Siauliai, Lithuania

Capital City

With a population of just 100,653, Siauliai is Lithuania's fourth-largest city, far smaller than the capital Vilnius. The city's industrial heritage is evident, as it once produced 85% of the country's leather and 60% of its footwear. However, the legacy of Soviet occupation looms large, with much of the city center rebuilt in a drab, utilitarian style. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the long, cold winters typical of this northern latitude can be brutal. Siauliai is best suited for those seeking an authentic taste of provincial Lithuanian life, away from the tourist crowds of Vilnius.