tallinn-Kuressaare flight (45 minutes), departing from Tallinn/Kuressaare on Monday and Friday at 8 am/6 pm. It also has twice-weekly flights from Pärnu, via the islands of Ruhnu and Kihnu, to Kuressaare on Saaremaa (1¼ hours).ELK Airways operates three return flights a week from Tallinn to Kärdla on Hiumaa (45 minutes).
BUS
Eurolines operates a daily Riga-Valka/Valga-Tartu route. The bus departs from Tartu at 7 am, arriving in Riga at 11.30 am. The return bus leaves Riga at 6.30 pm.HITCHING
Vilnius Hitchhiking club's useful English-language web site (http://www-public.osf.lt/~vhhc) contains handy tips and contacts for all three Baltic countries. It reckons the Baltic hitchhiker's average speed is 55 to 60km/h.Estonia
Estonia continues to outpace its Baltic neighbours in its race to enter the European Union (EU) and has made it clear it will do anything to get there first.
FACTS ABOUT ESTONIA
Ecology & Environment
Some Statoil petrol stations in and around Tallinn are the proud green owners of the first paper recycling wastebins in the Baltics (a concept yet to hit Vilnius or Riga).Government & Politics
Estonia started negotiations with the EU in July 1997, entering into formal membership accession talks in March 1998. Moves since then aimed at bringing Estonia in line with the EU include abolishing the death penalty and increasing fuel prices to EU levels. The government has also made it clear that it is prepared to impose visa requirements on its Baltic neighbours if asked to do so by the EU. Despite all the hype, Estonia's full EU membership will not be achieved before the year 2005.Attempts to form new political alliances by Siimann's minority coalition government have failed, with the party still controlling only 37 out of 101 parliament seats. In May 1998 the prime minister's bid to gain a clear parliamentary majority by calling early elections fell flat when his party members persuaded him to cancel the elections.
Economy
Estonia's economy remains among the most dynamic in Europe, with growth peaking at 10% in 1997. Annual inflation in 1997 stood at 12.5% (ironically higher than in Latvia or Lithuania). For 1998, the economic growth rate is predicted at 5.5% and inflation at 8.5%.FACTS FOR THE VISITOR
Tourist Offices
The Estonian Tourist Board (Tel 6411 420; fax 6411 432; info@turism.ee; http://www.estonia.org) is now at Mündi 2, EE0001 Tallinn.Its Baltic Tourist Information Centre in Finland (Tel 09-278 4725; fax 09-278 4774; helve.sogel@estinfo.inet.fi) has moved to Mariankatu 21, SF-00170 Helsinki. A new Baltic Tourist Information Centre has opened in Belgium (Tel 02-344 69 78; fax 02-344 12 02), Winston Churchill 118A, B-180 Brussels.
In Estonia, the tourist board now runs a regional South Estonian bureau (Tel/fax 27-441 756; turism@estpak.ee), Raekoja plats 12, EE2400 Tartu; and North Estonian bureau (Tel 238-50 130; fax 238-50 400; tiinam@estpak.ee), Pärnu 6, EE2820 Paide.
Jõhvi (info@johvi.turism.ee) and Narva (info@narva.turism.ee) tourist offices are both online. Pärnu's email address is turism@prn.ee.
Embassies & Consulates
Estonia's diplomatic missions world wide are a fluid bunch. The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (http://www.vm.ee) keeps abreast of their comings and goings. In short:The Estonian consulate in Geneva is closed; Switzerland is covered by the Estonian embassy in neighbouring Austria which has moved to Wohllebengasse 9/13, Wien 1040 (Tel 1-503 7761; fax 1-503 7762; saatkond@estemb.or.at).
The Estonian consulate in Belgium is at Entrepotkaai 1B-2018 Antwerpen (Tel 3-205 22 48; fax 3-205 22 69). The embassy address remains unchanged.
The Estonian consulate (Tel 09-622 20 288, fax 09-622 02 850) in Helsinki is now housed in the same building as the embassy.
In Paris, the embassy has moved to 46 rue Pierre Charron, F-75008 Paris (Tel 01 56 62 22 00; fax 01 49 52 05 65; sekretar@est-emb.fr).
The tel/fax number for the Estonian consulate in Budapest is 361-361 2425.
