Start with the essentials
Plan Samogitia and Northern Lithuania at a glance
- City base
- Šiauliai
- Pilgrimage site
- Hill of Crosses
- Park base
- Plateliai area
About Samogitia and Northern Lithuania
Why explore Samogitia and Northern Lithuania
Northern Lithuania combines an independent museum city, a major pilgrimage landscape and Samogitia’s lake country.
The areas reward a route with two bases rather than a single long excursion.
Plan the region
Keep Šiauliai and the Hill of Crosses distinct even when planning them together.
Use the Plateliai area as the practical base for Lake Plateliai and Žemaitija National Park.
Choose where to spend your time
Places to explore
4 guides
Šiauliai and the Hill of Crosses
Šiauliai is the transport base for the Hill of Crosses, linking a museum city with a separate pilgrimage landscape north of town.
Open guideŠiauliai
Šiauliai is a northern Lithuanian museum city and rail base, best known as the starting point for a separate Hill of Crosses trip.
Open guide
Hill of Crosses
The Hill of Crosses is an active pilgrimage landscape near Jurgaičiai, reached on a planned excursion from Šiauliai.
Open guide
Žemaitija National Park
Žemaitija National Park surrounds Lake Plateliai with forest, trails, villages and Samogitian cultural sites best explored from a local base.
Open guideBuild a coherent route
Plan by area
Šiauliai area
City museums and a separate trip to the Hill of Crosses.
Žemaitija
Lake Plateliai, forest and cultural sites in the national park.
See the main travel bases
Northern Lithuania and Samogitia on the map
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Use the markers to understand the main bases and the distance between them. Open a marker for its destination guide.
Match the route to your time
What fits into your trip
Short visit
Choose one base and one nearby outing.
Useful stay
Combine the main base with two contrasting places.
Slower route
Allow separate days for museums, landscapes and transfers.
Link the stops sensibly
Routes and day trips
Keep each day focused on one area and confirm any rural return journey before leaving the main base.
Suggested regional routes
City and pilgrimage site
Stay in Šiauliai and plan a dedicated return journey to the Hill of Crosses.
Open destination guideSamogitia extension
Continue west for two or three nights around Žemaitija National Park.
Open destination guideRegional day trips
Hill of Crosses from Šiauliai
A focused half-day planned around the journey beyond Šiauliai and a reliable return from the rural site.
Choose transport by destination
Getting around Samogitia and Northern Lithuania
Šiauliai has useful rail and bus links. The Hill of Crosses and Žemaitija National Park require closer local transport planning.
Rail and coach
Best for reaching Šiauliai.
Local bus or taxi
Check both legs for the Hill of Crosses.
Car
Helpful for the dispersed national park.
Choose dates that suit the route
When to visit
Late spring to early autumn gives rural routes more daylight.
The Hill of Crosses is exposed, so wind and weather matter in every season.
Read the seasonal guide for LithuaniaAvoid common route problems
Planning checks
Check current access
Treat the Hill of Crosses as an active religious place.
Keep the route realistic
Confirm return transport before leaving Šiauliai.
Quick answers
Questions about Samogitia and Northern Lithuania
Is Šiauliai only a base?
No. Its museums and centre support their own visit.
Is the Hill of Crosses in the city?
No. It lies north of Šiauliai near Jurgaičiai.
Where should I stay for the park?
The Plateliai area is the useful starting point.
How long does the wider region need?
Allow three to five days for both northern sections.
How this guide is checked
Sources and review
Reviewed 3 September 2026, next review due 3 March 2027. Services, access rules and opening arrangements can change, so check the official source before travel.
- LTG Link timetables, LTG Link
- Exceptional value of Žemaitija National Park, Žemaitija National Park Directorate
- Hill of Crosses, Lithuania Travel
- Lithuanian national parks, State Service for Protected Areas
- Šiauliai visitor information, Šiauliai Tourism Information Centre
- The Hill of Crosses, Šiauliai Tourism Information Centre
- Žemaitija National Park, Žemaitija National Park Directorate
Continue through Lithuania
Regions that connect naturally
Aukštaitija
Aukštaitija brings together lake country, forest, villages and Anykščiai, with a route that needs a clear base and transport plan.
Lithuanian Baltic Coast
Lithuania’s Baltic coast links Klaipėda, Palanga and the Curonian Spit, with ferries and seasonal transport shaping each route.
Continue planning
See more of Lithuania
Use the country guide to compare Samogitia and Northern Lithuania with other regions and destinations in Lithuania.