Driving with an International Driving Permit (IDP) will definitely reap you some benefits as a foreign driver. The privilege of having to drive in another country as per the Vienna Convention on Road traffic, you only need to present an IDP and your valid driving license to drive in another country as a foreigner. However, this is only applicable if you intend to drive a motor vehicle rented from a car rental company in the country for less than three months.

Also, for your eligibility to drive in the country, you must be past the minimum age for driving and renting a car in the country. Otherwise, you won’t be allowed to do either, regardless of your home country’s driving age being less than 18.

If you are planning on driving in the country for more than three months, you may need to get a Lithuanian driver’s license for your eligibility to continue driving in the country. You must indicate your place of residence and your occupation.

Before we get into which countries require and recognize an IDP, there is no such thing as an International Driver’s License. The document used to translate your valid driving licence into 12 of the widely used languages worldwide, is an International Driving Permit or IDP.

The following are some of the countries out of 165+ more that require foreigners to provide an IDP:

• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Norway
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Congo
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Iceland
• Japan
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Sweden
• Tobago

Along with the country’s well-preserved historic architectural structures such as castles, cultural complexes, and prehistoric towns, it also boasts its adventurous national parks and spectacular sea-shores. All the tourist destinations in Lithuania will give you a refreshing vibe and will surely not disappoint the tourist spirit in you.

Gates of Dawn

The Gates of Dawn is the tallest one of the defensive walls of Lithuania. It is also one of the most famous historical and religious monuments in Vilnius, Lithuania. When the Russians demolished the defensive walls of Lithuania, the Gate of Dawn was the one standing alone. It is believed that the Russians were scared to destroy that particular wall as it has the painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary on it.

The chapel in the Gates of Dawn is open 6 AM to 7 PM in the months from May to October and 7 Am to 7 PM in the months of November to April. As you will enter a chapel, it is important to dress appropriately. The entrance fee to the chapel is free for all. So you have to expect a lot of tourists or even locals to visit the chapel and the Gates of Dawn.

Trakai Island Castle

The only castle that is built on an island in the whole of Eastern Europe, the Trakai Island castle is one of the most famous and most visited castles in Lithuania. It is located in Trakai, a city in Lithuania, along Lake Galves. During summer, the castles become lively because of the numerous musical and cultural performances. You can swim, fish, or even camp at the waterside of Lake Galves that surrounds the castle.

The castle is open all year long. If you want to see the flowers bloom, you should visit in summer. If you can’t visit in the summer, you don’t have to worry as the view of the castle is also magical in the frost and will not disappoint you during winter. The entrance fee to the castle starts at €2 (which is a little over $2).

St. Anne’s Church

The St. Anne’s Church located in Vilnius is one of the famous landmarks of Lithuania. The church was believed to be constructed in 1500 and has experienced and survived a lot of wars, conflicts, and even the 50-year rule of the Soviet Union. A church that is a Gothic style of architecture, it is said that St. Anne’s Church was built in honor of Anna, the wife of Vytautas the Great.

The church is open every day except on Mondays from 11 Am to 6 PM. The best time to visit the church is during the spring or summer season where the climate in Lithuania is refreshing. As you are visiting a church, make sure that you dress properly and accordingly. The entrance fee is free.

Ninth Fort Museum & Monument

The Ninth Fort Museum & Monument is located in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was built as the ninth and final part of the Kaunas Fortress constructed in early 1900 by the Russian Empire to protect their western borders. The Ninth Fort has served as the place for the Holocaust of over 50,000 Jewish people when the Germans conquered Lithuania.

You can also see a memorial monument of the Jewish massacre. Aside from that, there is also a museum for the purpose of narrating the tragic history of the fort. Tickets to enter the museum starts at €3 (which is a little over $3) for adults and €1.5 (which is almost $2) for children. But if you just wanted to see the monument, you do not have to pay the entrance fee.

Aukštaitija National Park

If you want to escape the city and experience a refreshing and vibrant atmosphere, then you must visit the Aukštaitija National Park. The park is located in the north-eastern part of Lithuania and is the oldest park in the country. Numerous forests, lakes, and rivers are found in the park.

The Aukštaitija National Park is open 24 hours and has no entrance fee. Even camping there is free. But almost 2.1% of the park is protected areas that you can’t enter without obtaining a permit from the park’s headquarters. You can go hike, fish, haunt, and even go kayaking in the park.

Hill of Crosses

The Hill of Crosses is one of the most special places in Lithuania. Its uniqueness attracts tourists to visit the place. In the early times of Russia’s rule in Lithuania, many were dead because of the uprisings against Russia. Families of the dead ones wanted to place crosses in memory of the death of their family, but it was not allowed.

Lithuanians still found ways to commemorate the death of their loved ones by placing the cross on this hill, thus Hill of Crosses. Up to this day, the hill has an estimated 300,000 crosses and is still continuously growing. There is no entrance fee to the Hill of Crosses and is open for everyone. You are advised to visit in the spring or summer season as the temperature during those seasons is good.

When you're driving in Lithuania, remember the rules say you must stay on the right side of the road. If you want to pass another car, always do it on the left side. Never try to pass on the right, because this can cause crashes. Be careful and know what to do when following Lithuania driving rules.

Always bring your IDP with you

The fact that you do need an International Driver’s Permit in Lithuania in order to legally drive in the country, you must always bring it in case you encounter road checkpoints along the way. Before starting your trip, make sure that your IDP is with you at all times.

Don’t forget to carry required documents

Aside from your International driver’s Permit in Lithuania, you are also to carry your local driver’s license, your passport, and car-related documents when driving in Lithuania. Those mentioned documents are what the road authorities will look for during checkpoints so it is important to always bring them.

Drunk driving and the use of illegal drugs is prohibited

Do not drink and drive! The government of Lithuania allows drivers to have a Blood Alcohol Limit of 0.04% per 100ml of blood. Driving when reaching past the limit is illegal and is never allowed. The worst-case scenario is that drink-driving can get you involved in a road accident.

Always wear your seatbelt

Before starting your trip, make sure that you and the other passengers are wearing seatbelts. They can become handy if ever you are involved in a road accident. It will lessen the impact of your body on the car, thus also minimizing the injuries that you will get.

Follow Road Traffic Signs

Respect and obey the road signs that you will see on the roads that you are driving in. They are put there to guide you in your trip and also help you to not get lost in case you are confused about where to turn or where to stop.