The email address for the Estonian embassy in Riga, Latvia, has changed to riia@riia.vm.ee. Its counterpart in Vilnius, Lithuania is online (sekretar@estemb.lt).
The fax number of the Estonian consulate in the Netherlands is 020-316 54 50. Its postcode is 1118 DP.
The affairs of the Estonian embassy in Norway are now handled by its counterpart in Denmark. There is a consular service at Oscargata 26B, 0244 Oslo (Tel 2-259 9802/3; fax 2-259 9804; sekretar@estemb.no).
Tel/fax numbers have changed at the Estonian embassy in Warsaw. New numbers are Tel 22-646 4480, 22-646 4483 (consular department); fax 22-646 4481; sekretar@telbank.pl.
The embassy in Moscow has a new email address (mskvpost@moskva.wm.ee). Contacts for its consular department are Tel 095-290 3178, fax 095-291 1073, konsek@moskva.vm.ee.
The Estonian embassy in Sweden has moved to Tyrgatan 3, 11427 Stockholm (Tel 08-5451 2280, 08-5451 2282 (consular department); fax 08-5451 22 99, 08-5451 2298 (consular department); sekretar@estemb.se).
Ukraine's Estonian embassy has moved to Volodymyrska 61/11-37, Kiev 252033 (Tel 44-224 8361; fax 44-24 1403; saatkond@estemb.kiev.ua). Its consular department is at Reitarska st 20/24, Kiev 252034 (Tel 44-229 5668).
The Estonian embassy in London is online (http://www.estonia.gov.uk).
Customs
The Estonian Customs Department (Tel 6967 722, 6318 607; fax 6967 727; info@keskus.customs.ee: http://www.customs.ee) has moved to Lõkke 5, EE0100 Tallinn.Money
Food and accommodation prices have barely changed since the last edition of Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania was published. Log into http://quote.ibs.ee/valuutad.cgi to pick up the kroon's daily exchange rates.Online Services
The Open Estonia Foundation plans to open several cyber stations countrywide by the end of 1998.Newspapers & Magazines
The In Your Pocket team has added Tallinn In Your Pocket (tiyp@infonet.ee; http://www.inyourpocket.com) to its pan-Baltic roster. The 80-page city guide, published every two months with special sections on Tartu, Pärnu and Estonia's islands, is sold for 14 EEK countrywide in news kiosks, tourist offices and hotels. Those smart enough to invest in a Tallinn Card (see Tallinn – Things to See section) get a copy for free.
TALLINN
Foreign Embassies & Consulates
The Azerbaijan and Moldovan embassies in Tallinn have closed; Moldova is covered from its embassy in Minsk (Belarus). Other movements in Tallinn's diplomatic circles include:Belarus
(Tel 6558 001, 6272 080; fax 6558 001)
Magdaleena 3, section B
Denmark
(fax 6313 351)
Finland
(Tel 6103 300; fax 6103 288)
Pikk 14
Italy
(Tel 625 6444, 625 6446; fax 631 1370)Russia
(Tel 6464 175; 6464 178)
Pikk 19
UK
(Tel 6313 461, 6313 353; fax 6313 354)Online Services
Estonia's first cybercafe opened in November 1997 inside the Art University, Gonsiori 4. An hour online is 40 EEK. Travellers can also surf the net at the British Council Library, Vana-Posti 7.Things to See
The Tallinn Card, introduced 1 June 1998, slashes the cost of seeing the city. Card holders get in for free to most museums, some art galleries and most of the other key city sights. A one/two/three day card costs 195/270/325 EEK (100/135/170 EEK for children) and comes with a free copy of the Tallinn In Your Pocket city guide. Buy one at the tourist office, airport, harbour, train station or from selected hotels and ferries.The Tallinn Card also covers the cost of a two-hour guided city tour (150 EEK to non-card holders), which departs from outside the Viru Hotel daily at 9 am. Think twice before buying the card on Monday and Tuesday when many of the museums are closed (it might actually end up costing you more), or if you don't intend taking the city tour.
Places to Stay
The Liivalaia 2 Hostel, Hostel Akmis and Hotel Neptun are closed.The Estonian Hostels Association now runs the Barn. Breakfast costs 35 EEK. It no longer runs the Mahtra which continues, nevertheless, to operate as a hostel. Nightly fees have been upped to 200/250 EEK for a double/triple or 100 EEK (with an HI card) for a bed in a dorm.
