General: Lithuania

Lithuania is one of the places in Europe that is most untouched by the terrible flood of tourists. While it is just as safe in most tourist ways as Western Europe, it also has an "off the beaten track" feel for those who want to see a country that doesn't quite fit the mould.

Whilst you can wikipedia all the facts about population and location and so forth, it is a great place to learn about European history from a slightly different angle. The country is full of museums, castles and other monuments that are just plain bizarre (such as the Frank Zappa statue).

It also has some of Europe's nicest beers. Most of the beers you can find in the shop are lagers, but if you look a bit harder, there are plenty of traditional Lithuanian beers that range from being unfiltered to cloudy, from a pristine factory to a beer that is made in an old mans left shoe. Each have their own character and taste.

Of course these isn't the only reason to visit the country - it is simply a nice place to be, particularly in summer. There are what I would say are Europe's hottest women and statistically the country is the thinnest in Europe, despite its cuisine.

The cuisine is decidedly working-farmer-in-the-snow stuff with lots of potatoes and lots of fat. Good for winter.

Every city in the country is different and has a range of things to see, from Vilnius's old town to Siauliai's Hill of Crosses.

Give the city a go!