Vilnius will host the NATO Summit on July 11-12, 2023. Lithuanian government officials have said that this will be the largest event held in Lithuania’s history. The Vilnius municipal government expects up to 3,000 governmental visitors from 50 official delegations and 2,000 NGO and media representatives to attend the summit. LITEXPO will be the main summit location. We hope that the below information and resources will be helpful to U.S. citizens residing in, or visiting Lithuania during this time.
Airport and Airspace Operations: During the summit, all flights will be prohibited in Vilnius airspace. Currently, that is planned for the period from 12:00 p.m. on July 11 to 2:00 p.m. on July 12. Due to higher than normal airport traffic at Vilnius and Kaunas airports, expect air traffic disruptions and delays in the days before and after the summit. From July 7 to July 13, the Lithuanian government will restrict the operation of small aircraft, balloons, and drones over Lithuania.
Border Security: Lithuania will reinstate internal Schengen border controls at border checkpoints with Latvia and Poland, airports, and seaports from 8:00 a.m. on July 7 to 8:00 a.m. on July 13. As Lithuanian security forces may ask to see your passport and proof of immigration status at any time, we recommend that U.S. citizens carry a copy of their passport and proof of immigration status with them during this period.
Transport and Traffic Restrictions: The Vilnius municipal government has announced traffic restrictions in the Old Town, vicinity of LITEXPO and Vilnius Airport, and other areas from July 7 to July 13. Times have not yet been clarified on the traffic restrictions. Only vehicles with special permits will be allowed in the restricted areas, and all other vehicles (including taxis, bicycles, and scooters) will not be granted entrance.
During this period, Vilnius municipality recommends that residents walk or take public transport around the city, and telework whenever possible.
Due to traffic restrictions, the Vilnius municipal government advises that persons residing in a restricted area should stock up on food and other supplies in advance of the summit. To facilitate travel during this busy period, public transport in Vilnius will be free from July 10 to 13. Due to some delegation planes landing and departing from the Kaunas airport, the Lithuanian government may impose short-term traffic restrictions in Kaunas during the arrival and departure of delegations.
For a map of road closures, please visit the city of Vilnius’ website here.
Hotels and Accommodation: Due to the many visiting delegations, visitors to Vilnius will find extreme difficulty booking accommodation in Vilnius and nearby cities. Travelers are encouraged to contact hotels directly to confirm room availability.
Resources: For more information, please review the following resources:
Vilnius Municipality Webpage on NATO Summit:
Map of Traffic Restrictions in Vilnius:
https://nato.vilnius.lt/en/traffic-restrictions/
Vilnius Airport Information on NATO Summit:
https://www.vilnius-airport.lt/en/before-the-flight/nato
NATO Media Advisories on NATO Summit:
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_212667.htm
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_214116.htm
For further information:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Lithuania Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier for the Embassy to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Lithuania, located at Akmenu 6, Vilnius, Lithuania LT-03106, at +(370) (5) 266-5600, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday. The after-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +(370) (5) 266 5500.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