The correct tel/fax number of the Rasastra is Tel/fax 6412 291.
Hermes Hotel (Tel 6268 111) and Peoleo Hotel (Tel 6503 964) have new digital telephone numbers.
Entertainment
Nightclub Nan, Vineeri 4, has switched names and image: now it's called Nightman (Tel 6261 846; eluell@saturn.zzz.ee) and is the Baltics' largest gay club. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 6 to 2 am, and 11 pm to 6 am on Friday and Saturday.SOUTH-EAST ESTONIA
Tartu
The Finnish embassy's consular office in Tartu has moved to Veski 35-210 (Tel 421 907; fax 421 956). There is a Hungarian consulate at Ülikooli 18-202 (Tel 433 407, 435 440; kunnap@dul.ut.ee).At the Rändur Guesthouse, singles/doubles/triples have been substantially increased to 120/150/225 EEK.
The Domus Guesthouse is now called Domina. Singles/doubles/triples/quads start at 310/320/520/1040 EEK.
The Tartu Hotel offers dorm accommodation for HI card holders for 150 EEK a night.
WEST ESTONIA & THE ISLANDS
Hiumaa
Kärdla tourist office (Tel/fax 33 033) has moved to Kõrgessaare 1. Its email/web address remains unchanged.Saaremaa & Muhu
The Maardi Öömaja in Kuressaare has a new tel/fax number (Tel 33 285; fax 33 280). Staadioni Hotel's has changed to Tel 33 556, fax 33 546.Latvia
Recent inter-ethnic Latvian-Russian skirmishes in Riga, fuelled by tough citizenship laws, have blemished Latvia's image abroad and brought its coalition government to near-collapse. While its Baltic neighbours boom, Latvia is expected to limp along until the next general elections in October 1998.
FACTS ABOUT LATVIA
Government & Politics
Prime Minister Andris Švkele resigned from office in August 1997 following squabbles with his coalition partners. The new six-party coalition government formed by Guntars Krasts, leader of the For Fatherland and Freedom Party, is expected to cling in power until October 1998 when elections will be held.Deteriorating relations between Latvia and Russia have dogged Krasts' government, prompting Saimnieks – the largest party in coalition government – to pull out of the coalition in April 1998. Several demonstrations and two bomb blasts in Riga in protest at the government's treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia, were followed, in the same month, by threats from Russia to impose tough economic sanctions on Latvia. This, coupled with increasing international pressure from the West, forced the Latvian government to finally agree, in June 1998, to ease its tough citizenship laws which currently deprive a 700,000-strong Russian-speaking minority in Latvia of citizenship.
A law passed in February 1998 allowed employers in Latvia to fire employees unable to speak sufficient Latvian. It was immediately slammed as a human rights violation.
Economy
Latvia's economy continues its steady course towards a free market and, in 1998, is expected to sustain the 6% growth it achieved in 1997. In early 1998 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) praised the country's economic success but criticised its sluggishness in privatising large-scale enterprises. Annual inflation in 1997 was 7%, the lowest of the three Baltic countries.FACTS FOR THE VISITOR
Tourist Offices
The Baltic Tourism Information Centre in Husum, Germany, has moved offices and a new Belgium office has opened in Brussels (see the Estonia – Facts for the Visitor, Tourist Offices section).
Embassies & Consulates
Travellers can now email the Latvian embassy in Denmark (letambas@pip.dknet.dk), Estonia (andris@latvia.ee), Germany (1bger@1bger.bn.eunet.de), Lithuania (83880@post.omnitel.net; emb-lv@omnitel.net), Russia (Moscow root@lvemb.msk.ru; St Petersburg irina@gcons.spb.su) and Ukraine (latemb@public.ua.net).In France the Latvian embassy has moved to 6 Villa Said, F-75116 Paris (Tel 01 53 64 58 10; fax 01 53 64 58 19).
The contact details for the Latvian embassy in Australia are: Consulate-General, 38 Longstaff St, Ivanhoe East, Vic 3079 (Tel 03-9499 4920; fax 03-9499 7008).
Money
Most accommodation prices have not changed since the current edition of Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania was published. Food and transport prices have increased by about 5%.
The Latvijas Bankas (Latvian Bank) publishes the lati's daily exchange rate at http://www.bank.lv.
