The southernmost of all the Baltic states, it is a pocket-sized republic that is a nature-lover’s delight and yet, it lacks nothing for those who are seeking urban excitement.

The capital, Vilnius, which houses an enthralling artists’ enclave, with its timeworn courtyards, cobbled streets, and historic  Vilnius University, Church of St Peter and St Paul, the Gates of Dawn, Vilnius Cathedral, and the Church of St Anne, have all been re-invigorated by the vibrant, optimistic culture of today.

Further afield, the remnants of Soviet times are all around – a disused nuclear missile site (now a museum to the Cold War) and a Soviet sculpture park – are reminders of a dark recent past, while the Hill of Crosses (Siauliai) and Orvydas stone garden stand testament to the land’s enduring faith.

Lithuania’s most well-known attraction is its stunning Baltic coastline, especially the unique sliver of white sand known as Curonian Spit. Vast isolated coastal wetlands are a magnet for migrating birds by the tens of thousands while inland, lush forests watch over burnished lakes.

Go searching for  “Amber gemstones” on the beach near Klaipėda, a port city in Lithuania, where the Baltic Sea meets the Danė River. The old town features German-style, 18th-century wood-framed buildings. The theatre Square, the city’s main gathering spot, is home to the neoclassical Drama Theatre and the square’s 1912 Taravos Anikė sculpture pays tribute to a local poet.