RIGA
Foreign Embassies & Consulates
Australia
Honorary Consulate (Tel 7222 383; fax 7225 228; riga@com.latnet.lv)
Raina 3Germany
(Tel 7229 096; fax 7820 224)
Raina 13
Lithuania
(Tel 7321 519; fax 7321 589)
Elizabetes 2Hungary
Consulate (Tel 7216 266; fax 7216 287)
Riga Hotel, Aspazijas 22Netherlands
(Tel 7326 147; fax 7326 151)
Tornu 4Money
The currency exchange at the bus station is closed on Sunday.Online Services
The Internet Cafe, Bezdeligu 12, has closed. But new cybercafes have opened: Bilteks (Tel 7322 208; http://www.binet.lv/cafe), Jekaba 20, charges 2 lati an hour and is open from 10 am to 9 pm. Better value is the Internet Cafe Andaluzijas Suns (Tel 7242 826), Elizabetes 81/85, open from noon to 10 pm. The hourly rate here is 1.50 lati.Places to Stay
The Argo and Imantu hostels have closed. LaJTMA (Tel 7551 271) has moved to Laimdotas 2a.Balta Kaza has gone digital (Tel 7378 135).
Turists has changed its tel/fax number (Tel 7619 090; fax 7860 008).
The Saeimas deputatu has changed names to Valdemars. Singles/doubles start at 14/28 lati.
Note the new tel/fax numbers:
Hotel de Rome (Tel 7087 600; fax 7087 606).
Konventa Seta (Tel 7087 501; fax 7087 506).Lithuania
Lithuania has recently chosen a brand new American-style president and is making giant strides in the foreign investment stakes. 'The most under-rated capital city in Europe', 'firmly established as the new Prague' and 'minuses: nothing whatsoever' are among the compliments recently showered upon a country which, until very recently, was branded the Baltic black sheep.
FACTS ABOUT LITHUANIA
Ecology & Environment
Little Lithuania continues to lead the world in its dependence on nuclear power. A report published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in April 1997 confirmed that the Ignalina nuclear power plant produces 83.4% of the country's electrical energy (the world's highest percentage).Ignalina is notorious for its two RMBK, Chernobyl-style reactors which are graphite cooled and have no complete containment system, meaning if an accident occurs there is an increased chance of radioactive emissions into the atmosphere. In March 1998 the EU Environmental Commissioner repeated calls for the plant to be shut down.
Still curious? Surf the nuclear plant's official web site at http://www.iae.lt
Government & Politics
Following presidential elections in December 1997, Lithuania's first freely-elected president, Algirdas Brazauskas (who did not stand for re-election), was replaced by wild-card Valdas Adamkus, a 71-year-old Lithuanian emigre who had lived in the USA for many years. Adamkus, who won run off elections in January 1998 by a narrow margin (less than one percentage point), fled Lithuania in 1944. Before being sworn in as president in February, he renounced his US citizenship.Since taking office, the popularity of the former US Environmental Protection Agency official from Chicago has soared – even among sceptics who feared for the future of Lithuania under the leadership of a man who had not lived in the country for more than five decades.
Adamkus renominated Gediminas Vagnorius, head of the Right-leaning coalition government established in early December 1997, as his prime minister.
Economy
The Lithuanian economy is not the Baltic underdog anymore: in 1997 Lithuania's foreign investment growth tripled that of Latvia or Estonia, with total foreign investment estimated to double in 1998. The USA has overtaken Germany as the country's top foreign investor. Annual inflation continues to fall; from 13.1% in 1996, to 8.4% in 1997 and to 6% (forecast) in 1998.
Lithuania's economy grew 5.7% in 1997 (up to US$9.6 billion). Growth forecasts for 1998 peak at 8%. The litas continues to appreciate in pace with European currencies, prompting talk of the litas being pegged to the Euro instead of the US dollar in the next century.
The Lithuanian Development Agency (http://www.lda.lt) publishes the latest quarterly economic facts and figures on the Internet.
FACTS FOR THE VISITOR
Tourist Offices
The Lithuanian Tourist Board (tb@tourism.lt; http://www.tourism.lt) has moved to Vilniaus 4/35, 2600 Vilnius. Tel/fax numbers remain unchanged.The Baltic Tourism Information Centre in Husum, Germany, has moved offices and a new Belgium office has opened in Brussels (see the Estonia - Facts for the Visitor, Tourist Offices section).
Vytis Tours has a new email address (vyttours@earthlink.net).
Embassies & Consulates
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has an updated list of foreign embassies at home and its overseas missions: http://www.urm.lt/informThe Lithuanian embassy in the USA is now online(admin@ltembassyus.lt).
In the Czech Republic, the Lithuanian embassy has new telephone numbers (Tel 02-57 21 01 22/23).
In Germany, there is a new Lithuanian embassy bureau at Katharinenstrasse 9, D-10711 Berlin (Tel 030-891 1151; 0308911164-0001@t-online.de). The embassy in Bonn remains.
The UK's Lithuanian embassy is at 84 Gloucester Place, London W1H 38N (Tel 0171-486 6401, 0171-486 6502).
The address of the Lithuanian embassy in Italy is Viale di Villa Grazioli 9, I-00198 Rome. Its counterpart in Norway is at Gimle Terrasse 6, N-0244 Oslo.
Lithuania's embassy in Latvia has moved to Elizabetes iela 2a, LV-1340 Riga (Tel 732 1519, 732 0919; fax 7321 589).Customs
Email the Lithuanian Customs Department (kpc@is.ltr) for info or log into its Web site (http://www.cust.lt).Money
There have been no notable price increases since the last edition of Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania was published.
Log into the daily currency exchange rate, courtesy of Lietuvos Bankas, at http://www.lbank.lt.
VILNIUS
Tourist Offices
At the airport, Vilnius In Your Pocket operates a tourist information office (Tel 299-99 721), open 10.30 am to 3.30 pm (closed Sunday).Vilnius municipality's first official tourist information office (Tel/fax 620 762; tourism.info@vilnius.sav.lt), Pilies 42, opened in 1998. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm (closed on weekends), except from 1 May to 30 September, it will be open from 9 am to 7 pm (Saturday from noon to 6 pm; closed Sunday).
Foreign Embassies & Consulates
There is a new Australian consulate (Tel/fax 223 369; aust.con.vilnius@post.omnitel.net), Radvilaites 4.Online Services
The Skliautai Cyber Cafe has closed. New surfing options include the Alumnatas Cybercafe, Universiteto 4, open from 8 am to 10 pm; or Ralinga, Pylimo 20, open 9 am to 6 pm (closed weekends). The hourly rate is 15 litu.Places to Stay
The Lithuanian Hostels Association's head office has a new tel/fax number and email address (Tel/fax 262 660; lyh@jnakv.vno.soros.lt). The hostel contact numbers (same address) remain unchanged.Travellers report that the reception of the hotel-carriage at Vilnius train station is now marked with a sign reading 'Rumu Budetojas'.
The telephone number of the Suarunas is Tel 723 666.
Museums
The Museum of the Genocide of the Lithuanian People (commonly known as the KGB Museum) is closed on Monday (open Tuesday to Sunday).AROUND VILNIUS
Paneriai
Several travellers have reported getting well and truly lost taking bus No 8 to the Paneriai death camp. By train the trip is straightforward: suburban trains from Vilnius to Druskininkai, Trakai and Kaunas stop at Paneriai train station.CENTRAL LITHUANIA
Kaunas
City museums are closed on Monday. Many are closed Tuesday and/or the last Thursday of the month as well. According to travellers' reports, admission to all museums is free on Wednesday. Basketball fanatics are pandered to at Kaunas' Lithuanian Sports Museum (Tel 220 691), Muziejaus.Prices at the Baltija Hotel have almost doubled. Singles/doubles are now from 60/88 litu.
WESTERN LITHUANIA
The tourist office in Klaipeda (tourinfo@klaipeda.omnitel.net) and Palanga (seaside@klaipeda.omnitel.net) are online.Essential Lonely Planet Resources
Don't stop here in your search for up to date information on travelling in Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania. Guidebooks and Upgrades provide a great snapshot of the place as it was when the author was last there, but for the very latest news, travellers' reports and embassy advice, check out the following sections of the Lonely Planet Web site.
Scoop û News Archive
Postcards û Travellers' Reports From Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
The Thorn Tree û Europe (Central & East) Travellers' Bulletin Board
Propaganda û Lonely Planet's Latest Guides to Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania û Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania, Scandinavian & Baltic Europe, Baltic States phrasebook
Destinations û Lonely Planet's Online Mini Guide to Estonia, Latvia & LithuaniaThanks for Your Feedback
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